Running up a Hillside

Yesterday was my first group time trial of the year. While I had begun to feel a certain affection for the mountain run at Stratton generally running uphill is very low on my list of why I enjoy nordic skiing (to be completely honest it would probably be on a "things I dislike about nordic skiing" list). As is required by the Ski Club Rule Book the course was around 20 minutes in length (to quote from rule 7a: All ski clubs shall have an approximately 20-40 minute standard time trial that involves running up a mountain side, the time trial shall be run using a mass start so that when one is hurting most they can get a clear idea of how much they are getting destroyed by). Armed with a basic knowledge of the course (you go up and then when it really hurts you keep going up), I was off. This was where the trouble began for me. I personally had no idea what the course was and as it was not a mountaintop finish there was no real way to gauge my distance remaining. I was, however, told by Kristen that it was going to be about 20 minutes for the fastest people (if Usain Bolt told you that the 100 meters should take you about 10 seconds you're probably thinking more like 13 seconds or 14 seconds), basically I decided to go out a bit conservative as that has always led to my best results. I quickly settled in to the gap between the second pack of guys and the lead girls (last guy but not getting girled, you win some you lose some). Luckily for me the first 17 minutes were my favorite steepness, just flat enough so that you must run to keep you dignity but such that by the time it came to kick it in I'm not entirely sure I my calf muscles had any power left. In the end I staggered across the line in 24:05 fully dominated (there were some times in the 18's) though not girled (got to find hope somewhere). Overall it was not a very good run for me as I could have pushed harder and just wasn't feeling that great on the whole that day. However, we are doing it again in October and I am aiming to bring my self down into the 22's. Until them I get to think about that ugly 5+ minute deficit I came in at.
On another note I would like to apologize for my lack of workout pictures, my water holder is currently cracked all over and while duct tape does a good enough job to maintain usability it is always quite damp/wet and I have yet to meet a phone that that enjoys water.