Adventure Race (KillaMetro) 2:44:08 [4] 32.23 km (5:06 / km) +140m 4:59 / km
shoes: Lunarglide 2
The plan was to use this race to force myself to go for a long run with a little bit of brain activity and a little bit of intensity. I did the non-paddling course option and ran the bike leg (copping a 30 minute penalty for my trouble for compulsory equipment).
In terms of what I wanted to get out of it, it was a partial success. I ran well to about 21km, but it got quite hot, and despite realising quite early on the 'bike' leg that I was going to be in trouble with water and trying to ration iit, I still ran out and had to go about 30-35 minutes without a drink when I really needed it. At least it was a good reminder that I need to be far more careful with my hydration when it is warm. It hadn't been a goodstart to realise last night that I had run out of both sports drink and electrolyte tabs. Dolf was nice enough to supply some tabs for my 'bike' biottle, but I needed more, and should really have run with a second drink bottle or my camelbak.
The run leg opener was pretty clean. I probably started a little hard as I was pretty much running with Oscar (except when he took a long route choice and I got a little lead). A little disappointing to see people going through holes in the fence out of the start rather than on the mandatory road route, which gained a few hundred metres and was repeated by many on the way back in. Only nav issues were a couple of hesitations not seeing markers that were lying on the ground.
Clean through the first part of the bike too - Oscar was coming back to the first control as I left it, having overshot it and he was on the way out of the optional one a few controls later as I headed in. Lost a little time hunting in the wrong spot before I found the earthbank, but probably still worth it.
Was good all the way down to Tonkin Hwy bridge, but started to suffer badly on the way back with lack of fluids, and the pace dropped markedly. Liked the small dip in the river to get 28, but was pretty much spent by there.
Finally found a drink fountain 27km into my day and had a long drink, but started cramping as I slowed down approaching the fountain and had to stop a few times to stretch as I headed back to transition.
The orienteering was disappointing. I had forgotten to eat as I had been so drink focussed, but after downing all my remaining gels at the 2 hour mark, I slowly came good on the energy front. I felt like I could have really pushed the pace at the end, but any time that I tried, the cramps kicked back in.
Lost time on the on at the top of the stairs, and on the second last one, whree I found a really ruined fence, not the one with the control. WHen I finally stopped and decided to used an attackpoint and walk in the right direction, the control was obvious (funny that).
Good fun, but I should have been better prepared and feel like I was capable of being a good deal faster in the second half, but for the water/electrolyte/cramp situation, so a little disappointing in that regard.
Top course. Amazing that something like that is possible only 20 minutes from home. Well done Tooms and Boltboi. Back to boring long runs from next weekend.