Orienteering race 2:24:07 [2] 7.9 km (18:15 / km)
shoes: New Balance MT 101
O distance. (did not have GPS watch)
Harris Center O event. Ran the blue, at 7.9k seemed to be on the shorter side, so thought manageable. But really just wanted to get the most "out of the money" since I had not done enough O-ing lately. The heat, although not unbearable in the woods did slow me down. Also, with the technical challenge of the terrain, I simply did not take any risk, and spent plenty of time standing still and analyzing the details. The map got increasingly crumpled, inside my bag. Had several major mistakes, which took me a long time to correct - combination of heat, me not in the mood for attacking, and the fear of getting totally lost, led me to search for safe attackpoints. Meanwhile I did enjoy the experience.
Nailed 1 from the round marsh. Missed 2, veering off and relocated at linear marsh (5 minutes) . 3-6 were fine, slow to 7, came to far left; Pia passed me - she was on red, but I assumed she was on blue. She came in and out of sight on the long leg but followed the logging cut while I continued back along linear marsh to end, where all the yellow/orange folks were mulling around. Drifted to far to left and saw Pia again (but she ran to our 9 which I did not know). Eventually decided that she was on to the next control and had to relocate back W to near the stream, then N up the reentrant and over the two hills, and there it was. Grrr. 6 minutes! Then to 9 - never saw the two dot knolls, but instead drifted to left, circled and found the N-S line of two boulders with hill and attacked to the boulder, but did not see the control (it was hiding behind a wide tree trunk coming from this side). Now I was discouraged and entertained the idea that the control is missing. Went again back towards hill and re attacked, and the same again. But 2nd time I looked a little left and saw the two flag stripes showing on either side of the tree trunk. (9 minutes). Next!! 10 was easy,
so was 11, then to 12, came over the hill with 3 boulders, but thought it was the one N (with a little triangle) and attacked into the wrong directions. Came to a bouldery valley with a depression but no control, and nothing made sense. Try to correct and came back to the same hill, but now saw the 3 huge boulders in front of me which led me to the circle, but still was not clean on the attack. Left leg starts to feel crampy. (+ 6 min). I heard a rustling in the woods, so I waited. Jeff was shuffling by to my surprise, expected him to have been long gone - he had troubles at # 1.
So continued, trying not to be affected by my mishaps and simply enjoying the outing. Back to the marsh, along the streamers through two marched and then careful approaching - eventually sighted the lines of boulders - hopped from one to the other and came right to the control. Sigh! this one was worrisome, but ended up being a bright flag visible from 50 m ahead. I purposefully walked to 14 and reached in more or less in control. Left leg now really cramping unless I relaxed it on the lifting. This slowed me down. (4 goo chumps helped). Slow to 15 but in control. Similar to 16. Stood in front of it and probably studied the map for 30 seconds, to figure out contours until I saw the flag right there in front. (blinding contrasts of light near the clearing). On to 17, N along marsh, then followed stream W through rock mess, then turned N to NE over the top. Very much in control here, and able to jog steadily. No problems to 18, took a goo at the water stop. Then to 19 with the least amount of climb, following stream lines, up the hill to 20 and home!
Really fun orienteering! Wish I lived closer and could train regularly here.
Would have been nice to catch my mistakes earlier. The heat probably took a toll on good concentration, which is really mandatory in this terrain.
JJ beat me by 15 minutes but had very similar times on the last 7 controls .