O - competition (Boulder Dash Brown 2) 58:10 [4] 5.17 km (11:16 / km) +248m 9:05 / km
ahr:142 max:188
Started badly by watching David head up the trail from the start flag and doing the same. That was the wrong trail and I was up 100 m before realizing it. too far to go back, I contoured around the hill and missed the detail above the target reentrant. Actually started down it, had no confidence, went down the one before it and came up from the trail. By then Charlie, starting 3 min behind in the chase, was on me. We both took off to 2. When I crested the hill out of 2 I sprinted to break contact with Charlie and then spotted David, who had started 6 min before me. I was slightly ahead of the other two through 6. Then the rain cut loose and I couldn't keep my glasses clear (got to start wearing my contacts again). Couldn't read the detail to 7 with the rain and Charlie on my heels, and got too high. Knew I had missed it and dropped down to the control, but they were gone. Quick to 8 and then lots of climb to 9. But again I couldn't read the detail and went up the wrong spur. Got to the top, figured out I was at the wrong cliffs and on the wrong spur, looked over and saw my control 150 m off at the same elevation. Fast run over and then the trail to the road to 10, looking for it at the end of the marsh until I realized it was on the little cliff just above.
Turns out Charlie got screwed up on 8 and was behind me and David totally screwed up and came in 20 min later; I was 3rd for M65 moving up one spot. Fun, challenging courses by Phil and lots of tough competition amongst the geezers.