Xterra Totara Park 2018

Xterra Totara Park 2018

19th August 2018
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2943691119

Spoiler: Injury Alert!

A fantastic Auckland morning was forecast, and Brett took me and Neville out to the chilly Totara Park. Nev considered this course to be his nemesis (well, his recent running nemesis was Michal, but this was his most unfavoured Xterra course). The day was fantastic and sunny.

Will and Barnaby had decided to run some 16km of flats yesterday at 4:14 pace, so they weren't here to spur us on. I think they were scared of cows. (cowlink)

We started out on the course at 9:00am, and I was feeling good. After 1.5km, totally unexpectedly, my left ankle folded out from under me, and youch! Sprained. Sore. I hobbled to a stop, and realised that I couldn't continue. I walked on a bit until Neville and Brett passed me, and I could deviate off the course back toward race HQ.
Bummer! I can't remember not finishing a race before, so that was a first.
My ankle swelled up pretty quickly.

The nice fellows (Mike) at the first aid tent took very good care of me, including splinting my ankle up (in case it was broken), providing drugs, and keeping me warm. I decided to phone Nikki to come and rescue me, since I was obviously going to need to go to get it xrayed anyway. So she came out and picked me up and we went to White Cross and (several hours later) came away with a 'no broken bones' diagnosis. That was good ( I suppose ). Hopefully just a few weeks enforced idleness until I can get back into running again! [[ I've got about 40 minutes up my sleeve in the Xterra 50+ series competition this year, but I will need to complete the last race at Riverhead in 3 weeks time, if I want to qualify...] ]

Neville enjoyed his run (and, yes, he has been doing 800m intervals lately!), including holding off his nemesis Michal Petrus by a minute or so.

Brett ran well, finishing the long course in 1:45:14 (only just pipped by one 60+ runner, who will be his age category for next year).

So, a mixed bag at Totara Park this year. And no cows 😀