Orienteering race 1:16:00 [4] *** 10.1 km (7:31 / km) +460m 6:08 / km
31c
NOL 3 - Mass start classic distance with forking and 3 loops (3rd loop common) at "Chinaman Flat".
Great area with gold mining detail and spur-gully in between. We set off and the pack split on the way to the first control. At c3 we split again and I was on my own until the end of the second loop. Up until then I had pushed hard on my own with no mistakes so was pleased with how it had gone. I picked up my 3rd map but lizzie came in only 30secs or so behind, followed closely by Aislinn. We were together by c17 but at c20 I decided to run my own way (straight) to c21. I didn't execute it brilliantly and so was behind until catching the others up at c24. I had good map contact through the detailed stuff towards the end of the course and was running well but never felt I had enough in the legs to make any attempt to break away and drop Lizzie and Aislinn, so had to settle for third in the absence of a super tricky control right near the end providing any chance of a sneaky victory. Brilliant course and really, really fun, even if I don't prefer this type of mass start racing generally :)