NM Ultra Long - H21 Guest - +38mins
As painful as it would make any later comparison, I always had the intention to simply get round today with unbroken legs by the end. It wasn't my best interest to race because of the weeks coming up, and I was essentially first start which would suck in a race that was always bound to pack up and track. So I headed out at a very modest pace, aiming to keep this until half way when I could start to put in some effort if I wanted. Shop was out of gels so had to pack a chocolate bar instead, but luckily there was a drinks point every 30mins with sports drink (literally in the middle of nowhere - e.g. on the way to 17, water from the stream, fold up/mesh table, one person manning it = Scandinavian organisation).
Easy through the first few, getting used to my 1:15 A3+ map and checking out what was to come. Hit me that it was a struggle for the first few, but then hopefully the marshes would allow for relatively inexpensive running. Climbed easily to 2 but then had a really shit time trying to save height to 3. Also parallel mistake'd it and wasted lots of time and energy. When I began flagging to 4 I began to get a bit worried but a drinks point at 5 and final path leg to 6 saved the day. Very confused to 7 looking at the horizon and trying to see my hill but took a good line and saved height well to 8.
Then my head began to go as a kind of early-bonk so I slowed right down and tried to take the nicest running lines. This ended making a very funny trace to 9, but I can partially blame that on the swollen ponds in marshes. Pussied out of the climb at the end and really needed some energy so chilled before the next point at 11. Took a few seconds and several drinks and felt much better afterwards. Caught up my fellow Swedish guests and had overtaken them both by 13, and the legs were beginning to wake up. I took half my chocolate bar to 15 and began to plan for a big effort on the long leg. Had a few drinks at 16 and then unleashed a really nice amount of energy picking up the marsh lines well this time. Flagged a bit after passing the second lake and having to climb a bit, and then the stream was horrendous. Took a few more drinks at the crossing but the effort hit a close on the wall up to the next section of the course. Finished my chocolate bar, walked a bit trying to chew it, took a dodgy line but eventually found my first control for 40mins (6km!!).
I began to feel quite good again but the hills were ruining my hip flexors so took it chill once again and walked most climbs. Began to check my watch and realised 3hrs was on (I said this would be my time if I played it right today) so sped up a bit again. Thought I'd finished all the climb by 21 and was gutted to realised I misread the contours to 22 and had to climb 15m... But had a final drink at 23 and was feeling perhaps the best I'd felt for the whole race. This soon changed though as I decked it on a rock to 24 and cramped through every muscle in my body, a very painful episode. Loosened off after a minute or two and began the effort again, although I was pretty sure it was over by now. Had a last ditch attempt on the last few controls and finished well but just missed out by 2s.
Very enjoyable race, terrain quality made it feel like 1hr not 3. Quite possibly the nicest stuff I've ever been in, had it been bone dry it would have been even better. Noticeably sped up in the last few controls and almost matched the leader's paces by the end, but my lack of effort for the rest of the race doesn't really make this a good comparison. Happy to finish relatively intact though and after some real food/sugar/coffee I was pretty much fine. Hopefully get to train normally this week coming up now.
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