Bellevue State Park, Green X sprint. It was cold out in the morning but warmed up quickly once the sun cleared the trees. I wore a long sleeve shirt but would have been fine with a short sleeve. My shoulder/back muscles still bothering me but it didn't interfere while running which was good.
Start- 1: I spent so much time warming up that I neglected to pay attention to where we are in the park. I had trouble finding the start trouble and was heading off in general direction everyone else was going which was the off 30 degrees. Once I correct I was fine.
1-2: Went right around the tennis courts. no problems
2-3: Straight. no problems
3-4: narrowly avoided colliding with a Blue runner as we both barreled around the corner of the building. I went left around the buildind and got a little off entering the woods. It was stony there Hit trail by #5 and had to come back to the control.
4-5: Once I got the trail I could see the control. I should have looked up sooner.
5-6: Went left of line to get the field quickly. Control description seemed off. It was listed as canopy but I don't think there was one. fortunately I could see it up the steps so didn't lose any time.
6-7: There was a stone wall that is very hard to see on the map. I should have gone right around it but went left by the larger stone wall. As I was leaving it Clint Morse comes running towards me trying to get a picture. He was in my way and totally distracted me. I lost my place on the map and then floundered. Instead of going to the control I ended up at control 8. Quickly realized what I had done and ram back (but didn't take a good route).
7-8: went back the way I cam which wasn't the best route.
8-9: Straight to edge of parking lot into field, down small trail. Several people coming out as I was going
it.no problems.
9-10: I should have gone straight but I let the vegetation push me right and had to cut back to it.
10-11: Straight (left side of building. no problems.
11-12: Clint distracted me again by running towards me. This time I told him no pictures (I don't mind the picture but I don't want people running towards me as it is one more thing I have avoid in covid times. After that some group had set up all these tables right in the optimum path. I ended going way left to avoid them all.
12-13: Straight. No problems.
13-14: I went right around lake. in hindsight, left was faster. The final approach to the bird feeder was through bushy high grass which was difficult to run through.
14-15: straight
except for the distractions I had a good run. Not the fastest but about as good as I was going to get. The distractions ended up costing me 2nd place.