Flying Pig Long Blue
Wow was this tough - mostly physically. So many hills and almost every leg was quite demanding physically and mentally. By the 3rd control I was convinced i wasnt going to finish in the 3 hour time limit. I'm not sure if my route choices were the best, but I am very happy with my execution of them. I usually struggle with long legs, but I executed my plans and only had small bobbles. I wore a small camelback with 34 oz of water, and was very glad for it! Ran out around control 10 so put in another 30 oz or so at 11 for the finish.
1- off up a hill and back down providing a clue for what we were in for.
2 - started up the wrong northward spur, but quickly realized and corrected.
3- first really long leg. took a zig zag route that made use of open spurs with indistinct trails and hit it right on. Saw michelle as I left
4- a short leg! just counted streams, drifted W but no problems.
5- the longest leg. Once I got up the first hill I took trails a long way around to save elevation. I was able to run the whole time on trails, so i think it was a good choice. Saw Jens on the trail and he was also lamenting the number of controls per time already 45 minutes in.
6 - Took the trail back around for the first part and then counted reentrants to find the right spur. worked well.
7 - Followed the bottom of the spurs/stream.
8 - really started to feel the hills on the start of this leg. Must have drifted because I ended up N of the trail junction I wanted, so i had to turn around. Never found the indistinct trail down the spur, so i wasnt quite sure which stream I ended up coming out near. Unfortunately it was the wrong one just N, so had to backtrack a little south. Second minor error.
9 - Up the hill to the trail. Thick stuff so I did a small loop around, should have just cut at the bottom of the thick stuff but oh well.
10 - Trail around to avoid an elevation. Good except the spur was pretty thick and annoying. No thorns so i shouldnt complain.
11 - Down and Up to the trail (why didnt I go back around? never even considered it...). Then down the spur. Caught up to tom at the water stop and then passed him on the way back up the hill. Really concerned about my ability to be done by 3 hours at this point. Refilled some water.
12 - Back up the hill, trail around N to save elevation, followed spur down but drifted south so i ended up at the pit instead of the depression. took me too long to realize my error and correct. Tom caught me again at 12. Third error.
13 - flat :o
14 - Up the hill to the trail. This hill sucked! But once I was on the trail I was able to start running again, and started thinking I might make the cutoff.
15 - Followed the twisty trail, maybe not the most efficient but i was jogging.
16 - drifted south and got to the power lines, a pretty quick correction..
17 - straight. heard someone at the campsite say "what are all these people doing"
18- apparently i stopped to rest on the side of the building ;)
Made it back in time (barely). Not sure what I could do in michigan to prepare for something like this. But really happy with my nav, so I'll call it a success.
QR:
http://imgur.com/AAQkj5J