Orienteering race 1:30:00 [3] *** 5.5 km (16:22 / km) +500m 11:15 / km
shoes: Integrators
Big Blues Rambles - Chicago - Middle
Short story: wet, fun, finished, happy to be done.
For those with a bit more time on their hands:
Morning started good with this awesome omlete with asparagus Natalia made for us. So, now with full tumies, we head out to the site. On the way it's pouring rain,( which just to mention it started when we headed down there on friday and never stopped till we got back home!!!!), and Ana kept inquiring why exactly are we doing this and why didn't I pick as my favourite sport ping-pong, or racketball... or ...
Got to start and had such a hard time gettings started as I kept dry till the last second. I have also been warned that a "creek" I was supposed to cross was waist high. So, I was quite "excited" to get going.
By first control I was plenty wet, so I didn't care anymore about puddles and such. Now, between 1 and 2 ther's the creek I've been warned about. Need to specify I am NOT big fan of crossing rivers, swamps and mostly do not like much water on my course (except when I'm thirsty!!). So, got to the rushing "creek", I looked to the left, can't see a better spot, look to the right... nothing. So, I carefuly start going, and apparently not carefully enough, cause in a split second, I was completely under water, head and all, with my eyes wide open under and with the only concern that I NEED to keep my map dry. So I didn't freak out one bit, just popped out and checked real quick if I can still see the course on the map!! ........ Big relief, my map was as dry as ever, yes! Now the stumbling up the muddy, slippery, steep bank was just plain joy!
With that on my record, I figured nothing can be worse on that course, and I found all my controls in pretty safe fashion, except 11 where I just kinda knew where i was, too lazy to get back and relocate 100%. Oh, need also to mention this was the least runnable forest of all, with burrs, and plenty poky things even if the "white" areas, so you had to minimize and extra walking. I had scratches even on my tummy! I mean by the end of the weekend, running through the river or in a washed out trail was the best choice. Plus a chnace to get the mud out off your shoes. Anyway, ended up loosing a good 7 min at 11.
Then everything went pretty smooth (you wouldn't say by my time, but looking at everyone's time on red, I'd say it was OK). One little bobble at 15 where I wasn't 100% which creek was but then quickly corrected. Oh, one last dip, as Natalia's swiftly jumping over the creek at 14, I somehow got out of balance, slipped, and there I am in my knees down to my waist in this creek. I was just laughing at this point... well, she was laughing too, so not much choice there ;)
Anyway, all i all, I had plenty fun, I was so very happy I went...and came back, and that my map was dry... and so very gratefull for people that made this happen!
Oh, very important detail, natalia made for dinner this awesome "mamaliga cu brinza de burduf in coaje de brad". Which could pottentually be translated something like "polenta with some strong tasting romanian cheese that's stored in pine bark"?