Brown Ultra Long at Pacheco. Mass start. I knew enough about my conditioning and general physical level that I had no trouble executing my strategy right from the start - let them go. Dennis had been worried about the whole race being run in a pack, but I knew I couldn't be part of any pack. So muddled along on the way to 1, seeing lots of people in front, of course on a variety of courses. Stayed on the road a good ways, then cut across some spurs and right in. Saw some people ahead who had come along the ridge line, also a very good route. Down left of the pond and up the opposite side, trying to hang onto Gary Kraght, but falling a bit behind, finally catching up near the control. Then had what turned out to be a good route to 3, seeing quite a bit of Rich Parker. Straightish to 4, ending up going right through the medium green, which was pretty diffuse bushy stuff and no real obstacle to passage. Amazed to see Dennis there, as I had thought he was at least several minutes ahead. As it turns out, we were ahead of everybody except Brian Ellis. By the time we got to the aid station, we were in a pack of 6 or 8 (described by the aid station person as the peloton). On the way to 6, they streamed out in front, some going uphill early to the right. I stayed low and climbed the last slope, all alone until I got close to the control, where I was only about 25 M behind Dennis again.
Back down toward the road, but reluctant to cross the fence for actual road running, then angled up over the last two spurs. A little uncertain, thought I was still low, but all of a sudden I was in a pack near a control, which I think was the green one. So then I was convinced I was low and climbed way too high. In fact, I had already been too high. Hard to see how I did that, but I did. Headed back down, but then was stopped by someone yelling for help from above, so started back up, but then he said no, keep going. Waffled for a bit, then back down, could see the right thicket from a distance, but a lot of climbing and about 13 minutes lost. And that is where I had just had it, too tired and too sore to be thinking clearly. Instead of going down to the road and around to 8 (a fine route), or up to the trail, also fine, I climbed and tried to go straightish, but had trouble following any kind of a line. Got very hung up in the stripy green, much worse than the dark green had been. Not sure if I was going to end up in a poison oak thicket, so backed out and went down to my left, got confused going across spurs, and got more focused on my very sore R achilles than on where I was going. I was much higher than I realized pretty much the whole time. Finally and mercifully hit a fence, learning that I was about 250M away from where I thought I was. Limped back downhill and found #8 (another 10 min or so lost), then limped back up and across, contouring a bit, eventually to the road, up to the fence junction and then to the control. Just slow. A fairly straight line from there to #10. Matej went by like a shot, saying hi as he motored past.
So probably half an hour lost between the mistakes at 7 and 8 and the death march to 9 and 10. Still a nice course and a beautiful day.
Map.
Not sure what to make of my physical condition. I am kind of beyond any kind of useful training at this point.