Off-road running warm up/down 16:20 [2] 3.0 km (5:27 / km)
slept:3.7 shoes: Inov-8 Mudclaw 265 Blue
Not much sleep then drove up from Exeter to Atherstone... felt a bit tired on warm-up...
Orienteering race 1:06:48 [5] *** 9.9 km (6:45 / km) +360m 5:43 / km
spiked:21/25c shoes: Inov-8 Mudclaw 265 Blue
Midlands at Bentley Wood: lovely spring day and got into it well... fairly smooth early on but think took slower route to 3 and struggled up into the vegetation. Wobble to 8 (definitely lost time as went too low to river and missed straight run on path) and then again to 9 where I lost track of where I was on the path and just trusted compass - however, wasnt pushing pace as a result. Lost time by going direct throguh the white forest en route to 10. However minor points - surprised to see Phil M at 13 and got in front of him when he didnt use the open path. I hesitated at 14 and he caught me. We traded controls/routes from then on. Got confused at 20 which was simpler than we made it and then it was eye-balls from 21 until the end. Pleasing to win Midlands, but 4th overall behind the SYO mob.Splits analysis suggested my biggest losses were 3 (30 secs), 8 (45 secs) and 9 (1 min)... as I thought during the race. Hesitancy and doubting self seemed to be biggest culprits there.