Training Log Archive: robw

Aus ultra long, had big hopes for this race and felt like i made a good effort at it but just wasnt good enough in the tough technical terrain.
Got behind early with some ordinary route choices and a struggle in the thick terrain. I got going a bit better in the second half of the loop and started a long battle with robbie but never felt good physically and was always struggling to stay with him.
We had different splits heading out on the last loop and I got in ahead of robbie into 5th with the short split and not long after caught lachie who was struggling. Not long after robbie was back on me and we went out after the leading trio. by this stage i was pretty cooked and really struggling in the thick terrain. Robbie took a different line on the next long one and I missed the control at the end after struggling through another coughing fit and was resigned to 6th but then caught him again at the end of the butterfly. By this stage i had given up hope of catching the others and was just thinking of getting to the end though.
Robbie got away again through a thick patch on the last long leg and although i still had him in sight as we ran through the finish i missed the control and that was it. Cruised through the last couple of controls absolutely stuffed.
Great course with lots of small route choices and fantastic splitting, perhaps the only thing missing was an epic long leg but would have been hard to fit it in with the loops. Too tough for me on the day but keen to come back and have another go next year. Top effort from Ian Lawford to pull out the win, very impressive.