Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - Day 1 - Monte Livata (S)
M45 has 41 competitors and my course is 5.4k with 140m of climb and 10 controls; and is mostly through mature, fast beech forest. I lose time at the first control by searching on the wrong side of the ridge - the rock detail does obliterate the contours! Thereafter, I am clean and complete the course in 37 minutes - enough to secure a narrow and surprising, but pleasing, victory.
Results.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - Day 2 - Campo Della Pietra
More beech forest on a high plateau with fantastic views! M45 is 5.9k with 175m of climb and 15 controls. I have another good run, losing a small amount of time at control 10 and finshing the course in 42 minutes and 2nd place.
Results.
Friday, July 14, 2006 - Day 3 - Altipiani Di Arcinazzo
Very different terrain - rough pasture and lots of thorn bushes! Training on adjacent area on the rest day (13th July) I realised this was going to be tricky. Despite this knowledge, I still missed controls 1 and 3, and was caught by a Norwegian who started 6 minutes after me. Thereafter, I found the controls cleanly and completed the 5.3k course with 220m of climb and 15 controls in 49 minutes, 1 minute behind the Norwegian and in second place on the day and first overall.
Results.
Saturday, July 15, 2006 - Day 4 - Monte Livata (N)
A return to the beech forests! M45 is 5.6k with 165m of climb and 14 controls. I have a clean run and complete it in 37 minutes and 1st place.
Results.
Chatting after the race with Mikhail Gryoznevich, M50 from TVOC.
Sunday, July 16, 2006 - Day 5 - Monte Livata (C) I am 4 minutes clear of second at the beginning of the day, but am feeling the pressure at the start. Fortunately, I hold my nerve and run another clean race completing the 5.8k course with 190m of climb and 12 controls in 41 minutes for another victory on the day (this was only secured on the run in though!) and overall victory.
Results.Overall results.
On the podium with Tapio Markki, Finland (2nd) and Arnt Edvin Andersen, Norway (3rd).
