Discussion: Road to 11

I went across the bridge and then a bit over and around the spur to the field and took the road from there. I think it was a bit shorter there.

But at the end, I didn't want to cut across the very-empty woods and took the road almost to the intersection and then cut in - which is probably longer than your path.

I'm a minute and a half slower on the leg so I'd say your route was better;-)

After deciding to take the bridge, I should have climbed over the spur more instead of heading around it. I had the energy left.

Gun shy about some navigation errors last week I wanted to play it safe at the end.

I wasn't sure about this one. at least for me it turned out well since I felt like I had the energy at that point to put in a good paced road run. I did cut across the woods at the end.

The route choice that is haunting me from 8-9. Map/Swamp issues aside, the course setter gave us a huge clue on an alternate route by placing the water cup at the trail head. In hind sight I think the trail north of the line would have been better since it wasn't too far out of the way. I am not sure of the impact of the swamp but Nate apparently took the north route and bested everyone by over 2 minutes.

(no map with me) You're talking about left after 8 to the edge of the field and riding that along - I did that too, and thought I made good time, apparently my legs don't go as fast;-)

It did keep me out of any potential terrain. I didn't see the water, but was reacting to the contours. I tip-toed across the swamp that is at the corner of that field on a fallen tree... [tree crossings are at least as fast as getting your legs sucked into the mud;-]

I see time wise it was one of my better legs but not as fast as yours - the direct line you picked was pretty good.

I had some major issues with that swamp going to 9 - crossed the uncrossable (not marked as such on my map, which was an interesting quirk) marsh without a problem but then sank up to my neck in a swamp just after that looked like dry forest. After that my shoes were filled with muck, leading me to think that staying on the north trail would have been a much better choice. I didn't see the water, otherwise I definitely would have taken that route.

As for 10-11, I crossed the bridge and then basically went straight there, with the usual zigs and zags that happen when I'm tired.

It's not mentioned here but apparently the course setter printed to pdf with an application that dropped out those marshes... The uncrossable kept the boundary, and I'd say the crossable further north just disappeared...

The individual printing received only the pdf and didn't notice (and we have not had this happen in the past)