Orienteering 55:52 [5] 7.0 km (7:59 / km)
shoes: Inov8 X-Talon (Dec' 13)
IOC Middle - 6th
Camaderry, new map.
Was looking forward to this, I've always lacked middle distance technique, but I was feeling up for a controlled race going into this.
Started quite well, and picked off the features to number 1, not legging it, but controlled. Hit it, and down to 2, it was obvious. Again, not running too fast, and trying to keep good control. A little worried I wasn't running quick enough, but I figured it should be fine (in retrospect I was in 2nd here).
Easy up to 3, definitely lacked some of the hill strength, but also didn't want to burn myself early on. Planned 4, 5 and 6. Planned to contour along for 5 and go above the rocks and then come down into the control, as I went I found the running alright, and stayed slightly lower, going under the first set of rocks and then going up and dropping slightly. I was a little unsure of the control, and came down a bit off, and then searched all the rocks when I got there, so definitely an unnecessary 20-30s lost there.
Again, chilled down to 5 to make sure I picked the control well, took a bit of a fall between two rocks which slowed me, and then circled the actual boulders a bit, but got it anyway. Straight contour to 6, no worries, stopped a bit early but realised, maybe a little lazy on this leg. Good start so far and in 2nd place now.
So, here the mistakes began. Up to 7, was struggling up the hill too much and lost focus on my bearing. Was maybe a bit left, saw a boulder and tried to use it, no luck. Tried to relocate amongst the marshes, but they didn't work out too well either, I think I was in some marshes too far left which weren't on the map. Got it eventually (3mins).
Continued on, but after that mistake my heart wasn't in it as much and my technique wavered. Sloppy to 8, bit low had to come back up, and generally slow to it.
To 9, hell broke loose. Didn't concentrate enough and knew I was out of control. Stopped too early, without really climbing at all. Was way too low. Wandered trying to relocate, and after 17mins of unsuccessful relocation I headed up to the very top, not seeing how it would help much, but I stumbled across the control, with Darren now in tow.
Ran through the rest of the course without too much effort, but better technique again, two 30s misses, but my control was better and a bit chilled.
I never like blaming maps, I would definitely question todays. I felt 9 was too high, but I also forgot to climb, so I definitely can't criticise the map there with any certainty.
What I can say is that the area around 9 was definitely under-mapped, with some gullies and other features not included on the map, which can (and did) cause a lot of confusion. Contrastingly, the detail atop the hill was around 11 and 12, was quite over-mapped. A lot of detail included, and not drawn to fit, so it was very hard to read.
Still, with a better technique and plan, getting these controls without mistakes would have been possible, as I don't actually know if any were in the wrong place. A lot of work on my Middle distances to be done. I'd rather not leaving winning IOC to chance in future, which is what I did in the 2nd half today.