Orienteering 57:04 [5] ** 9.2 km (6:12 / km) +155m 5:43 / km
spiked:15/19c shoes: 2006 VJ Falcons
HH Regional at Ashridge. M21S because of the ankle, didn't think any further would be wise. Last time I was at Ashridge 3 years ago, I remember it being very fast, runnable woodland - and if anything today it was faster with less bracken and the bramble growth being lower.
Had a couple of aims for the race:
#1 See how hard I could push myself/the ankle at the moment, and with Ollie supposedly starting 2 mins behind wanted to see how long I could hold him off
#2 Have a complete plan for the control after the one I was going to, i.e. always be at least a control ahead in my thoughts
Well #1 went very well, but affected the second aim on a few too many occasions. I still don't read ahead enough, even though I often have the opportunity to. On the longer legs I did look ahead - I think generally I need to force myself to look at the map more often, it's almost like I'm oversimplifying things...
Only a couple of mistakes, to #3 was quite hesitant as distance judgement wasn't quite right (1:15 map) 30secs lost. #6 was lazy as didn't want to cross big ravine again, went up to path and then was too far south, picked up the wrong earthbank which I couldn't see as map was folded too close, realised (a) direction was wrong, (b) was next to rough open when shouldn't have been and (c) there's a big path... about 1min gone. Couple of other curvy routes which could have been better...
When we left I had a 3 minute lead at the top of the results... and managed to have that lead reduced by just 2 seconds - think that's my first "proper" course win :)
Running warm up/down 10:00 [2]
shoes: 2006 VJ Falcons
Before and after the run, former to loosen up the ankle, latter just before my entire left leg seized up...