Orienteering race 2:31:19 [3]
Peak 2 Peak
Really bad race for me. Thought I was all set to go and feeling good. Ran around the field, down the roads and the trail (northern path going out) and headed up the side trail to the first control. Right then (four minutes in) my shins exploded with shin splints like I've never felt before. Happily walked the hill and they felt better on the downhill. Went to the next two - even caught the pack a bit at the blue square at the bottom of the hill, but the legs were screaming on that up hill back to the trail. They didn't even like the smooth gentle downhill to the road. At this point, I should have modified my plan, but that would have made too much sense.
Crossed the road and picked up the first WalkTheLine control. Again, if I were smarter, I would have realized that the other two were at the ends and taken the southern loop to the west, but I took the longer, northern loop (thinking that I would do the southern later) and found the westernmost WTL control,
Got the one of the C's, then the M, then the other C in the E=MC-squared section and did the dogbone E->W using the trail N of the stream to connect. Left for the Vertigo and took the trail around to attack from the pond, coming down the intermittent stream. Nailed the right flag, although I did peek at one that was 2m off my line as I passed it.
Should have headed back now, but I had been determined to do the Bulls Eye since the snippet was posted on Facebook. I figured that it was a "break even" prospect - maybe a slight gain - including the late penalties.
Took the trail to the cliff system and set out with compass and pace. Didn't adjust pace for shorter strides on hill and in pain so I came up short and then cut W to the trail before coming down to the flag from above - just as 'Bent and BGY were leaving.
Chased them down the hill, but they were long gone by the time I hit the Bruce Trail. Then, to make a bad run worse, I turned an ankle on the Bruce Trail and slowed down even more.
Hit the parking lot near the Walk The Line just about as the time limit hit, but still had a long way to go. Once again, the tradeoff suggested getting the flags on the southern trail and taking the points hit. So, I got those last six and headed in.
Decent raw score but losing 315 points dropped me way down in the standings. GHOSLO showed me that "old age and treachery will inevitably defeat youth and skill" is still true (though he showed no treachery and I showed no skill and only comparative youth) as he outpointed me despite also being late.
Terrible run, but a great format and I was glad that I came up.