Running 12:00 [2] 2.0 km (6:00 / km)
shoes: 201410 Inov-8 Oroc 280s
Warmup jog around the parking lot while reading last year's map to engage my corn navigation routines.
Orienteering 14:18 [3] 2.4 km (5:58 / km) +2m 5:56 / km
20c shoes: 201410 Inov-8 Oroc 280s
Corn Maze Classic, Alice in Wonderland map. I had studied this year's map for about an hour, drawing hypothetical routes, identifying highways and choke points, and considering possible barrier locations. Peter had planned to add complexity to the race by putting barriers, and they were almost certainly going to block parts of the keyhold superhighway. Still, I underestimated the maze.
I was the last starter, and I set out a minute behind Joe. Controls 1-3 were straightforward, though I was still getting into the mindset. On control 4 - the first tricky control - I fell into three separate traps and blew about 30s. I shook it off and settled in; at control 6, I started to pick up the disjointed group of Joe, Andis, and Michael Laraia. I had moved to the lead of this group by 10 and escaped from the last straggler, Joe, by 13.
It took me about half the race to settle into it and get comfortable. I think I did a good job with my prerace routine; I ignored finishing times, concentrated on my own state and preparation, and warmed up my brain and body. I guess corn maze happens so fast that if you're not in the total zen state, it can overwhelm you. The keyhole actually contributed, because transitioning from intense reading to running fast and back was tricky. Joe shoulder checked me once, but I didn't really remember it until he mentioned it during course review.
Besides 4, I lost 20s poorly executing 14, lost 5s on 16, and some time near the end as I started to get tired. Surprisingly, I was only 1:20 behind Superman; I felt a lot worse about my race when I finished. I like to entertain the idea of what is possible, and I think sub 12 minutes was attainable on this course for someone of my speed with perfect execution and moving at speed. Bgallup put up a great showing and edged Joe and Giovanni. Barb edged me out for the smallest error according to AP, and newcomers Roine, Isak (Swedes both), and Mike's Maze newbie Michael all had good showings. Patrick's mp was heartbreaking, as he had raced really well.
Orienteering 4:44 [3] 0.8 km (5:55 / km)
6c shoes: 201410 Inov-8 Oroc 280s
Corn Maze Sprint; I started 30s in front of Joe, and 30s behind Evalin. The first controls made perfect sense, and I caught up to Evalin a bit before 2. I made a bad route choice to 3, scooting out to the keyhole. My route to 4 was fine - though I almost lost contact in the cat, but I overran my attack on the keyhole and elected to just keep running north and attack from behind. I was not happy to see Evalin at 4, as I thought I had passed her; she executed that leg well. My mistake fueled me with rage, and I put on some speed to finish a mere ten seconds in front of the talented Roine from Sweden.