orienteering race 1:57:59 [4] 5.5 km (21:27 / km) +150m 18:53 / km
shoes: Inov8 O-roc 280
DVOA Brandywine Creek - Green
This just felt physical and rough. Many people were saying they felt like there was more climb than advertised, and I felt that way too, but counting on my map it does appear to be about right. Rocky footing and, at times, lots of thorns, made movement difficult. I'm also healing from a 2+ week long sinus infection, so I felt kind of yucky, although breathing was fine and I don't think I ever had a fever with this. If you know how your sweat feels different when you're sick, kind of hot and clammy and gross... mine felt like that all day today. I was also very thirsty and probably should have had my own water even though the weather is cool.
The only control that really caused a problem for me was 11. I didn't like the look of either approach, but chose the right trail and attacking off the bend near the mapped tree stand (which I never saw). I thought the solid green on the left trail approach might be impenetrable and cause trouble. I went in at what I thought was the right place, but ended up milling around in the light green with about 7 other people. At one point I found an old telephone pole and thought that might be near the ruin, but didn't see it in the area. Finally bailed to the left hand trail (right near the little spot of rocks, so we were all too far North) and went down to the little clearing. From there it was easy. Duh. Some of the others were just coming across and finding it from inside the green then.