Orienteering race 1:12:00 [4] 6.9 km (10:26 / km) +250m 8:50 / km
Gah, the entire hike up to the start (a 200m vert climb over 1.5km) I kept thinking about that our course has 250m climb! Obviously it's over a much greater distance but still....
I made it to the start on time, with about 4mins to spare to fix up my cluesheet (I need a new type of holder) toss my jacket and tie my shoes. Oh and clear and check! I nearly missed that! I was at the 0min line when the whistle blew still tying my shoes..
But, I suppose that added some adrenaline and I dashed off down the trail barely looking at my map. Actually, I think I was still looking for the start triangle 20m past where it was...never saw it. Anyway, I was so excited to run fast down a trail that I blew myself up and took a few extra minutes and fussing to find #1.
After that it was fairly smooth sailing. I have such confidence in this terrain I don't think I could get lost in it but... I can NOT make decisions on route choice! To 5 I think I lost about 5mins just debating my routes. Stop, which way. run. stop, which way. run. igh igh. In the end I just went straight and I think I shouldn't have thought about it so much.. if at all. just do it. right?
Near the end scrambling down a cliff, I saw Sam out of the corner of my eye. My old school self wondered if she was lost and I had caught her. HAH! No, she started .. oh, about 15mins behind me! DAMN girl! I didn't think I was that slow, but I suppose a lethal combination of not training, not orienteering, not making route choice decisions and that girl running like a mad-woman makes a lot of difference! :) I stayed ahead of her for the next leg, but there was a 3 contour hill (huge, i know) on the following leg and I huffed, hands on knees, as she pranced up and over and out of sight. (It was fun running with you for a bit though!)
All in all I had a great weekend. Yes, the competitive juices have been sapped out of me, but I definitely still enjoy dashing through the woods and seeing all of my friends. Great event by EMPO and a fantastic new map and forest! Thanks to all!