Race: MR25 35k Progressive Run

Was rather looking frd to this run.
Thought my training session on tue for the tempo will be a gd sign for gd timing

It was a cool weather for the race, gd conditions.
Oliv sms me the night before to check if i am doing it.
He had finished ahead of me at AHM, 30k , etc
~2:56 for SCM 08

Lex was there, Jas and Mok too.
So it seems we have a gd pack to go ahead with.

Decided against my usual fast start.
Perhaps I didnt have it with me at all.
It was a conservative pace: 4:10 at the 4km northen loop.

We ran together and Mok and Jas with their superior lungs were providing the "radio support"
Running before Mok had the uncanny perception, "well , he doesnt look going too fast, n talking, so i shld be able to keep up...."

After venus drive and moving to the pierce gates, we broke up.
Mok n Jas went ahead (they warmed up.......)
Lex n Oliv
and me behind.

After taking longer than usual water breaks, the gap was too wide to catch up.
I was feeling hungry and dehydrated, so was determined to finish up my "power geled isotonic" drink in the 3 times passing thru the water pt.

Oliv was impressive to catch up with mok n jas. lex was within catchable dist away from me.
By then, reality had set in, this is a 35km run.... 35 km !!!!!!!!!!!!! And I still have rifle range to conquer, thats enough nightmare for me.

by the time we hit back to venus, there was no one in sight for me to catch.
at RRR (rifle range road), i took each hill as they come.
My shoes had worn off badly, no friction and rain made the mud hills very difficult to conquer.
I was slipping and falling, climbing those "impossible hills".

Then i saw Jas u-turn...... he got lost n decided to turn back
Next Oliv n Mok u-turned..... another lost sheep. they hadn't know the route....

I knew i had to finish the mud hills n hit the roads, how much to cover before a water point and u-turn indication? I have no idea.

Fr previous experience, it is rather long and I really pray it happen soon!

So i decide to continue onward.
But the time, my legs are already sore from all the climbs, on the roads on RRR, they are not forgiving, the 1st climb is a killer in itself.........
I told myself, "each hill as they come......."

Pleasantly, the U turn came sooner than expected. I mis read the map and thought it is like 3km ahead?

That gave me what i need to push ahead.

Then... the mud hills of RRR are waiting again. damn.....

Finishing that, i even slide down one of them........ , i head back to the norm MR 10k loop.
I picked up my pace and head back.
the muscular tiredness came back to haunt me, but it is me against myself.
Its that type of feeling where ur heart rate is low but muscularly, u arent able to move . "marathon feeling....."

last 2.5km at the 5km time trial..... pushed hard to go back.......
Finished with timing of 2:41 hrs...

Timing wise was ok ... not too sure how the route compared to the past one.
Just a bit disappointed that i couldnt kept up with the rest.
But effort wise was great.

Took another swim in the evenings, cool water was great for my recovery......