Race Evaluation
BAOC Sprint Champs, Point Pinole: Chase
Tundra/Desert
| 1. | Route is here and on RouteGadget. I started third, not expecting to catch up; with Mattias Eriksson and Syd Reader on my back. I could see Dan S-H and Eric go to Control 1, then Control 2, from my location at the starting line, so did this on autopilot. | ||||||
| 2. |
Bad map reading Followed others +00:25 | Here's where the autopilot broke: I had seen Eric go out to the fringe of the woods, perhaps to get more confidence in his route to #2. So, out of #1, I blindly sprinted to the edge of the forest and continued in the general NW direction without looking at the map much. As I got to the Prologue's #4, I realized that was not my control and continued on, slightly confused... until I saw Mattias and Syd barreling full steam parallel to me, well off to the left. I realized then where Control 2 was, and hauled my behind towards it as they were punching. | |||||
| 3. | I raced out of #3 without a certain plan in the general direction of Syd. Almost caught up with him as he was off to the right at #3 (note: I think Syd drew his route a bit too far to the right on RouteGadget.) I happened to hit the control more straight. | ||||||
| 4. | Followed Syd, gradually finding the rest of the course on the map. | ||||||
| 5. | Blindly followed Syd out of #4. Then, raced to the butterfly control. | ||||||
| 6. | Navigated this one by myself, almost losing sight of Syd on the uphill. Remembered the rootstocks from the earlier races. | ||||||
| 7. | Syd was slightly confused going up the hill, so I stopped and aimed off to the right just in case he was off. He wasn't. | ||||||
| 8. | Syd pulled away again. So, I navigated to the butterfly control, where I found Mattias who had the other loop configuration. The pack was back together. | ||||||
| 9. |
Confused parallel features Followed others +00:10 | The two of us raced towards Syd. As we got near the control, I knew exactly where we were; but Syd and Mattias chose to explore the ditch to the west. Mattias found the control first. Time lost, but not position. | |||||
| 10. | Nailed this one, almost catching up with Syd and Mattias. | ||||||
| 11. | Followed Mattias, who went very straight. I, however, knew exactly where we went. Syd was pulling away but opted for a higher, more roundabout route, and overshot. Again, all three of us were there within seconds. | ||||||
| 12. | Syd sprinted this one, and opened up a 5-second gap on Mattias. I punched right after Mattias, having followed him with just a touch of confidence | ||||||
| 13. | Here's where it all was decided... my legs were just too heavy after Saturday's meanderings. Syd flew along, Mattias sped up as well, both going pretty straight down the hillside. I opted for the road, and tried to push it on the road but could not. The gap to Syd increased to 20 seconds. | ||||||
| F. | Jogged up the hill, with the race lost... |
Total Time Lost - 00:00:35