Orienteering race 1:09:50 [3] *** 7.0 km (9:59 / km) +150m 9:01 / km
spiked:8/18c shoes: New Balance 890
First foot-O of the year and I felt good on the Red course. Conditions were wet with an inch of slush in places. Early I slipped a bit, but got used to it. Slid down several of the hills (somewhat intentionally on my feet), and no injuries. One face plant on a rise of grass across one of the fields... (that would not be as easy to run across in the fall...)
Wasn't "on" as much as I would have liked, but I had a good strategy the entire race. Reaching control 12 I took the easy way out for my biggest error. I took the trail to the left approaching the control and overran it. Didn't realize the error until I saw the cross trail in the field ahead. Probably a 2 minute error there. Other controls were not necessarily perfect, but close enough to correct without much loss.
Legs kept up the whole way, and I should be able to push more next weekend. (snow conditions limited things somewhat - you didn't want to lose footing...)
Several minutes behind Mike, but that is a big improvement over past years - I remember times 50% over the leaders and now I'm more like 10-20%. Have to believe that I'm in a much better condition to run now.