Uh oh. After today, I am very, very scared about the Highlander! I have trained every day this week, so will take next week easy in preparation! I am, however, more of a fan of score events when they're done WCOC style. With all the time in the world to plan your route beforehand, I decided to try and get everything, but also focus on the two tricky sessions as good control pick/flow practice. After 20 minutes it became quite apparent that my legs weren't going to carry me fast enough to get everything, so I concentrated on the most fun controls. Technically I was generally good, but I lost faith a bit through feeling tired and orienteered lazily on a couple of occasions, 63-40 being the most obvious error. I actually ended updoing twice as much climb, and thus this wasn't the cop out tired option at all. The complex bits were great though, and I was simplifying well. When I hit 44 I had 12 minutes remianing, tried for 47 but never saw the wall I wanted and didn't have the time to relocate, so went out to the track and headed back via four easy controls. Looking at where I hit the track, I must have been very close to 47. Speaking to those that made it round, I'm glad I didn't go down into the other controls - mind and body weren't really up for chugging through green.
I am a wreck this evening, and now very, very scared about the prospect of 26.2km! As Ali says, it's only 3 red courses AND a trail race...
Gulp!
(Distance is straight line, map with route is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/5027778936/