Orienteering race (Foot) 1:05:39 [4] 5.1 km (12:52 / km)
NEOC Toll Cup, Day 2. I ran trails going to #1, so I ran too zig-zaggedly. I did the same for #2 but got a better result from it. For #3, I navigated correctly to the right area but got sloppy and doubtful; I was sloppy by not getting far enough over to properly see the reentrant with the control. I ran just on the other side of the saddle that it was near. Passing it, I hunted the next knoll before coming back. For #4, I used the trail but didn't read the control location well. I checked the wrong rock past the control first.
#5 was my worst error. I used the trail but somehow got on the one going left. I corrected but lost confidence about where I was. Still going on anyway, I eventually decided to climb to locate exactly where I was. A brown course runner was there ahead of me, and I saw him dead down almost right away. I next did what I'd done the last 2 races, I read the wrong leg. The one for #6 had a parallel setup with a road above it, so I suddenly assumed that I was there. This resulted in hunting the wrong reentrant, and going back toward #4 to relocate. I realized it soon enough, and had no trouble finding the control after that.
For #6, I went low using the trail, and spiked it. Leaving #6, I was on the wrong bearing. This took me parallel to the trail, not using the trail. I corrected after hitting a neither trail. At the intersection, Rick Bressman passed me. We both went up the hill as others whom I'd seen at #5 were coming down. After hitting #7, I ran down, to the trail again, partly chasing Rick. We made good time before the easy cut-in to the control. Next, I descended down. Rick paused doing the same but stayed ahead of me. We both took the trail all the way to #9.
For #10, I chased Rick on the left trails route. Rick cut off early, choosing to cross near a marsh. I got to the control first, as Rick was approaching it as I was moving toward #11. I went straight toward #11, hitting it well. For #12, I went straight and got confused by the reentrant. After going up, I stopped to read and ponder. When I looked up, the control was under my map! It was just green enough for me not to see it earlier.
For #13, I read the vegetation, staying mostly to the right of the greener parts. It was risky but it worked. I went straight toward #14 and hit that well. I had Ethan Hall right behind me. I moved well and the trail was too narrow for him to pass.
The boom on #3, #4 and #5 was disappointing. I need to be more calm during these New England races.