Running warm up/down 17:45 [1] 2.44 km (7:16 / km)
shoes: NB wt00
Stomach and ankle 90% Ok this morning so decided to start the race as planned.
Orienteering race 39:30 [5] 4.74 km (8:20 / km) +163m 7:06 / km
shoes: NB wt00
I was a bit nervous for this Middle race because Alex was starting two minutes behind me. I tried my best to not focus on that before the start or during the race, somewhat unsuccessfully. Started out well, hit easy #1 no problem, down to the road to #2 but confusion when I was on top my spur looking for the bag. The clue description read NE side but the control placement was closer to the N side, at least that was my impression. #3 and #4 were good but had an element of surprise, like "oh, I am actually doing this right", which should not happen at this stage of my orienteering career. "Slow down." I tell myself, "no need to rush, execution is key". I specifically choose to contour to stream first on the way to #5 and then climb up to avoid a potential mistake (this is the control/dot knoll I relocated off on the long but did not realize it during the middle race). On #6 I was a bit low and on #7 I let the reentrant carry me too far north to the pond and I had to correct myself. If I planned that, it would have been a good route. Hesitation to #8. Up to the road to #9, solid attack. Straight to #10 and 11, getting tired and the thoughts of Alex catching up to me are starting to annoy me. I consciously focus on the map with effort. #12 Ok, easy last loop, "don't mess up" mentality with good effort. Saw Alex going into the last loop and I knew it was a good race then. Happy not only to win but to not have made any major mistakes. This race has given me a boost of confidence in my skills, which for some reason has been lacking in the last few years.