13 June 2021
https://www.strava.com/activities/5459702950
19.4km, 657m vertical
The Day
I drove Neville and Michal and Will and Carol out to Waitawa on a fine morning. Pru and Grace went separately, as did the Duff family.
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| Sunny before the start! |
The Run
The run started at a fast pace, with me, Will and Neville all together. We got separated from Michal at the start and never saw him again until the end.
I mostly lead us trio around the first lap of the somewhat changed course (to avoid the Frisby Golf Nationals!). I felt pretty strong and the lack of overtaking from Will and Neville confirmed that the pace was on.
The big uphills at the end of the first lap allowed me and Will to put a small amount of distance on Neville, and by halfway through the second lap I had opened up a gap on Will too.
The single track sections of the course are super fun. (Well, not the uphill sections, but the downhill bits are fast and with lovely banked MTB corners)
It had been dry for several days, and there was basically no mud or slippery bits. The weather was overcast and cool enough for running fast.
Neville ran into a tree, but apparently without any serious damage to Nev or the tree.
Fortunately Will and Nev didn't get any closer to me in the last part of the run (which was just as well since I was knackered (I guess they were too!) ), and I was overjoyed to finish the run strongly... right up until the moment that I saw Michal waiting at the finish line for me... 😕🙈🙈🙈
Michal had a storming run, and wasn't wearing his normal singlet, which meant that I didn't see him a *mere 19 seconds* ahead of me. Probably just as well. (self-referentially deliberately vague meaning here)
I had one gel and a swig of water in my re-useable cup at the midway aid station.
I think everyone really enjoyed their run today :)
Results
Michal was just 5 minutes away from taking the top spot in the 40+ category, and clearly all that marathon training is paying off!
Unlike last year's super close results, this time there was a couple of minutes gap between me and Will and then Nev.
I was just a few seconds behind the first placed 50+ guy. Fortunately the super fast dude from Shakespear wasn't there :)
Carol upgraded from the Mid Walk to the Mid Run, with Grace and Pru doing the Short Run. Pru was 2nd in 60+ !
Hamish pipped Ed (again) on the Mid Run, with Helen doing the Short Run.
Post-Match Analysis
I felt very pleased with my run. I've been putting in some miles (and hills) lately, which are paying off on race day.
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