Same note regarding the technical intensity as yesterday's race. Looking back on my race splits, I was managing a sub-7:00 mile for the first 6 or so controls, which is kind of insane because it didn't feel like it. Maybe I'm more fit than I give myself credit for...
But this was very exciting, not from a terrain or orienteering perspective, but because my really stupidly fast last control split of 18 seconds moved me from 6th place to 4th, because they ran it around 23 seconds each. Lesson learned: NEVER GIVE UP! I was bleeding and muddy and I fell 3 times, but boy did I feel great when I got that 4th place result that late into the race. I left it all out there and it felt really rewarding seeing the results.
I need to keep training on hills, however. My legs feel really strong so I hope to carry this momentum into my training regime in the upcoming weeks leading into West Point.
Read the splits for more detailed information, but here's the map: