The problem with running at AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) last night was the requirement to look like a high performance athlete at all times – the place was full of them, and we stood out like a bunch of sore thumbs.  That pressure was removed at this morning’s venue, the University of Canberra, where we just had to look a bit academic.  That wasn’t easy either, as anyone seen running in the heat could be assumed to have taken leave of their senses.  The car park and arena were in full blazing sun so we needed a shade plan; crowding into the finish tent was a bit too obvious.  Pete remembered he had a car tent awning lurking in the bowels of the boot (we have one too; it lives in the garage along with various other items that seemed like a really good idea at the time, but turned out not to be).

Having severely underutilised this particular piece of essential car travel equipment, it took some time to remember which way the poles went, but perseverance and encouragement go a long way, and eventually we were ensconsed in our own little shady palace behind the car.  Just as we were getting comfortable, it was time to start the race.

We lined up under some trees, from which it proved difficult to move. Luckily the beep of the start punch has a somewhat motivating effect, and I convinced my legs to start running.  The first two controls were straightforward, setting us up for no 3 which had two wide route choices. I decided to go right, then changed my mind and went left; less of an error and more of a dither.  I started encountering stairs, and lots of them.  Route choices became dictated by availability of ramps, and more important, availability of shade.

The leg from 5 to 6 was quite a long one, and by the time I completed it I was hot and tired. Only 11 more controls to go!  Seven was a nice downhill, but 8, 9 and 10 were all a bit of a slog; the approach to 9 took careful map reading and I used that as an excuse to slow right down.  11-14 were all very close short legs with constant direction changes; I got them pretty right.  I saw Pete at this point hot on my heels. I knew he started 2 minutes after me; what I didn’t know was that he went to 13 before going to 12, so he was further behind than I realised.  With three controls to go, I spurred myself on as much as I could, though I was wilting fast.  Finally into the finish, and the welcome cool of the download tent.

Pete arrived shortly afterwards, but he was about 25 seconds slower than me, having made an error from 14 to 15.  In the high stakes cumulative “Whoever Finishes Last Does the Dishes Cup”, I have a very slight advantage of about 15 seconds.  This will no doubt evaporate in tonight’s bush terrain, so I’m resting on my laurels.