Running 1:52:04 [5] 14.0 km (8:00 / km) +250m 7:21 / km
BHT - An interesting and a tough race. Stated out slowly but wasn't too far off the leading group when I got to the 1st bag. There was a lot of confusion in the area but I think Clem punched it first. Then a whole bunch of us arrived at #2 and a little fight took place for the only punch on the stand. I began to get warm and started to pull closer to the leading pack. Had a good route to #5 and then caught up to Ross and SGB, I think, at # 6. I then had good routes to #9 and #10 and jumped to the lead. I tried to pull away as fast as I could by going around the hill towards number #10. Eventually, when I got the to the trail right before the road crossing, I saw Ross and SGB closing on me very fast. I was a bit low heading towards #11 but was right behind Ross when I got there. No sign of SGB as we took off down to #12. On the way to #13 I got confused by the trails, thinking that I already crossed the first big one when in fact I didn't. So made a U-turn, stood around for a bit and then saw a big pack of runners going my way. I realized that I stopped short and wished I hadn't lost sight of Ross a few minutes earlier. At #13 saw Clem, Sam, and Ali just ahead of me. Then took the right trail to #15 and was there ahead of the pack. A bit of confusion at #16 due to issues with the map allowed the pack to catch me up again. Clem and I then split to the right towards #18 and I then took a lead for a couple more bags. At one point I tried to mount a little breakaway on the downhill towards #22, but couldn't shake Alan off my back and then Clem eventually closed the gap on us. I began to feel weak at this point and totally faded with 2 bags to go or about ~1km left. Clem and Alan ran ahead, and I walked and jogged the rest of the way. I only wished I ate my GU, which I didn't, so I learned a valuable lesson for the future. Then all of this is followed by consumption of pizza and a good company somewhere in Milton or nearby it I think.