Orienteering race (Oceania Sprint Champs) 13:39 [5] **** 2.6 km (5:15 / km)
spiked:18/24c shoes: Brooks T4 Racer
The race I was most looking forward to... Felt pretty good before the race... memorised where the start triangle would be on the map with 1 min to go and sussed out the routes in the direction to the first control. Was feeling confident. Then picked up the map and couldn't read anything on the map. Had to stop at the start triangle to finally see it on the map, then started running off in the wrong direction. So lost 20-25 sec on the first control... then got sucked into a really stupid route choice to 3 after getting confused with the mapping of the garden bed. Another bad route to 4... but was starting to get some sort of rhythm going... until another dodgey route choice to 6. Missed 9 a bit as well, but was glad to be doing the easy legs in the bush to get some composure. Felt good through to the spectator, then started to feel tired during the running legs. Hit the last loop pretty well, but was starting to feel the lack of speed work. Pretty disappointed with the run... should have gone into the race with the same attitude as the middle distance on monday... but was trying too hard instead.
