Orienteering race 1:15:21 [4] *** 13.23 km (5:42 / km) +354m 5:01 / km
shoes: Inov-8 X-Talon 212
Badge event at Calophylla East.
Had asked for a late start but took advantage of some unexpected babysitting to switch to an early start instead. Not much warm up and didn't want to stress the heart too much early with the uphill start so set out fairly conservatively. Not sure what to do about route choice on the secondt leg with the green being a bit variable but I think I made a good choice swinging a bit right after crossing the big clearing. Did the next couple well before getting a bit caught up in the vegetation on 5 and then lacking confidence in my direction on 6.
Straightforward through to 10. Swung a bit left on both 11 and 12 which seemed to go ok, nice open running and safe approaches to the controls. A bit off to the left on 13 as I was focusing too much attention on planning the next leg which I did do well. Slight lapse in concentration on 15 swinging right around the boulder field on the end of the knoll instead of the boulder cluster just beyond but realised straight away.
Straight but hesitant on 16, good on 17, hit the right hand rock surface on 18 so had to cut through the green to the other clearings but wasn't too bad. Right of the rocky ground into 19 instead of left through the clearings but turned out ok.
Good line through the clearings into 20 and straight on to 21. Feeling ok after the climb up through 22 to 23 so tried to really lift the pace over the last couple of longer legs and finish off strongly. Even managed a bit of a sprint at the finish although it still took me about half the leg to get up to speed.