Orienteering race 50:33 [5] 5.1 km (9:55 / km) +69m 9:17 / km
shoes: New Balance
Definitely the fastest race of my life. I was the very last start, so I already knew that Alison had run in 54:42 including a few bobbles. I knew I could make it in 50 minutes if I ran totally clean. Then right before I left I heard a coach on a walkie-talkie mention Claudia's time at 44-something... and off I went on my course. Talk about pressure!
It was a good thing, though, because I was constantly aware that "every second counts". Physically and mentally I pushed myself the hardest I ever have in an orienteering race. I forced myself to keep moving, never to pause but to read on the run, plan ahead, pay attention, use every spare second to prepare for the next control, and if I got lost not to walk/ponder but to run while I relocated (not something I usually do), and if I was tired to take only a few steps walking then to start jogging again. I honestly can't say I've ever put as much effort into a race or held myself to such high expectations.
It wasn't my cleanest race. I set off at the wrong angle towards 1, took a while finding 4, took a few stabs to find 8, and completely overestimated the distance to 12. But given that I was definitely pushing myself to the high end of my navigation skills, I'm *very* surprised I didn't mess up on a grander scale.
I'm very proud of my route to 7, and the "just keep moving" attitude I took through the rest of the controls.
Another 3rd place run, behind Claudia and Tori, and right in front of Holly (who, granted, had an 8 minute error to end up there.. but still!), Alison, and Anna Urbanova. Never mind the massive blister I came away with - it was well worth it. No pain, no gain, eh?
(Also, look, ma, I broke 10 mins/km in an A-meet! w00t!)