A day of madness

Why does it seem a good idea to enter a mad race several months in advance? We entered the Glen Clova Xtreme Duathlon, which is in aid of Tayside Mountain Rescue, as it's a good cause and we have done the route before (several times for some of it) and knew we could get round.
It starts with a 16+ mile cycle, most of it the same route as the half marathon I'v done a couple of times, then goes up 2 Munros and then a cycle back to the start (only 3+ miles).
It was a beautiful day but below freezing when we arrived to register and only just above when the ride began, though it warmed up later. The cycle is undulating and I was last at transition (though had been started in the last wave) but managed to finish 5th from last.
It was really hard running after cycling and a lot of walking was involved on the climbs - the extra is of me with the steep climb to the skyline and beyond in the background. The coming down was mostly runnable although there was a section where the path is diverted steeply through the forest and walking was compulsory. I think it was the toughest "run" I've ever done, though no where near the longest.
The final ride was with a tail wind and nice and quick.