Orienteering race (Sprint) 15:23 [5] *** 2.62 km (5:52 / km) +75m 5:08 / km
spiked:14/17c slept:2.0 (sick)
US Trials day 1 - Sprint at UMSL.
Nice day - very warm to me (got up to the mid-high 80's), but that's probably useful acclimatization for Barebones in June.
My thoughts and expectations for this weekend are that it'll be a good chance to develop toughness, both mentally and physically, while racing under decidedly suboptimal conditions (i.e. sick, no rest, sleep deprived, first weekend away from baby). I might not have the legs this weekend but I'll give it a fight every time I step to the line. I've been really missing out on running in real pain and discomfort. This will be a good chance to force myself to run hard when it hurts.
Race-wise, it was actually pretty decent. Was sitting up in 3rd place by the 8th control or so, but had a few problems from then. My SI didn't register on one post and I lost several seconds struggling with it and eventually punching manually. One bad route choice, one mistake (with the glare I didn't see an uncrossable wall that was pretty much covered by a line between controls that arguably should have been broken), and one more bad route choice. Total miss of about 40-50 seconds, but that was enough to keep me off the top of the list. Ended up 10th, about 50 seconds behind Jon Torrance, the top North American. I will consider that a huge success, considering how the week has gone.
Orienteering 45:00 [3] ****
spiked:7/8c
After the sprint, piled into the car and headed south through rush-hour traffic to get to the model event for tomorrow's middle distance event at S-F Scout ranch.
Felt a little bit uncomfortable with the map (though not nearly as uncomfortable as what the others were describing), but realize I'll have to be quite careful tomorrow. Visibility is sup-optimal in places, and the terrain is quite subtle and doesn't have many truly distinct features to aid in relocation should contact be lost....
Still sick, need sleep.