Paced myself a bit better, but lap times still dropped off - And result not quite as good as I thought. It never is is it? 39th, but although 73 entered only 60 credited with at least one lap and only 42 managed 5 laps so well below half way 23 bleedin' minutes behind the winner!!! I should have know it wasn't great as they were doing the vets podium as I finished and Mr Quivering Quaver only had spuds left at the wagon, no burgers and they were packing up... Looking at the lap times I must have been bloody lapped by several, but it's hard to tell now who's in what race as the numbers don't tell you - Plus everyone was black anyway. Came in a minute in front of Steve Jones at least, although some Grandad vets (50-60) past me..... I used some gels as well this time, I think that helped - Drinking hard as bottles caked in sh*t - But what wasnt' so great was getting bloody freezing - Wore my usual stuff and out the trees in the wind it was pretty chilly - Teeth chattering come the end. It was only 11deg so should have worn more! Only one very minor crash all the way through - And it was pretty slimly to say the least, so pleased with that - Then took my eye off the ball within 2mins of finishing (3 mins short of 2hrs race time!) kissed a tree (That fast chicane through the trees Jim, just before the arena) and splatted in hard. Only lost seconds, but lost some more bark as well. Grrrhhhh