Orienteering race 3:16:00 [4] ***** 16.0 km (12:15 / km) +715m 10:01 / km
spiked:16/30c
Long distance at World Cup 2014, Cehegín
So... this was an interesting day. Temperature was about 24-28 Celsius in the sun. The first control was very long and extremely difficult. I made a several minute error on that one and then continued worrying about it for the 2nd control and lost my whole race there.
I had spent a lot of time in a very open and hot area and it took its toll on me. I ran a decent race for the next 30 minutes and then my head started going wild. So first my head, then my legs. My body shut down after about half the course. I drank three cups of water at each of the 4 water stops, but I suppose for me its not enough. I knew that beforehand, I always need a bit more water than everyone else, and now I know to prepare for conditions like that.
Between my controls 20 and 21 I was just about ready to call it a day and rest my body. I was thinking about the middle tomorrow and how it wouldn't make much sense to destroy my body for that. Then I thought of how few times I get to run a course this difficult and in conditions like this. I decided the lessons I could take from it were worth the suffering. So I carried on... pitifully though.
Just to demonstrate how far gone my head was... (I walked/ran the three before the spectator loop so as not to destroy my body too much). My number 26 was in the upper part of the gully, the women's course had their control in the lower section. I walked past their control, checked the number just in case I had screwed up, confirmed that it wasn't mine and continued walking to mine. After about 30 meters a thought came into my head. I thought, "That control could have been mine! I need to check it." I walked back, confirmed again that it wasn't mine, remembered I had already checked and confirmed it, and continued on feeling silly and slight metallic taste in my mouth.
So, what lessons can I get from this course?
First, I need to bring water along for courses like this. I might be able to run decently in conditions like this, but in orienteering I need to run and think. For me, I need water and lots of it continue thinking well. Note taken: for hot races or just simply long races, don't hesitate to take a camelback with me.
Second, the best in the world are good... damn good. Ok so this isn't a really shocking revelation but it's one thing to see the course the best ran and to do the same course. You say, hey I ran up that hill and that was really difficult. Then you see that the front runners ran up that hill faster and easier than you did and continued to climb successive hills at the same rate. Then you say, wow I am not in that good of shape. I suppose that's where my level needs to be.
Third, I actually have improved a lot. This course was extremely difficult. The organizers took care to make each leg have difficult decisions. Thus, I am surprised I was able to finish at all. Each leg would have been beautifully tough leg in a Madrid leg race. The difference? This course had 30 of them packed into a 16k course.