Orienteering (Vetting) 58:46 [3] ****
spiked:5/7c slept:4.0 (injured)
Prince William Forest Park, VA. Though I'd changed my watch for the end of Daylight Savings Time, when I woke-up on my own in the dark and looked at the clock it appeared that I was late. The clock hadn't been changed. I jumped into the shower and got ready only to find out later that I had more time to sleep. I used it to sleep a little more but got ready early too.
When vetting for the US Champs, I started from parking lot E. I was assigned only 7 controls by Jon Torrance which were for the western ends of the Red and Blue Day 2 courses. I'd been excused from earlier vetting this weekend since I had other duties. I nailed the first 3, then made a boo boo on a 4th short leg. Navigating a long tricky 5th leg across scruffy ribs of a hill side, I got a bit low but relocated when I saw a control in a saddle that wasn't supposed to be there--it had been missed the day before so I picked it up. I missed the control on the rib by being just a bit high and unfortunately ran the wrong direction first before doubling back. Going to the 6th control, I found what probably was an adventure racer control (XR) on a ridge, I picked it up and brought it to the road expecting to come back when I putting out some extra water. As I crossed the next big reentrant and climbed the hill happy because I was reading the vegtation well, I cut right ever so slightly and somehow pulled my back. I had to start walking and hopping to keep going. I got the next two controls and was able to jog a little getting back to the car. It was rather nice to get out in the woods having something with low stress and a high pleasure factor. The rest of the day was rougher and having pulled my back only made it harder.