Xterra Hunua 2019
1st September 2019
The Video
and, interactively,
The Day
I drove Barnaby and Neville out, leaving St Heliers about 7:05. (about the right timing).
It was the first day of spring, and was warm(ish) and still. Lovely for running!
We met up with Michal and Maria and Neil, and team Run Like Crazy was looking good - with both Barker and Woods families out also.
The Run
Neville, Barnaby, Michal, Maria and I started at 9:00am. Nev had decided to do the long option (due to being sick recently), and he settled in behind me. Michal shot off the front, and Maria raced along at super speed. Nev and I overtook Maria after a few kilometers, and were running fairly conservatively. I had a sore lower back, and wasn't feeling very youthful, but a couple of nurafen helped...
A couple of stream crossings later, Nev split off onto the long option, and I ended up running with Nick K, who had a great race for another first in 60+ category. (even though Brett wasn't there to spur him on).
The first section of the run is basically the mid option course (which Barnaby did due to a sore knee). Lots of nice single track and not very hilly, with a bit of gravel road thrown in.
After 11.4km, we hit the juicy ARA Drive Climb, which shoots from 155m elevation to 415m in just 2km. Unlike the 'old days', this is on gravel road, and traction is not a problem. I managed to run non-stop up this road, which I was pleased about. I saw afterwards that Michal had beaten my time up this segment, which meant that he must have also been feeling strong!
Then it was onto the daunting PukaPuka track... Not so wet this year as sometimes, but super rooty and a bit slippery like always. After 1.5km on this, there is a really mean uphill section (which I couldn't run). After that, however, I got into a fast rhythm and was really enjoying the day. At times my legs were close to giving out, but I felt aerobically pretty good.
I just caught up to Michal at the very end of PukaPuka, but he fair raced down the last few kilometers of gravel downhill, and I didn't try to compete. I should have run a bit faster, though, as it turned out that Gary Walden (50+er) overtook me and beat me home by a minute.
Results
Everyone had an enjoyable run, and it looks likely that our team has come first overall. :)
Yay!
Wrap
A solid end to the XTerra 2019 season. I ran slower than previously, but felt better as the race progressed.
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