If memory serves me correctly , you had a very nice run on a red course recently. One disappointing day can't take that away (or other successes), especially if you learn from mistakes, which your comments lead me to believe you will
We all have bad runs, and that's certainly nothing to be ashamed of. I am often disappointed by my performance, but it's never something about which to fear social repercussions. The Billygoat is a difficult course to execute well, and a bad race doesn't take away from the great progress you have made over the past year. I hope to see you this weekend! West Point - particularly the middle distance courses - should be very interesting and challenging.
Plus, results are relative in a way that's hard to get your mind around. I was 3rd of 50 in the Fool's Rogaine, 50th of 80 in the Billygoat. The Billygoat was definitely a better run.
Many of us have blown a Billygoat. You'll get it next time.
I went to Manitoba to the North Americans, maybe 1982...second day, ran 900m the wrong way (w/o looking at the compass to simplify things in sandhill terrain) - an unaffordable 1.8k mistake. Quite displeased when I finally woke up, seeing a one-of-a-kind feature, a water tower, from Saturday's run. 2000 mi ea way for that one!
We've all done it. Well maybe all but PG, and he can probably even think of some things he would rather not have done on an o course. I can think of some particular clunkers of my own, of which this year's BG was not the worst. I hope you are at least a little pleased with how well you have been doing and how much you are improving.