Orienteering race 5:33:58 [5] 22.16 mi (15:04 / mi) +549m 14:00 / mi
35c shoes: Salomon Speed Cross 4
Nain Rouge Gain 2018
Back in Michigan! Maps were handed out at check-in and I had almost 2 hours to plan. I decided on a CW route which left a few low point value controls near the finish that I could drop if necessary. Based on the straight line distance it looked like I wouldn’t have a problem clearing, but there were 5 unaccounted for bonus controls. At the race briefing we were told that the Nain Rouge (Todd) would be out roaming the course. If we ran into him we would have to serve a 2 min penalty or do 20 push-ups. Unless we had beads to ward him off! I was very confused about the location of said beads, but I figured it didn’t really matter.
The race started at 10 a.m. and I took off with a big group to my first control. I knew I didn’t have the speed to match Tim/Tom, so my plan was to minimize distance by going as straight as possible wherever it made sense. And that makes the navigation more fun :) Small bobble on my fourth control. In my haste to lose a couple of people I drifted on my bearing and had to pause to figure out where I was. It didn’t take long to figure out. After that I didn’t see anyone for a while. Hit my first bonus control after 41 where I found beads! I thought they were going to be at 34?
Finished up the first section and then I had a long road run to the far W part of the map. There were quite a few unmapped roads that had me worried, but I was able to keep track of where I was and there was even a park sign when I finally got to where I was headed. Whew! Received the location of NR4 at 56, which involved plotting a bearing over 1500 m. Not easy with a thumb compass… Double checked my plot and found a feature near my line that matched the clue. Good enough. And it was even on the way. Continued on with my original plan and decided to get NR4 after 47. However, when I got to 47, I got the location of NR5. And it was all the way back where I had just been… Bummer. I was ahead of my time estimates, so opted to go back for it. A long trail run back to NR5, then to NR4 (plotted it correctly!) and then I was back on my planned route.
Headed back to the E section of the map, picking up a few controls along the way. Small mistake on 43. I cut in too early, hoping to confuse the person who was behind me on the road, but I also confused myself… Corrected off the field and didn’t lose too much time. Saw the Nain Rouge on the way to 34, but I was able to ward him off with my beads! Decided to cross the swamp after 34 to get a break from running. It was quite thick, but also frozen so not too bad. Good route choice. No idea how I didn’t see the bonus flag on my way to 73, but it wasn’t really out of the way to grab it after. Crossed the stream after 62. I remembered it being very deep, but it was only up to my knees.
I was on the home stretch after 71. I ran out of water, but I only had about an hour left so I wasn’t worried. I just ate some snow. My legs were quite tired, but I was able to keep up a trot on the roads/trails. Brain started getting foggy on the last few controls, probably due to the lack of water. Only mistake was a poor exit from 33 to the finish.
Great ‘first’ race by Steve and Angel! I really enjoyed the course (minus the absurd distance between 2 of the mother-daughter controls). I miss MI terrain. Very happy with my performance. Legs felt great for the first five hours and I only had a few minor navigation errors. Cleared the course with time to spare. 2nd OA and 1st female.