Orienteering race 36:05 [5] ***** 4.4 km (8:12 / km) +140m 7:05 / km
ahr:180 max:192 spiked:10/14c shoes: Inov8s
WRE Middle Race at Ansonia. Really fun. As Ross and I stood in the start box the skies went dark, the heavens opened, and the thunder started. Turns out the course was so good that 20 seconds into my race I had ceased to notice, and proceeded to have fun. In detail:
Start-1 Confused at the start triangle. Checked path directions with bearings, crossed the stream, then cut up crossed the trail above the clearing and along the spur to the control.
1-2 I just couldn't figure out a plan, so I ran terrified and hoped. Turns out it worked, but I was scared shitless. Should have stayed high, a plan suggested by Sam. Maybe not faster, but certainly way more secure. I was lucky.
2-3 Low to the trail, then off at the clearing. No sweat.
3-4 Back to the trail, hit it a little high. Off at the junction. Sweet into the re-entrant.
4-5 Straight ish but just above the rocks. Stopped too early on the control on the identical (but larger) boulders. Finally convinced myself I needed to go further. Not impressed with self here, knew they were wrong really but couldn't quite get the confidence up not to check. And double check. And triple check.
5-6 Tick off trail bend, rounded open re-entrant, cross the trail above the double boulders either side, and in. Great.
6-7 Started planning my route for the long leg, looked up and realised I had no idea where I was in a totally flat and featureless bit of forest. Went out to the trail but that didn't help as had no concept of how far I had gone. Eventually saw Cristina get it and legged after her. Not good at all.
7-8 Straight, ticking off the rocky re-entrant below. Very visible site.
8-9 Went low and round the hill, then attacked the control from directly below. Lost an incredible amount of time to Sam here, about 90 seconds. Hesitated a bit, but not 90 seconds worth. Straight is great guys! Can;t believe I made such a poor choice after messing up the previous one finding it!
9-10 Control pick, fine.
10-11 Between the spur end on the clearing, then over the hill on compass. Nice.
11-12 Dropped too low and found myself in a featureless flat bit. Pushed on to what I thought was the green, and found the rocky features. Dropped into the crag. Almost a disaster here.
12-13 BEautiful, across the wide hill, down by the stream, cross the marsh, bang.
13-14 Down the col, across to the trail, bang.
And in. Overall really pleased, could see where I lost the time to Sam, and could have been up to 3 mins faster I think. Feels really, really great to be racing hard again, after so long. And my confidence is returning too. I love these woods!
9-10