So, here are my routes from the weekend, in a better view:
Day 1 route
day 2 route
I need help from my readers to understand why I make particular kinds of mistakes. The mistakes on 9 and 10 on day 2 were due to thinking about running, instead of reading the map. I was moving faster than my brain could process, and so I made stupid errors of drifting off my line. I know how to fix that particular type of mistake.
Instead, I need help with the mistakes I made on C2 on day 1 and C3 on day 2. On day 1, I knew I was just vaguely heading in the direction of 2, without a careful plan. When I got confused by rock wall fragments, and stopped where I thought the control should be, I had a hard time making sense of where I really was. I wandered a bit, in case I was just near the control, but I eventually decided to relocate off the easy rock wall features. I headed east until I hit a rock wall. I know I stood there and said, I'm at a rock wall, running down hill on the side of a spur, near a stream.
Here's the part I don't get: I didn't identify my correct location on the map. Even with those known conditions, I convinced myself that I was at the rock walls S/SE of the control. I had all the information I needed, but I didn't really listen to myself and use the information properly.
Why? Obviously, at other times, I can read simple features like rock walls and streams. Why not this time? I was not too tired, since I hadn't been running and it was near the beginning of the course on day 1. And later in the course, I was able to read the map just fine and identify all the features.
So, what was going on this time? Is this a matter of concentration? Not really forcing myself to understand ALL the data available to me? Trying to force things to fit what I thought they SHOULD be? I appreciate any insight people can offer.
And I'm still looking for a way to figuratively "hit myself over the head" when I start to wander. I know I'm doing it, I know I will lose 15 minutes before I do anything about it, I know I should stop, and assess the situation. So what can I do to make myself actually do what I know is best for me? I suppose I should read tips on how to stop smoking or bingeing on foods. We all know what we're supposed to do, but we don't do it. I know I'm not alone in this particular problem.