Orienteering 46:53 [4] 5.55 km (8:26 / km) +138m 7:30 / km
12c shoes: 201006 Inov-8 X-talon 212
After relaxing indoors at Alex's office at U Mass for a time, we set off for the second event at Quabbin. This race was a mass start with courses customized for each individual by PG. The courses were devised such that each individual was expected to be out for about the same length of time. The map was at 1:15k scale, and the vegetation in general had thickened since the map was made. In particular, there were numerous fallen trees with logs and scattered underbrush.
The mass start didn't cause me problems. It took me some time to get adjusted to the scale, and I was wheezing and out of breath throughout the run. I felt very weak, and it seemed that insufficient oxygen was the limiting factor for me. I guess that's the general feeling that emerges from poor fitness (i.e. low VO2).
The map was very good, though the detail was limited by the scale. The most interesting part of the race was running into other people who were not necessarily attacking the same control I was. Boris, JJ and I had a particularly harrowing experience running up a trail just before the road crossing that was laden with numerous fallen trees. The climb up the hill after the road was exhausting, and curiously, while I had enough energy, I had very little power. Once I reached the top of the hill, I was able to run through the clear woods, but I could not push up the hill faster. I was quite tired near the end of the course, but the pressure of a mass finish drove me on.
The last control was up a non-trivial hill, and I slowly trudged up the slope. Just as I approached the streamer, I heard crashing through the vegetation behind me. I reasoned that I was in danger of being passed, so I started my charge to the finish with over 300 meters to go. The trail around the lake bed had poor footing, and my worst fears were realized when Ali cruised past me. I tucked in behind her until the trail leveled out, then I spent everything I had left on the final sprint. I was undoubtedly helped by the fact that the finish was downhill, and I just managed to get ahead of her before we tagged Peter. She did run a much longer course, but I will take my victories where I can. The speed plot from the gps track has a nice rise where I noted Ali's approach.