posted my gps track on routegadget:
http://s91276857.onlinehome.us/gadget/cgi-bin/reit...as you can see, no real mistakes (navigation was easy, and I was definitely gaining time by not messing up), but I really slowed down after 18, in fact, I walked most of the time after that. it was pretty hot, and from the HRM, it looks like I started out too fast. got some cramps that seemed like they were from the gu (never had that problem before), and that made it hard to run. my energy level crashed around the same time, not sure I've been that tired before. I guess my fitness level is close to a historic low and I was just sick for two weeks, but I really still should have been in the top 3.
now I have a few concerns about whether blue is going to kick my ass in november. not that there's too much time to fix my fitness, but at least it should be much cooler. will try to at least get some consistent weeks in before then, with some terrain running.