Rogaine race (Dover Raid) 4:29:00*** 18.0 mi (14:57 / mi) +300m14:13 / mi 28c shoes: Conquest 2014
37F, raining, 6" snow on ground and ice on trees. Started out pretty well taking 11 first, then 10, 12-21 in order. Map B involved crossing Cocheco River on an ice encrusted log, perhaps 50' long and perched 12-15' above the very cold looking river. Solo & no one else around. Um mm NOT..... There goes controls 22-28, all on the west side of river. Backtracked to 18 where Grant had coffee, changed from ORocs to Hokas and from competitive mode to recreational mode. Fast hiking seemed to be the least uncomfortable given the conditions. Long unproductive road walk to 29, cross on a real bridge then to 30.
31 & 32 on roads then back to snowy woods & rail bed for 33-35. Picked up 50 & 51 on west side of street O map (sans buildings btw) back on topo for 39 & 40. Skipped aerial photo section (not in mood) and back onto street O map for final group. Running now because it felt good and no worries about chilling with time ticking down. 54> 53> 55> 56> 57> finish at 4:29pm. Early enough to avoid bathroom lines so changed into dry clothes and got some food & a beer.
No navigation errors of any sort on the day, but it was a pretty linear course for the first 4 hour and herd paths are real easy to follow in 6 inches of snow.
Enjoyed myself even though I was rarely with anyone else after the first couple controls. Ernst got all but one, Joe & Jeff got all but 3 and Ian cleared it but came in 4 minutes OT. Winning team cleared it with no penalty...
{Note: Mileage measured at 16.6 miles consisting of straight line segments in gmaps pedometer. Rounded up to 18 to account for meanderings & trail squiggles. Climb a total wild guesstimate}