Race Evaluation
2002 Billygoat Run:
graeme
| 1. | Before the start Jeff Saeger joshes that I'm about to lose my fastest-time unbeaten record. I tell him that as its the shortest goat ever, the fastesty time is no problem, its just winning the thing. Listening to who's expected to contend, I'm not amused to realise that I'm old enough to be their father. Set off with the pack unfolding the map. Check route to 1, mainly on paths, safe to stay with the group and have a good look at the options. Hoping for a good late skip decide on 16, then realise that 1 is best. But by now its too late. The CSU posse have headed away from the hills, and after 5 seconds I'm never to see the leaders again. So much for defending records! | ||||||
| 2. | With Sergei Zhyk through 1 in the lead, and pulling clear of the group by 2. Jon T still in touch behind. | ||||||
| 3. | Sergei goes way left out of 2. Suddenly I realise he's skipping 3. My original skip-16 plan looks like it will require me to run alone with a substandard skip - by skipping 3 we might have a chance of catching the CSU train. I follow Sergei. | ||||||
| 4. | Dropping into the control, there are the CSU O-top arriving stage right. Looks like we're back in the race... | ||||||
| 5. | ...but no sign of Mssrs. Walker and Hawkins. Doesn't seem likely they are off the back, time to get shifting. | ||||||
| 6. | Sergei drops immediately to stream bed. I struggle along the slope a bit, then drop to join him, others seem to stay high and fall back. | ||||||
| 7. | round trails to the left. Just me and Sergei now. | ||||||
| 8. | +03:00 | drift slightly right, then go further right. Check many shallow reentrants before deciding to turn back. Sergei is off up the hill somewhere, I call him back but he doesn't seem to respond. As I get to the circle, Matt, Boris and Jon arrive stage left. | |||||
| 9. | struggling and stumbling through a lot of crap along the top. Get to reentrant, no flag - then a green flash waaay on down shows Sergei has caught us with a contour through the green and rocks route. What a guy! | ||||||
| 10. | People leave 9 in all directions. For a moment the forest is quiet and empty, then we all pile onto the track from different angles and a pack forms. | ||||||
| 11. | In the pack | ||||||
| 12. | In the pack | ||||||
| 13. | In the pack | ||||||
| 14. | Left round the pond with Jon and Boris. Sergei goes right, Matt seems to follow the main track (I never see them again). Back on the main track I'm alone again, then Jon joins from the right. No sign of Boris as we cut through to the control. | ||||||
| 15. | go right of the hill, with Jon. Suddenly Jon veers left uphill and Boris appears. I guess Jon's headed for the wrong circle, and call him back. "We need to lose him - he's faster than us" says Boris. Good point. Traverse the slope at full speed, Boris behind, and spike the flag. Time for the final push. | ||||||
| 16. | whizz round various tracks, then stop in the cicle trying to figure which of the many cliffs has the flag. a bit panicky that the tailing group might catch up, but get it just in time. | ||||||
| 17. | +02:00 | Intermittant trail, then I plan to go down the marsh/lake. Boris gets ahead and I lose map contact trying to keep up. Miss the control, drop to trail thinking we're too far east. Relocate at the crossroads and turn to see Boris hurtling towards me: he spiked it at full speed! Beaten, I go back to trail bend and flag. | |||||
| 18. | Still running hard, in case anyone shows up. Nobody does. | ||||||
| 19. | Dogleg out of control, run the main trail, then as I approach the control I'm astonished to see Boris just punching. | ||||||
| F. | But he's too far ahead, there's nobody behind so I trot in for third place. Losing contact so early on was disappointing, but I'm much happier overall and the contrast with the Highlander suggests I've made good progress to relearn how to do this Hudson valley stuff. |
Total Time Lost - 00:05:00