orienteering race (Pittwater middle NOL) 48:13 [3] 3.5 km (13:47 / km)
shoes: Inov8 ORoc 280
Pleasant assembly area overlooking Pittwater itself (although the tide had gone out by the time I got back and hoped to go for a dip) and meaning that we were a fair way down the peninsula and the course went early on into the open grassy dunes at the tip; felt quite warm in the sun. Took it slowly, feeling pretty stuffed and unco, but enjoying the mental challenge of making the map fit the ground. Failed to achieve this in a couple of places though; at 8 where the single pine tree should have been my perfect attack point but I couldn't quite make the features beyond it fit; saw Simon here having trouble too but he caught on quicker than I did (2.5 min lost, and I'd probably been within 10m of the control on my first pass). Had trouble on 10 as well, possibly because of trusting the 'boundary' between trees & open and also not wanting to overshoot, but I persevered and was eventually rewarded by the sight of Bridget dropping in to the control (1.5 min lost). Enjoyed the next bit through the larger pines but came unstuck on the 2nd-last by being too far right/high to find the right knoll, stopping short and relocating off the track, so that was another couple of minutes. A bit dumb, but lots of fun - and even with a clean run would only have gained a couple of places.