Run race ((orienteering)) 2:07:49 [4] *** 15.7 km (8:08 / km) +490m 7:03 / km
spiked:24/28c
Australian Long Championships, 16th in M21E. This was the 20th time I've fronted up in 21E (a sufficiently long span of time that none of today's placegetters were born when I ran my first, in 1992), and I doubt very much that there will be a 21st - two-thirds of the way through, part of me was thinking I was really enjoying this (it was an enjoyable area), and part of me was thinking I wouldn't mind if it stopped right now. I was happy to keep running 21E as long as I could get midfield results and contribute to the Nuggets, but now that I generally can't do either of these it's probably about time to make the move. (As it turned out, I was a scoring runner today for the first time in a couple of years, thanks to Bryan's DNF, Toph's blowout and Bruce and Matt running other classes).
Generally nice start although took a couple of controls to get into the 1:15000 scale; took Tash's advice to avoid green where possible, which worked well on 3 (and 4 was ridiculously photogenic). Fairly smooth through the first 11 and functioning OK physically, a bit indecisive in my route on 12 and missed 13 slightly high. The greenest section followed and included my one significant miss of the day. about 90 seconds at 18 - lacked a bit of confidence in where I was and pulled up one gully early. From there it was a bit of a slog physically as I tired significantly, especially from 22 onwards, and the last 20 minutes were a major struggle - a tired 15-second mistake on the second-last (27) probably summed up where I was at at that time.
It won't quite be my last 21E long race - I'm entered for that at the North Americans next week (and I may still run the odd one in the NOL; also expect I'll keep running elite middle distances, at least for a while).