Race Evaluation
US Short Course Champs - Red: Red
ParkSchool
| 1. | A bit slowly, hoping to get feel for map before trying to hit second control, which appeared to have no good catching feature. | ||||||
| 2. | +02:30 | Despite efforts described above, failed to find rootstock while trying to run down L side of spur. As drop-off became apparent in front of me, I turned and tried to decide if I passed to R or L of control on way down. Decided that flag likely more visible from below, so worked my way up hill closer to reentrant before finding flag. | |||||
| 3. | +01:15 | Roughly straight with confidence that good catching features available. Recognized cliff NNE of flag and corrected accurately. I thought leg was reasonably executed, but compared splits with Pia after race and concluded that her higher route choice was superior as she had already made up 4 minute difference by contol 3. | |||||
| 4. | Above cliffs, then across trail, then diagnally to highest elevation to have confident attack. | ||||||
| 5. | Obvious. | ||||||
| 6. | On compass running for highest visible ground. Recognized reentrant as I got close. | ||||||
| 7. | Planned to go straight, but drifted R and hit trail before stream. Crossed at bridge, then climbed reentrant to trail. Earlier small mistake had fortuitous consequence of allowing me to know where I was when I hit the trail on top. Angled in before little spur crossing trail and spiked control. | ||||||
| 8. | To trail, across bridge, then along trail before cutting in where reentrant visible to L. Spike control again. Not sure whether it is luck or good feel for the map, but am happy with results. | ||||||
| 9. | S to trail, followed most of way around loop as vegetation not particularly welcoming. Headed straight up slope when almost abreast of small hill in middle of swamp. Appreciate additional rise w/ slope appropriately facing NW as I got near top. Kept climbing and contouring this higher slope until I finally hit control. Seemed a little higher than expected, but this probably just reflected my slower rate of movement uphill. | ||||||
| 10. | Somewhat blindly across top before pausing briefly and appreciating prominent spur below me about 2/3 of way to flag. Dove down correct reentrant before flag and was rewarded. | ||||||
| 11. | Stayed relatively high crossing reentrant and noted rocky N tip of cliff just above me. I ducked around corner and was rewarded again. | ||||||
| 12. | Take mentally easier but probably inferior route on trails to SW corner of clearing. Did not have good plan of attack, but there were several other runners in the vicinity, and they drew my in the right direction. | ||||||
| 13. | To trail and over bridge, running behind unknown cadet who punched #12 just ahead of me. Along top of shelf, expecting (or perhaps merely hoping) to recognize prominent reentrant when I got there. Faith rewarded again. | ||||||
| 14. | +00:30 | Opted to minimize run through green heading due N to trail wrapping around hill to E, although running NW to other trail option now seems to be better choice. Started along trail running downhill, then left to cross over reentrant expecting to see NE tip of unclear linear, manmade feature. Failed to satisfy my curiosity at that time (it was apparently a low-lying pipeline) but did manage to follow reentrant down before crossing to spike control. | |||||
| 15. | Straight N across trail. Drifted a bit R again, but saw flag beckoning to me before I saw the wall. The cadet had appeared in front of me from the R but he overran control. | ||||||
| 16. | +00:10 | Tried to run straight to flag, although I should have angled further S to hit faster trail if I misjudged. Hit stream before trail and ran to bridge. Cadet catching up and crosses stream below bridge, but I just beat him to punch. | |||||
| F. | Able to hold off cadet on sprint to finish. A small but pleasant victory. |
Total Time Lost - 00:04:25