orienteering race (my 31st Billy Goat) 2:06:53 8.56 mi (14:49 / mi) +554m12:20 / mi ahr:131 max:189 shoes: Inov-8 OROC 340
Having never been to Earls Trails, I was pleasantly surprised by the open woods and lack of rock underfoot, the light green w pretty slow, but there were some fabulously open woods to dash through.
The route to one was pretty good, although I could have cut off a few extra contours I climbed, although I had a plan of attack, the route along the way was planned at speed and was less than optimal.
Affer that I went mostly on my own, occasionally seeing others in passing.
Got caught up at 11 when I wobbled a bit on the approach, and then missed to the north. While trying to relocate in the reentrant,the train poured over the slope and I only had to follow them to the control.
original skip was 14, but after after another look I realized it wasn't,t as high as I thought, then the obvious ones 16,17,18, but each one had trails close by so I thought would be fairly fast and easy.
Looking ahead to the last loop,22 was so obvious, and skipping near the end is a real boost when you can eliminate one control and feel like you can run fast as it is even closer to the finish.
Got away from a group to 19, except for JimA who I could not lose.
He got through the green faster leaving 19, and I mistakenly felt the need to stop for a drink and lost sight of him, then missed 20 because of no attackpoint from the trail. Relocated pretty quick, but JJ caught up.
I must have just missed the train coming from 22-23. JimA managed to grab about 7 places with that skip, wish I had stayed with him.
An excellent course in such a small area, PG showed why he is the HEAD GOAT.