Orienteering race 1:34:49 [4] 6.76 km (14:02 / km) +159m 12:33 / km
ahr:167 max:182 20c shoes: Salomons XR Mission
Mmm started horribly!
to #1 first time using the waxy paper and found it hard to fold and couldn't get my bearing because of this. ended up taking something rough and went with it - thought I hit the clearing north of 1 hunted around in circles likes a browns cow before I realised my error and went and got 1. Very dishearten here.
#2 - moved quickly to 2, having already spent a good amount of time on the ground there!
#3 Should have been a bit easier stopped a little short eventually found it and got a shadow/became a shadow one or the other here.
#4 Beat my fellow shadow to 4 hitting it flush while he was down to me left a decent way - got out of there reasonably fast and started to head back towards 5.
#5 decided as I hit the clearing between 1 & 2 to make a left and attempt to contour around and use the yellow. To move a bit quicker. In honesty going straight might have been faster, the yellow wasn't as yellow as I was hoping and I did pull up short a bit disoriented. The ground down to my right the straight line route looks alright too. Realised I was on the rocky mound west of eight and moved towards 5 on clear running ground. Saw my shadow reappear exactly where I expect 5 to be. We had both over shot it slightly but got it close on.
#6 I powered past my shadow and got 6 first which was easy enough - a bit hesitant but happy with it.
#7 Went way too far down the hill and I became the shadow as I heard the tell tale "BING" behind me and I 180ed to see the point clear as day.
#8 went high early and got back past the other runner and grabbed 8 - giving away its position to about 3 people sadly...
#9 relatively straight line - starting to feel fatigued now and also very thirsty. Hit 9 flushish and shadow came in right next to me. I moaned a "I need water its been an hr".
#10 felt alright up until the road - originally had planned to go the road to the track then come back in for the point but thought thats a lot of extra ground and bush looked on so pushed on.slightly left and hunted around a bit lots of people looking for it, shadow had gone down the hill a fair way and I spotted the point - awesome time to shake him, ran over got the point no one saw or heard and legged it into the bush opposite direction to them to avoid giving it away...
#11 my plan here had been go to the road north of 10 leg it along and I will see the point on my left just off the road and dear god I am looking forward to the water drop here... Saw random point not expecting was like huh. looked at map then realised O SHEET I was at 10 I should be going east sou east to 11 not road to 12 . Spun on the spot and estimated the angle I had gone off then powered off hoping to hit something I knew.... I did the bloody shadow. he was a bit higher north than I liked though and I am sure I confused the hell out of him coming past at a right angle. A few strides further saw the drop away I was hoping for, spun right and bam point right there. quite happy with the recover went and grabbed the point. but was more people with me now.
#12 Shadow and I set off same angle and speed towards 12, I felt I was drifting left on the hill slope - should have realised I always drift right because I was pretty much going straight. however when I got close to the road, and probably right on the point I saw the shadow higher than me, which made me question it, then he turned suddenly and went different direction. without thinking I went bugger the point was higher and trudged up the hill... WRONG another person powered past me down the road and my heart sank - I was desperate for water and wasn't thinking now, I went back down the hill and found the point. Guzzled water but it didn't hit the sides BLAH not happy, wasn't feeling great now.
#13 Went ok to 13 hit the clearing and point to my direct left. Had lost everyone who had been toying with.
#14 Going towards 14 the winners of the girls 21's powered past me. Was feeling over it and didn't even try to up my pace. (generally don't like been overtaken - fine with being last just don't let me see you pass me). Got lead a little astray around 14 by lots of people searching for it - funnily enough I had drifted right of it but corrected soon enough.
#15 Oh tracked perfectly straight until the rocks just north of the '1' of the 15 on the map at which stage I saw a point down to my right (pretty much located between our 18-17) oh that must be it I must have drifted left - its on a cliff has to be it - sprinted to it and got to it as the 2 21 girls got there too, let them fly through the point then realised CRAP thats not my point and its not even on my darn control sheet. and as I did so... the shadow came around the rock looked at me and the point and thought how the hell is he infront of me, then looked at the point smiled knowing its not his and trotted on. I recorrected norht - not knowing exactly where I was wants to keep the open ground to my left and did so then hitting the point reasonably flush.
#16 pulled up early as always and after some hunting found it. starting to feel over it by now.
#17 same as 16 but really feeling over it - another guy passed me and that put some fire in the belly.
#18 ran past the control I had found before and shook my fist at it I say. Then proceeded to find the road. wait what I went to far - back tracked, searched for ages - this was frustrating now, eventually found it... wasn't all that impressed.
#19 Walked most of it feeling disgruntled, came out to the right of it was relatively straight forward.
#20 wanting water really badly again, can see finish knew was close search around for this point - hit the track and then just got frustrating I knew I was close and eventually found it.
#finish Trademark sprint - almost went over on the path with the loose gravel but all good - wasn't so keen at powering through everyone at speed for a few reason as so pulled back a bit before the main camp area still going quick but definitely had a few extra s could trim off - see if it was enough, if not tomorrow no holds barred finish - ppl stay out the way!
- Other notes - almost rolled left ankle on the way to 5 - that wasn't so fun and right big toe blister is hardening nicely - lets see if I cant rip that open in the longer course tomorrow :( - oh also felt like I could have gone a bit harder - bit disappointed at that.
Sure I am forgetting something here but meh time for some dinner!