Linear orienteering race 37:46 [5] *** 9.53 km (3:58 / km)
spiked:21/24c shoes: Mizuno Wave Musha 4
Poundbury Urban event (Nopesport & South of England Orienteering urban event): 24 controls, 7.6km
Only really decided to do this event a few days ago but worth the long drive. Setting out as virtually the last starter, it took me a few legs to get in to the map and the course in general. In addition I wasn't running at full pelt - still feeling a slight twinge / tightness in my left foot - but perhaps this helped me to focus a little more on the map.
There were times, particularly coming off 3 and 4, where I had slight pauses to reorientate but on whole I had no major errors - I am feeling more comfortable with alleyway orienteering. There were also instances where I changed my mind about route just at the start of legs, while a bout of hesitation on route to 14 definitely cost me at least 5-10 seconds (paused for a few seconds to peer at the map and check whether one could get through just south of the out of bounds area).
From the outset I'd had it in my head that the time to beat was 36-ish - thought I'd read this on the live results before setting out - so as I started the final loop from 15, 27 mins in, I made an effort to raise my pace. Had I had more speed work over the past few weeks, less hesitation and less leg niggle-age I think that sub 37 would definitely have been possible. As it was, I was fortunately mistaken, taking the lead by 8 seconds. Pleasing to get a win after the last couple of Park Races and also to take time out of both Adam Potter and Geoff Ellis after losing out to the latter at St Albans and Dorking.