Run race (Bouddi Coastal Run) 1:55:47 [5] 21.15 km (5:28 / km) +564m 4:50 / km
shoes: Asics Kayano 22 (Black)
Now I remember why I don't often run these shorter trail races. Felt right out of my comfort zone from the start with heart rate right up there. Course was very undulating with the beaches generally the only flat sections.
Started along Putty Beach just behind leaders. I was going 4 min/km in soft so the others were going well below so as expected let them go early and settled into about 8th coming into the trails. Passed a couple more along Maitland Bay Beach and ended up in a group of three just behind the lead group of three in the distance. Going up the first proper climb at 7km passed the other two to settle into 4th. By halfway it was getting pretty hot and the runners on the other shorter course were coming in both directions on the trail which made it quite hard to find a rhythm. Had a low about 11-13km and dropped back into 6th with the others getting out of sight. Thought I was gone, but got a new wind coming up the biggest climb passing one and could see the other ahead. From there finished pretty strong and cruised along the final beach with no-one else around from the 21km around to finish in 5th, 7 min down on Geoff Arnold.
Happy with the result. About as good as I could hope for given the shorter distance. A bit of a taper would have helped as legs were a little heavy up the hills and somehow need to improve down stairs.