Orienteering race (British Middle Champs) 50:41 [5] *** 5.0 km (10:08 / km) +145m 8:51 / km
spiked:13/26c
Park Wood, Bradenham and Naphill. Loved walking past the old YH where I used to walk or cycle with my brothers and sister back in the mid-70s en route to the start. Then started well and got cocky? Anyway, couldn't find 6 after I tried to run straight to it, lost 2 mins and had to relocate. Did exactly the same for 7. Even so, I was probably only about two minutes down at the road crossing (16 mins) and feeling alright, although I was already being passed by the leaders. Faffed near 14 and ran to the wrong b****y flag at 15. (Started to do this a lot now, and my emitag picked them all up!) 17 was the second biggest error (90 secs) after I stopped way too early in the wrong unmapped clearing. Then got really sloppy once the forest opened up a bit and just ran-and-hoped for 19 to 23. Was miles out for 20 and had to relocate again. Really tricky nav throughout and pretty tough forest meant there were mistakes all over and I finished with a half-decent result even though time was rubbish. I reckon I made about 7 minutes of mistakes. A mostly frustrating experience as so much of it was spent bumbling, but maybe I can take lessons learnt to Charlton for the middle race next weekend?