Orienteering race 3:17:26 [4] *** 13.9 km (14:12 / km) +280m 12:54 / km
ahr:153 max:181 rhr:54 slept:6.0 shoes: Jalas2
Blue Hills Traverse. I have orienteered a grand total of once prior to tday after returning from PNWOF this summer. I had hoped to get into a good crowd and use stamina to stay with them longer. That plan flew out the window at the starting "Go."
Followed Charlie DeWeese to #1, not in contact for about the first 90% of the leg, face planted twice, getting a couple of nice scrapes. Navigated by myself near but generally not with others for the rest of the day, occasionally seeing Dima, Jessica Rykken, Hans, and Gary Gallagher.
After clearing my Epunch at the start/finish, I left it in the car, so I had the pleasure of pin-punching my map at each control.
Of all the 10 or so times I've run the traverse, I think today's conditions -- the weather and the woods -- were the nicest I can recall. The temps were pleasant, suitable for a single layer. The trails were quite pleasant to run on, with little trickles of water or streams running alongside or amidst the trail. Nice, splashy dirt, not quite to the shoe-sucking mud stage.
Gary Gallagher and I reached 16 at the same time, but he went to 17 around to the right while I went left. Upon reaching 17 and seeing Scott Turner, I asked him if that guy ahead of me was Gary. Yes. Gary got into the rocky stretch of 18, but I went higher in the clear and got in and out before him.
A great day to be in the woods, and many thanks to all who helped staff, put out water and goodies, set the course, print the maps, and so on.