Edit: 8th/82
http://www.cvfr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/M...Looks like there was one extra person near the front than I thought,and also someone sneakily cheated by going the right way and got into 4th ahead of our group. As I thought I about 1 place lost and a couple of mins; will get it right next year! Basically all my races this year are just recces for next year...
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For some reason when I did my evening stretches last night my ankle had reached the only-hurts-when-prodded stage, so decided at the last minute to give this a go (but eschew parkrun #beinggood).
Never noticed it the whole way around, which was surprising and good, but my left knee is now really painful. I wonder if I've been subconsciously running weirdly over the last few weeks to avoid hurting my ankle and that's messed up my knee? Or maybe it just doesn't like 3 days sat at a desk with no exercise. Anyway a couple of weeks off now.
So to the race. Bit of a navigational disaster. Again. I think I was on about 4th place at CP3 with 5 and 6 just behind. I was pleased with this since they were ahead at the start and I'd passed them on the hill. They got ahead on the path to 4, but I caught and passed then again up to CP5.
Then there was one more navigation leg of about a mile before the run to the finish. I was paying too much attention to staying ahead of them and not enough on the map, and missed a crucial junction...They followed me. We ended up going through some really rough stuff near some reservoirs. On the plus side I think we caught 3 who had gone wrong independently, not as much as us but more insecurely. I knew where we were at this point, so it was just a case of mitigation. As soon as we got to a good quality path though I couldn't stay stay with the group - so I think I ended up in 6th although couldn't say for sure! Maybe could've been one place better without the mistake since we might've got past 3; time would certainly have been a few mins up.
Good to be racing the whole way around, definitely pushed quite hard and it was a nice race, good conditions, I was overdressed in a jacket. Glad I came, and glad my ankle was ok (knee pain definitely in a more normal place). Skiing tomorrow :) :)