Orienteering race (SA Champs Long-Hawequas) 1:39:56 [5] *** 11.0 km (9:05 / km) +715m 6:51 / km
26c shoes: Salomon Speedcross 3
Thought the longer endurance run would suit me more than the middle distance, but once again, my nav in the forest let me down. Some really stupid mistakes that could have been easily eliminated had I spent an extra 10 seconds looking at the map and compass… Lessons learnt! Big mistakes were at 10, 20 and 23. Course climb said 400m, but my Polar picked up 715m.
Had a good start, and from the splits, I see I was leading from 3-6. Rather surprised by that, but I’ll take it! :-) Was slow up the hill to 7, and then did unnecessary extra climb to 8, having to drop down to it from the east.
#10 – took a more easterly route to 10, aiming to drop down onto it from the south. Had a great run all the way along the roads and cutting corners. I didn’t take a bearing off the final road crossing, and ended up running past it, too far right (east). Had to find my bearings again and climb back up to it. Caught Nico here (he started 3 minutes ahead of me), and got away towards 11 before him.
Had Nico on my tail for 11-19. Hit most of the controls ok. Nico got ahead just after 19 when I ran to the road too early. He took a short cut and popped out just ahead of me. Ran past him on the road to 20, then things went pear-shaped… Took a horrible line from the road up to 20, overshot, buggered around once again, and had to head back downhill to find it. Meantime, Nico found 20 while I was higher up the slope, I didn’t see him, and he got away. Pushed hard try catch him again, didn’t double check the map and compass, and then royally stuffed up 23. Way too far west of the control - backtracked and relocated off a road. By this stage I was pretty furious with myself!
Last few controls were ok, except I don’t think #25 was quite in the right place… Got my only fastest split on the run to 26. Frustrating day out! Mostly a solid run, except for those 3 mistakes worth about 7 minutes in total. 7th place in the end, but should have been better. 9 minutes off Tim in 1st. Lots to work on. My first ever SA Champs, so some good experience gained!