Orienteering race 1:14:25 [5] *** 9.9 km (7:31 / km) +385m 6:18 / km
24c
As if the relay wasn't enough, I also got my very first M21 A-meet win this weekend - even if it was by one, two, three seconds. I had a really good race overall; AP says I lost no time, but I definitely bled 15-30s two or three times among the first five controls - mainly 3, 4 and 5, on all of which I made some sort of minor compass or route choice error which caused me to travel more distance than necessary. I also took the first control slower than usual, not wanting to start things off poorly.
After 5 I was basically clean, without anything that could rightly be called a mistake. My legs felt springier and less sluggish than yesterday, and I was able to run up most of the hills. I think I need to alter my taper routine to guard against whatever happens to your legs when you don't train for 4-5 days in a row.
Assorted other notes from the weekend:
-- I get to add no less than THREE states to my orienteering list after Saturday's courses took place in Pennsylvania and most also crossed the Mason-Dixon Line into Maryland (in my case, we forayed about 50 meters across, then went straight back again - still counts!), while Sunday's was in Delaware. Delaware! First in the First State! I am irrationally excited about this. I believe my list is up to 15 states.
-- My ongoing campaign to actually meet in real life everyone else associated with the U.S. team saw some solid progress. I met Ken Walker Jr, Alex Jospe, Sergei Zhyk and Peter Gagarin. Naturally, they are all interesting and friendly people whom it's a pleasure to know.
-- Books: I finished Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres and The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman on the planes. I thoroughly enjoyed both and would highly recommend them.