Orienteering 1:26:34 [3] 3.79 mi (22:51 / mi) +151m 20:19 / mi
This day went better, but still had a few goofs.
S - 1: Meant to go out to the bigger trail, but once again, hit the smaller trail to the north. Momentarily confused, but then figured it out. Was a little too far right as I was going down to the control, but then saw it from aways away.
1-2: Good. Ran on compass, ticking off the features. Came right on it.
2-3: Went to the right of the marsh but still got muddy and wet; hit the end of the intermittent trail, up on the high ground, saw the hilltop and went on the other side.
3-4: OMG, what a climb after the stream. Again, it didn't seem like it would be that bad on the map; went through the flat area, up the reentrant the left of the spur, over the saddle and down into the control.
4-5: Great execution. Back up and over the saddle, could pick out the edge of the green and ran around it; over the trail, past the yellow marsh, down into the control.
5-6: Started to go up right away, but then saw the down into the control and knew that would be hard on my knees, so contoured SE and crossed the stream and up to the trail. Over the wide spur and came out almost at the parking lot...further east than planned. Ran the lower trail until just past the green in the trail, and then in.
6-7: Went on compass, stayed below the building, could see the control from far out
7-8: Went on compass for good execution until the very end. Was standing right above control, but a tree was in the way, so I couldn't see it. Took a few seconds, until I moved, until I saw it. Doh! But then misread the control number on my descriptions and thought it wasn't mine. Was about to leave when I saw Peggy punching in. Double-checked and saw it *was* mine! Double Doh!
8-9: Ran down to stream and then contoured above #2 and #3; ran up reentrant by #3 to the trail (very steep!!); in on compass recognizing the slight high ground and keeping to the left of it.
9-10: Ran on compass, past the water stop to the next trail. Ran that around to the first intermittent trail, hit the power line trail, up to the next intermittent trail and into the control. Easy.
10-11: Major disaster! Short leg so I didn't need to plan or set my compass; just ran like a headless chicken. Took the trail north out of the control instead of the east one, ended down by the green and the knoll (with a control on it). Was trying to figure out where I was since nothing fit, when I saw Bridgette Hall go to the knoll. Did not punch in, looked confused. At that point, I decided to go back to #10 since it was so close and start again. On the way, realized what I had done and said a really bad word. Still didn't hit it cleanly, ended up having to run around the spur and up into the reentrant.
11-12: Started running the trail with the plan to cut over to the small trail by 12, but the woods looked like super crap, so just ran trails all of the way to 12. I was done.
12-13: all trails
13-F: Was about to punch the finish, when some crazy cadet came sliding into home plate and sent the finish sawhorse flying! He set it back up in about a second and then I punched. That was a little scary!