orienteering race 2:16:45 [4] *** 7.8 km (17:32 / km) +550m 12:58 / km
19c weight:166lbs shoes: Icebug 2012
ICO "Red" course at Yellowwood State Forest. A mass start and a very rugged goat-like course. Navigation was not exceptionally difficult, but the course was very physical. Chasing davidwaller and sometimes seeing other people kept the motivation up and made it exciting. I gradually fell behind Dave the first 6 controls, but met a very fast runner who was returning to 6 as I was leaving it. This other runner beat me up the hill to 7, although not by much. Just after leaving 7, who should I see coming the other way but Dave! I was excited that I had caught him.
But it was short lived. I beat Dave to 8, but he was right behind me to 8 and 9, then we made different route choices to 10. I got hung up in thick brush and by the time I popped out of it, Dave was well ahead again. I kept him in sight through 10 and 11 but we chose different routes to 12. When next I saw him, he was slowly climbing the mountain to 12, almost at the top, and I was just starting the steep 45-50 meter ascent.
Little did I know that he would make a mistake going to 13, and so for the rest of the course I thought I was behind him when actually I was ahead. And we both passed the other runner at some point and stayed ahead of him.
Of course, Mattias, Mintore, and Tom S kicked our butts. But overall I was not displeased with the day. I cornered a lot of ground and navigated pretty cleanly.
orienteering 10:00 [2] *
6c
Putting out 4 controls at Mitchell and checking two others. Thanks to dylpop and davidwaller for assisting.