IOC 2014 - Classic
Lough Firrib
I didn't have high expectations coming into this race results wise, I haven't classic training done, especially after how I felt the JK went, but was going to give it my best shot nonetheless.
Was surprised by the 1st control, didn't expect to leave the start in that direction, not that the start control could be seen from the start line! Passed lorrieq at 2 and then headed to 3, lost a few seconds. Then a big long leg. Plan was to run on a bearing until I hit the big re-entrant with the stream. Worked out ok, got the control cleanly enough. Met Boyzone here surprisingly.
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Edit: Remembered that there was something I forgot to mention that happened on the way to 4, fell and landed on my right hand. Hurt at the time but not enough to worry about, was only a slight throb, but got a lot worse afterwards, especially when it became swollen. Think my hand landed on a tuft of grass which spread the fingers.
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Another bearing to 5 and got lucky I reckon. 6 was fine too, some rock detail on this hill of bog. Then came my 2014 IOC classic disaster. Took a bearing, like I was for all controls. My routegadget has to be examined to see the debacle that followed for the next 25 or so minutes. Came back towards 6 and met Boyzone looking for it, I was still looking for 7. Reckoned I knew where I was so tried a different tack, find 8 and work back to 7. That didn't work either. Ended up off the map, twice!!! Got stuck in a few nasty bogs too which I was concerned about getting out of. Had no clue of where I was. Decided i'd take a bearing to escape the mountain and home, I really was fed up, another IOC Leinster disaster, no idea what mountain I was on, could have been back in Kerry mountains for all I knew, apart from they are nice, Leinster mountains are shit, fact.
On my random bearing towards Lough Firrib I ended up back near 6. So decided to give it another go to find 7 and then spotted Boyzone and Roar getting it, I was very pleased to see them. Chased after them to 8 and then towards 9. On the way to 10 Magic surfaced through the mist. Loads of unmapped stuff before 10, rock detail, why wasn't this mapped? Lads were confused too.
Leaving 10 I tried to run hard to stay behind Magic but lost sight of him in the mist. Followed my bearing and then found the lake, to my left, not right as it should have been. But at least with the lake I knew where I was. Still got 11 at the same time as Roar. Saw a lot of Roar between this control and 27. Got ahead of him through the next few controls, but then he'd catch up when I'd miss a control. Missed 12 by a small bit.
To 18 I went low to hit the cliffs lower down before climbing up. Met roar again here. Saw the lake again going to 19. To 22 i'd planned on not visiting the water station but ended up there so took a drink. Got ahead of Roar again here. Stayed ahead until 26. Fell in a big hole going down the hill, not a nice hole, and right hamstring cramped. Long leg to 27 I was with Roar but then he fell back, I was running away from him. That can't be right, i'm wrecked at this stage.
The planner was very cruel to us in the end, sending us down the hill before bringing us back up to 28, got it ok though. Missed 29, hit the last control before it!
And then to finish after a long long time on the mountain. It was the worst orienteering conditions I have every experienced. I have run in mist as thick as this in the past, but not on a map which was as random as this to run on. The map got covered in mud at times, so hard to read as a result, ink also wore off in some places with no idea what was in the circle for 24.
Was very happy to have finished in the end. Not so happy to discover I was in the lead at 6, but then again, I blew that lead in such spectacular fashion. That really was my only mistake of the day, got away with the rest of the course more or less apart from a few misses.
Cramped a small bit changing but nothing like what happened when I got out of the car back at the accommodation.
Results
Routegadget