Real Orienteering race (Bendigo Diggings) 5:50:00 [3] *** 35.75 km (9:47 / km) +770m 8:50 / km
shoes: Brooks Thingummyjigs
(I'll call this rogaine 'real orienteering' as the map was a real orienteering map.)
The second rogaine on the Bendigo Diggings map. I took the opportunity to compete rather than organise. Teamed with Jools as a mixed vets team. The hour splits as follows.
1: 8.0 k Lots of running in the streets of Spring Gully.
2: 5.5 k Partly explained by Jools eating an apple and refusing to run whilst eating. I ran whilst eating mine, and I ate it fast. I think we lost about a kilometre.
3: 7.4 k Back up to reasonable speed in bush terrain.
4: 6.1 k Slowing a little, but still respectable. Signs of trouble when Jools was traversing below and inevitably past the control I was already standing at. A little uncharacteristic grumpiness when I tried to get her attention. I took this as a sign of partner hitting the wall. Started feeding ourselves.
5: 5.2 k Partner hits the wall. Basically down to walking except on the few occasions when I could coax a trot out of Jools. Marriage not worth any more.
6: 3.6 k in 50 minutes. Finished a little early. Given our speed, no additional controls were feasible.
We came second overall, though a long way off first. Given our over 50 status, and the fact that the winning team were also of similar age, it suggests that the sport is not attracting the younger and serious athlete. No massive prizes like the big adventure races, but then, no massive entry fees, far better maps, much more reliable control placements and a much fairer event. Go figure.
Well done Bob.