Orienteering (Competition) 2:00:36 [3] 11.92 km (10:07 / km) +505m 8:21 / km
20c slept:9.0
The 2004 Billygoat at Mt. Tom, MA. This was one of the most competitive Billygoats ever as a field of most of the US and some of the Canadian top orienteers came. I was relegated to following the pack and got off slow. My still being overweight didn't help on the brutal steep climbs in the first half of the race. I was following behind Dave Onkst, Daniel Schaublin, Alar Ruutopold and Kristin Hall early. Eventually I ran with Kristine and Erin Olafsen as we had broken off the main pack leaving #10 and going to #11. Our route wasn't bad but as a small group, we slowed and perhaps had some tougher terrain to run through than the main group. We probably lost 1-2 minutes and never made-up for it. Kristine made nearly all the hard decisions navigating as she was much quicker reading. I thought she was going to be stronger running too but perhaps because she didn't seem to eat much, she suddenly tired on the slog up to #19 (we skipped #18). Kristine said to go on. I felt bad leaving but with two others in sight coming from #19 and a downhill run toward the finish, I did and finished 20 seconds ahead. As I passed the finish crossing the stream to round the lake for the last control, I could see Alar and Daniel ahead; Daniel was crossing the stream at the same time I was but he was going to the finish when I was headed toward #20. The 2 hour run was good for me as most of my training has been short lately. I finished 22nd male and 23 overall with Pam James about 2 minutes ahead.
