Orienteering race (Sprint 1) 19:12 [5] *** 2.4 km (8:00 / km) +40m 7:23 / km
shoes: Poison Ice Bugs
Looking at the heats beforehand, I opinioned that my heat was the toughest of the 4, and it was. The other 3 finished 2, 3, & 4 overall, and I was 10th overall. Felt fatiqued and not breathing well to start, but I was loving the open navigation, so I tried to push as hard as I could. About 10 minutes in, everything started to feel better. Maybe a 10 & 20 second error, but otherwise probably my cleanest one ever.
Just 3 seconds a km slower than my previous best!!
Thanks Clem!
Orienteering race (Sprint 2) 32:59 [4] *** 2.32 km (14:13 / km) +55m 12:43 / km
shoes: Poison Ice Bugs
This sprint was less open, requiring more techincal navigation in some parts - I clearly wasn't up to the task. Hesitated to 1 & 2, and I made no real plan to get from 5-6 and paid the price with a 6-7 minute error. This was the amount I finished behind my heat mates - three fairly well matched participants with Clare, Mary, and myself.
Saw Janet as I was relocating from the road back to 6. She commented that she hoped that I hadn't been following her. My response was that I screwed this up all by myself.
I think this sprint was good in the difference it presented, and the requirement to mentally adapt. I have to admit that I was expecting something similar to the first sprint, and I let this one throw me for a loop.
Oh, and my route to the GO control was priceless. I hadn't scoped it out beforehand, but I had in mind it was at the top of the dam(n) hill, but it wasn't! Ran up there with people cheering me on, only to have to run back down.
Thanks Randy! All your hard work on the Farsta and the Sprint was very much appreciated.
Orienteering race (Sprint 3) 27:56 [5] 2.55 km (10:57 / km) +80m 9:28 / km
shoes: Poison Ice Bugs
The last Sprint- in a heat of two with Janet. I hosed #3 - sorry, Janet! This allowed Gail and Clare from the heat 2 minutes behind us to catch and pass us - they actually snuck in to #3 without being seen. I think I punched in here with Mary with Janet just a few seconds behind. Gail, Clare and I regrouped a couple of controls later, but Gail dropped back soon after with crapping (Editor: errr, I meant cramping!!). I stayed within sight of Clare the rest of the way, but I was never able to make back any of the two minutes I lost at #3...
Got some water from a sink when going by one of the buildings late in the course - just what I needed to keep going.
I think this sprint was more a combination of the first two. Very enjoyable and clean with just a few small bobbles besides the one at #3. Of course, it helped that there were so many people criss crossing all over the place.