Training Log Archive: levitin

How can you make 10 minutes of errors in a 30 minute race? By overrunning the control (a couple of times: 1st control, 8->9, and one of the later controls near red-hatched construction area) and other errors. At least I didn't run off the map, attempt a stupid parkour-type jump when I found myself on the wrong side of a high wall, or mispunch. From 8 to 9, I badly overran the leg. When I relocated, I came back by way of 10, where I punched, and then thought, "I don't think I ever punched #9." So I did 8-10-9-10.

On one hand, I'm happy that my heart issue didn't slow me down much, and that I was still able to move well at times. On the other, I made some silly errors like not orienting the map properly. I'm also not as familiar as I should be with some of the sprint-specific control sheet icons. (I inferred that the Pi symbol is a canopy, but there's an open o--o--o symbol I'm not sure about.)

I think with perfect orienteering, at my current fitness, I could have run it in 21-22 minutes, so that's encouraging. Sprint-O is fun. Mostly.

After 3 nights of crappy sleep, lots of standing, and lots of sun, I did not have the energy for mountain biking on Burnt Mt. So I packed it up after the sprint relay for home.

Sprint - Green X - Splits

In street clothes, I explored a little of the model map. I got shut down by overgrowth on the direct approach to the closest control, so I decided to go to a different control first. Even if I cannot get rid of all the stupid mistakes by making them on a model map beforehand, it's a pleasant mental state to be in, thinking that I have already made a parallel error or a 180, so I don't need to make that same error in competition.

I encountered a few people on MTBs, and hoped that I would have energy and opportunity to do some MTB riding after the sprint and after breaking camp on Sunday.

Cold, not happy to be one of the last starters. Huge error on #2, then generally better contact, planning, and terrain reading, until late in the race when I had a couple of bad legs where I didn't plan or execute well. Managed to finish in under 3 hours, having found all the points.

Part of feeling lousy was due to caffeine withdrawal. Oops.

Long - Green X - Splits

Event: North American Orienteering Championships 2016
 

Some moseying around on the Middle Model map.

Middle race. Pretty good contact, good planning, especially on the long leg, good terrain reading, pretty cautious. No major walkabouts. Some loss of contact near the end, when I overshot #16 and descended a wide trail that I had to climb back up to attack my control.

Shortly before the walk to the start, I had a wardrobe malfunction when the drawstring on my O-pants broke. I tried in vain for about 10 minutes to find the end and thread it through to the opening. Finally, I fashioned makeshift suspenders out of the strap end of my Camelbak in the hopes of staying decently dressed the whole time.

Middle - Green X - Splits

Scavenger Hunt at a corporate event.