Race Evaluation
Possum Trot Weekend:
igoup
| 1. | Sorry I didn't add the event name properly. I can't figure out how to edit it. Maybe it is locked in stone now. On road to left with Spike. Safer is better for me on C1 and it gave me time to look at skip options. Came down onto control just as the pack was correcting up from below. | ||||||
| 2. | Skip | ||||||
| 3. | I discover that going up = not going. Punch behind Platt and Buckley. | ||||||
| 4. | Out to the fields and up. Platt goes under the fence and Buckley executes a primo ice slide under the fence and down the hill. Jerritt and I were just behind and were duly impressed. Heading into the forest I spot the control on the other side and that enables me to cross fast and get to the control just ahead of Swampfox. That was my fraction of a second of leading the PTrot. | ||||||
| 5. | Around to the left. Punch behind Platt and Buckley. | ||||||
| 6. | Swampfox disappears -- I assume he took the around route. Eric and I lead the chasing pack heading straight and I punch just ahead of him. | ||||||
| 7. | Decent route up to the mid-leg clearing and down to the construction area. But I misread the creeks/reentrants and Eric and I end up going about 100m right of control. Too bad. We gave up a good chunk of distance to the pack and put Swampfox permanently out of sight. | ||||||
| 8. | Spike leads us into 8. My legs had troubling climbing the two contours to the mid-leg road. | ||||||
| 9. | Mostly flat road to 9 and I use it to catch back up to Eric. David Frie executes a nice kamikaze downhill run to beat Eric to the bag. In my opinion, if they really have a death match going on there should have been more elbows and body checking. | ||||||
| 10. | Up through the saddle on the right and then hit a long long stretch of trashy forest. Somehow, without actually crossing a fence I end up way right -- I think I was off the map. Have to hustle back to catch the SLOC duo. | ||||||
| 11. | David does a nice job of executing the straight route and beats Eric, me and Jerrit who went right around the pond. My fear of climb is affecting route choice such that I stay in yellow even when it would be better not too. | ||||||
| 12. | Just behind the SLOC duo. A tree steals my hat and I have to go back and subdue the tree. | ||||||
| 13. | To the exchange. | ||||||
| 14. | On the road left trying to see if I can once again close the gap on Eric. Once we hit the final climb by the pool I realize it was not going to happen. Surprised not to see David pop out from the woods to the right (he made a trail/road error). | ||||||
| 15. | Up = ugh. | ||||||
| 16. | Easy. | ||||||
| 17. | In the first part of the leg I see Eric for the last time about 100m ahead. I did not properly plan my final approach and wasted time in the control circle. Justin Bakken catches me. | ||||||
| 18. | Around on the road to the left. Slip and fall on the icy road near the gate -- slip, BOOM! Ow. | ||||||
| 19. | Good to 19 taking the trails. Justin nipping at my heals. | ||||||
| 20. | Easy leg to 20. Justin just a bit behind. | ||||||
| 21. | H20 Break. Justin is stronger heading up and out of the water station ahead of me. He goes more directly through the forest and I go all the way around on the road -- this was a fatigue induced route choice that was a mistake. There was little climb going straight and it would have been faster. But I punch ahead of Justin. | ||||||
| 22. | I'd been waffling about my skip. 22, 23, 24, 25? I just can't seem to settle on a choice and end up just going with skipping 23. Off to 22 with Justin just behind. | ||||||
| 23. | Skip | ||||||
| 24. | To 24 with Justin. | ||||||
| 25. | Stupid route to 25. Pretty much went straight taking all the ups and downs. Right route into the open would have been much better. I punch a bit ahead of Justin but it is clear he is stronger climbing. Which is impressive because he is not wearing spikes -- really impressive given the conditions. We see David and Jerrit coming into C24 as we leave so I guess that means we are fight for third with Swampfox and Buckles ahead of us. | ||||||
| 26. | Now I am trying to stay with Justin on the ups and downs to 26. | ||||||
| 27. | More of 26 to 27. | ||||||
| 28. | I make one final push for third as we run by the corral and down. I benefit from the ice and Justin's lack of spikes and get a decent gap at 28. But the string on the punch is about 1mm long and I have a hard time reaching my card that is strapped to my arm. Justin catches up and even offers to help just as I finally get it. | ||||||
| 29. | Another downhill ice leg and I try to get away again. But Justin comes into 29 just behind. | ||||||
| 30. | I trip and fall coming out of 29 as I tried to get away again again. I scoot left to the trail a bit earlier than Justin with the hope that there is something left in the tank. But Justin hits the trail and is gone. I don't know how he managed to stay on his feet throughout the race w/o spikes -- that's some tough running. | ||||||
| F. | 4th two years in a row. It was a good fun race. Some good controls, some not as good controls. I suspect that Chopper would say this is almost as tough as taking off an arm just on a dare. |
Total Time Lost - 00:00:00