Monthly Handicap - O'Connor Ridge

Today:
Distance: race - 8.0 km plus warm up 1.6 km
Time: race - 36' 15"
Rate: race: 4' 32" per km
Weather: cloudy, temp 10-14 degrees, humidity 60%, wind calm
Start group: 35
Finished: 18th
Week: 9.6 km, Oct: 278.95 km, Year: 3608.9 km

It must have been the 25 minutes in the cold water of the river yesterday afternoon plus 10 hours sleep at night. Very happy with today's run, started well back in the field on handicap, may be a dozen behind me. At one stage, a course marshall shouts 75th place, a bit disheartening knowing so many are still in front with 4 kms to go.
The course is the most difficult we use so I still had a chance with lots of undulations to come. As well, Allrounder started 5 groups in front so chasing her down was a focus. That was only just completed with about 500 metres to go. Others I try to chase failed to make the start line.
Good conditions with showers expected some time today, but that chance is fading fast this afternoon.
I seem to be going through a very consistent patch at the moment. Apart from the sore shoulder and arm, all is well in the running department. Plenty of good events coming up soon, so I hope the form continues.
Ewen, the final results are out for yesterday at Orroral Valley. Fourth male in the 32 km. I failed by 38 seconds to be within 5 minutes of Liz. Those hills on the return did me in. May be next time, or the party will go all day.
A late addition to this blog. It started to rain not long after I first published, and hasn't stopped since.