Orienteering race (Oceania Long) 2:47:39 10.91 km (15:22 / km) +557m12:14 / km ahr:149 max:179 shoes: Salomon SpeedCross
Very ambitious entering this, and had the goal of finishing the first half in 3 hours, then pulling out. Missed the first 2 controls by mispicking a boulder and misreading some bracken, then got COMPLETELY lost heading to the LONG leg to 3... i just couldn't figure out for sure which hill i was on (i had thought i was further north and picking up features incorrectly for a while). Each time i found myself, i would track too far south, and nothing would make sense again. After finally having NO idea where i was for a while, I decided to head east til i hit the road. By the time i hit the road, i knew exactly where i was, WAY further south, and about 2 hours had passed, i decide to do 7-14 and call it a day.
I've figured out that the number 1 issue at these two races was inexperience using a compass (it being the 1st time i've ever really used it) Everywhere where i went off a bearing, i ran about 30degrees to the right of where i was aiming. I think i was always holding the compass so it was comfortable, but not pointing straight. The long leg 2-3 i was heading exactly east for over 1 km (instead of ENE), which meant i was then mis-picking ridges and green edged, then i was heading ESE when i thought i was heading due east.
A lot to learn. A pretty demoralising experience (definately felt like i shouldn't have been there), but was cool seeing the top guys race. they can run terrain like crazy! Had a huge amount of fun, really wish i could have another crack at both races really... in my own time
Running (Beach) 39:31 [1] 2.8 km (14:08 / km) +2m14:05 / km
Planned on running the length of Binalong bay with Anne, but was interrupted by a pod of 10-15 dolphins doing backflips off the back of waves! amaze-balls!
Orienteering race (Oceania Middle) 1:26:36 6.04 km (14:20 / km) +305m11:27 / km ahr:154 max:178 shoes: Salomon SpeedCross
Looking back at this, i actually didn't do too bad! I made a massive error at 2, which cost about 20minutes. Couldn't really figure out where on the slope i was, and in hindsight, i think i was running blindly really. Occassionally followed the world cup guys as they came through, struggled to actually land controls without help. Ended up doing a lot less successful orienteering than i should have been doing... just terrain running... i'd then be in the red when i had to think... Pulled out after halfway, as i'd been out for over an hour, was pushing it too hard keeping up with anyone, and didn't really want to run over the finishline after everyone had already finished...
Main lesson is to stop and take it a lot easier. Think more i guess
11 AM
Running warm up/down 17:07 3.13 km (5:28 / km) +18m5:19 / km ahr:144 max:155 shoes: Salomon SpeedCross
1 PM
Walking (Coles Bay) 3:18:21 [1] 10.38 km (19:07 / km) +559m15:04 / km ahr:67 max:108 shoes: Salomon SpeedCross
Planned on getting up Mt Amos, but Anne was struggling with the steep slippery granite and freaking out a bit. It started drizzling, so we called it before the top (it was gonna be real slippery if we continued). Went back down, then up the easy route to the wineglass bay lookout.