This was much better than last time (despite my dire warning to myself not to do it again (which I ignored)).
The torrential rain 5 minutes before the start let up to a light drizzle throughout the race, which wasn't unpleasant. Pretty wet underfoot which suited me.
Much better signage this year (and also looking at the O map and working out both where we went wrong last year and the correct route) meant no getting lost - hooray!
Leading till about 7k; deliberately slowed down on the hill down from the uni since it was on-road. Caught by Imanol (another B+W) and we ran the next 4k together along the canal. I was convinced we had a B+W 1,2 sewn up; he started to pull away up the hill and then suddenly we were both passed by someone who was clearly an uphill specialist.
Him and Imanol then disappeared totally up the hill and I didn't see them for ages; then we had some lovely off road downhill which I destroyed to overtake them both at around 14k. They were both wearing road shoes which had a lot to do with this.
They both disappeared again immediately up the next hill, but I caught Imanol at another downhill offroad muddy steps section at 17.5k or so and stayed ahead until 20k unfortunately for me the last downhill was on the road and he caught me back up again, and was quicker along the canal.
REally pleased with my 4k along the canal at the end; running about 4:15s which were 5 min ks last year, not bad after 20k with lots of hills I don't think.
Even managed to keep running up the hill to Bath Uni (albeit at 6 min ks) but it was a stagger last year, so really pleased.
Solid 3rd place, and not too dead at the end.
http://www.webscorer.com/results?raceid=47672&...50 secs down on Imanol and a massive 5 mins down on the leader - however apparently he does ironmans, so...
http://www.movescount.com/moves/move70490055#navig...