Orienteering race 2:07:04 [4]
7.8K is "too long" for my current endurance, but with only 70m climb since it was flat on the Chattahoochee River flood plain (which doesn't flood often due to dam).
Two monstrous errors.
S-1: As in Cincy Day 2, I sensed the "red flag" and ignored it; this time wandering into 'terra ingonito' (ie swamp).
I chose safe, long trail run. Getting close to control, I changed mind and chose to cut a corner. Instead of 80m NW to next trail, I ended up 400m east in a swamp. WTF! Since there was no swamp within 300m of control, I was clueless - could not find trail to south to relocate, went north to river. Then executed same plan (without cut corner) to perfection. 25 minute errror.
1-8: I'd looked ahead to 1-5 legs. Good plans and execution, especially 4-5 where Charlie S and I exploited narrow white corridor next to swamp. "Thanks beavers for the dam." Very clean to 8, getting discouraged by length and slow result no matter what.
Did use notorious #73 on junk to my #8 on junk. #73 was the disputed Brown control. I knew exactly which mapped junk pile it was on - unfortunately, it was not the junk pile circled on Brown map.
8-9 was so easy: due east and up stream to junction. I ran 200-300m without checking compass or terrain - on hillside, almost off map. Relocated to stream, but didn't know location on stream. Huge parallel reentrant error. Surprised I only lost 15 minutes. Attribute this lack of focus and discipline to exhaustion and discouragement.
9-10: Missed much faster safer route (used #73 again!).
10-F: Clean and slow.
Good route choices except #10. Even for #1 and #9, my do-overs were perfect. :)
Body totally trashed: legs, scratches, energy. As i drank over a gallon of water, beer, Gatorade, and lemonade for next 5 hours, I realize that I'd run dehydrated. Dumb!