Urban Orienteering race 37:04 [5] 5.6 mi (6:37 / mi) +70m 6:22 / mi
Nottingham Urban Race - 1st, 37:04
Another pleasing run. Of course I knew Nottingham Uni campus having studied there for 3 years, but that was 8 years ago and new buildings had sprung up, plus I'd not seen the map before so I only knew the general directions of things.
Felt a bit sluggish through the first 5-6 choosing the right routes but a bit hesitant, better than going wrong however. Picked up the pace 6-7-8, first comedy fall onto backside at 9, punched sitting down. Went eastside to 10 which looking at splits doesn't seem to have been best route in hindsight. 11-12-13 straightforward but legs hurting, but checked Garmin for pace and this encouraged me. For some reason stupidly ran past 14 for about 50m, turned round when I saw lake crossing ahead, I had misread the position of the crags. Grind up to 15, then comedy moment to 16, did not clock stream at all, blue bordering green (not that I'm colourblind) and all of a sudden it appeared in my path, with a peaty black swamp between the water and the opposite bank. No choice but to leap it (though I'm told by Richard there was a causeway of sorts mere meters away) , one foot goes in, fall forward into mud and nettles, clamber out, to hear 'Are you OK?' as Carol punches the control. What timing!! I had a witness! Covered head to toe in black now, struggled to find cut through steps to 17 but did eventually, also hesitant to 18 as gap to west of hedge confused me. Too stubborn 20-21 as chose to go north and stayed north even when this got messy and you couldn't cut between the tennis court and the bowling green as the map suggested. Should have just put the boot in south side. But minimised mistakes and you can't argue with 2 victories by lunchtime!