Orroral Valley Classic

Today:
Distance: 20.0 km
Time: 95' 34"
Rate: 4' 47" per km
Weather: sunny, temp 10-15 degrees, humidity 30%, wind calm early then NW increasing

Week: 20.0 km
October: 133.35 km
Year: 3454.05 km

This event has been going for nearly 10 years. Once you have been down into the Namadgi National Park and experienced nature at it's best, it continues to draw you back. Plenty of kangaroos about as well. Today was perfect running conditions with the start time now in the morning to get away from the strong afternoon NW winds. The wind did start to get up and going but it assisted on the run back down the valley.
Around 50 starters in events today with 3 in the longer 32.5 km run and the majority in the 20 km. A number of reasons for only 3 in the longer event included Fitzroy Falls Fire Trail marathon yesterday, the 24 mtn bike event on at Stromlo today and some saving themselves for Brindabella Classic next weekend. They missed a good day out.
I am almost over the cold that knocked me down last week, so a good run was a bit unexpected with only two very short jogs all week. Maybe the rest was well timed.
Settled into the top 10 for a while until we hit the one and only real hill for the day at the 5-6km mark when I passed a couple and then one of the leaders had ITB trouble and dropped back. The lingering effects of the cold slowed me on the up hill and a couple just in front went away, unable to maintain contact. I had Emma Murray go past me after the top of the hill, but she didn't get away, always in sight. Emma still had hammy problems and obviously not at her best at present. She did say later she would like to again go to SFT next year, so look out everyone who enters, she likes the course.
I shifted up a gear down Smoker's Trail towards the 2nd drink station, thanks Martin, to catch and pass Emma on the long open grassy trail back down the valley. Great sections this, very dry from the drought when usually there are some muddy parts.
Managed to also catch another runner after the 3rd drink station and also to then hold off Emma in a final sprint to the finish. Finish 6th, still had Vanessa in front of me as 1st female but then had to be content with 2nd in my age group as well, still fairly tough as you get older. Great day, perfect conditions, great event.
Easy week coming up, couple of runs early on then ease back, rest Friday and Saturday and BC on Sunday.
Stopped at Point Hut to stand in the cold waters of the Murrumbidgee River on the way home. Absolutely wonderful!!
Big day out, missed out on getting to a BBQ meet and greet other team members in the Triple Tri in November, just too late this afternoon and just a little tired, wonder why. Also wonder they asked me to do the Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie mountain run leg. No other volunteers, good, I like the mountains, the Two Peaks event is on the weekend before, so plenty of time to train. Looking forward to the rest of the year.