Orienteering race 1:14:26 [3] 3.02 mi (24:39 / mi) +86m 22:39 / mi
New England Champs, Sunday at Pearl Hill SP. Gray, no sun, rare sprinkle, not hot. Energy was good, esp considering it was the day after Saturday. Brown X2, 3.9k, 12c. Lost maybe 6-7’, most on #8 and then just Palin (‘plain’ but like autofill choice, incl cap “P”) dumbness on the way to 12. No rock to speak of, the course called for contour reading with an occasional trail or hardtop road for a pickup.
Went mostly straight to most, but also seeking white or light green. The contours around #6 were hard to figure out in the press of the moment, resorted to my compass for some 30m in the right direction before I got the picture.
On the way to #8, went straight, came to the stream around the boulders, at the westmost one. Expected the path then and there but it wasn’t. Headed toward the flag and finally found the path higher up - almost indistinct in places. Saw a flag in the reentrant to the NE - the adjacent knoll looked right etc etc. Went to top and to L but did not see the flag in the green. Wyatt and Angelica Riley came & went, then Dave Hunter came. By then I was back in the reentrant. We went up & over together but about 20m apart. This time I saw the damn thing, punched and was on my way.
Saw Steve Tarry and more of Dave on 9 & 10. Was alone on #11, on top of the spur, woods became white, flag due anytime… I saw it from about 4m, blocked by a just-the-right-sized tree. From 11, I failed to hold south or a bit right, never hit the road but came to the path (through unnecessary green) which took me to the field and had to go about 60m over to the final point. Weird w/o finish chutes etc. Almost went to the refreshment area and not to the rather indistinct stand with the epunch. OK enough performance but sure would have been pleased had I seen #8 right away.
Met Sharon coming back from her run. She recounted a disastrous leg. It’s comforting to realize that even with all the experience and success, the next success is not always a given.
Thanks to NEOC for all their work.