Training Log Archive: grilla

So I looked at what I wrote after my previous visit to this map: “Oh man, that was embarrassing” was the sum total of comments on Gumble Pinnacles. The same applied today, but maybe I need to write more for future reference. Will do shortly. But in summary, I started well, loving the terrain, the pines and the rocks. But the wheels fell off at about an hour. I had fully supported the no water on courses decision, but in hindsight, the communication about course winning time expectations needed to be more clearly communicated. Well over an hour, closer to 90 min for the top W50 leaves the main part of the field out for a very long time. This is ok, but not normal and needed to be heralded, in my view. We were late starters and I was last of my course. But even worse M21E were still heading off. Not sure why they are so late with a mega course in front of them.
So I started out OK, Pushed a bit right by the trees, but knew what I was doing and just being careful. Got 1, 2 and 3 fine. Did not see the easy way around to 4, but all good apart from approaching the circle where I went a bit low. Got that fine though, but did twist my right ankle heading up to it. Didn't notice it at all during the race, but its been a bit sore since and was unstable out on the map on Wednesday. Took the right route to 5 (should have gone left in hindsight). Ian M came past me part way there so stuck on his tail going up the hill to take advantage of his spider clearing. This worked pretty well, but I worked a bit hard keeping up. From the top of the hill let him go as he wasn't going my way (I should have stuck to him). I had to make my way across to the saddle and ridge to lead into the control which was slow. I should have just gone compass from the hill... Pulled up a bit early but got there. 6 was good. 7 I went right, but did not keep high enough and climbed more than I needed. Cut down across the slope and read everything well on the way and got that one well too. 8 kept high and read everything leading to the circle, but really struggle interpreting in the circle. Got it without too much bother, but alarm bells should have started ringing. Up to 9 and that was good. From 7 I was starting to feel really tired and by now I was pretty cooked. I started off to 10, to the left and was all good (apart from needing to walk a lot). But when I started down the slope, I just could not positively read a thing. Lost my confidence and my marbles and started doing silly things. Ended up on the open cliff above the control, but did not believe it so lost a stack of time here. Saw Alexa here - first person from my course I'd seen all day! Then bad choice to 11, and executed very poorly. Was going to give up here, but someone else got it and encouraged me to go and punch so I did. Then 12 was not where I thought it should be. I was done and walked from there back to the finish. From GPS (and Alexa's confirmation) I was on the wrong side of a rock. But I felt I'd lost all ability to orienteer at that point. I could have finished, but did not see the point in finishing with that level of competence. Very hot and thirsty afterwards.

I was pretty demoralised after this, but reviewing my track, I was doing OK and the parts where I thought I was were correct, I think I was just having trouble concentrating and reading the map. I am really happy with my new glasses, but it seems I do get tired using them, and maybe am not seeing the terrain quite right either.

C • Winning times 3

Day 2 Course 14 - Splits