Orienteering 1:41:30 [4] 12.9 km (7:52 / km) +225m 7:14 / km
shoes: 2011 VJ Supra
Black at Burnham Beeches.
This turned out to be harder than I was expecting. Egypt is still fast and open, but it seemed Burnham is getting greener, with more brashings on the floor. Softness underfoot not helping either?
Felt I started too fast - evidenced by the second fastest split to #2. So eased off a bit on the way to 6, though wasn't lifting the feet up very well - kept on tripping over branches, almost stacked it on several occasions. Went over-cautious after this, and started walking a few of the tougher bits/steeper 'hills'.
Technically was a bit varied. Where there was definite detail (contours, paths etc) I was generally good. But didn't do so well in the vague green bits - lost a couple of minutes on both #12 and #13 where I couldn't initially make sense of the green shapes, or see the gap(s). Lost a bit of time with bad routes to #9, 10 and the last control, in the circle at #24 and by miscounting depressions to #3.
Good things:
- Got to the end, legs didn't cramp this week
- Technically pretty good in the 'complex' bits, which were mainly at the end
- Ignored the fact that someone was tailing me for a few controls, and got on with my own run - lost him by spiking the tricky bit.
Things to work on:
- Having a good plan and solid, safe route in to vague/vegetation controls like #12 and 13 - could lose a lot more time on these controls.
- Head up to find better lines through the grottier bits
- Getting some strength back to attack the grottier bits
Walking 2:15:00 [0]
shoes: Scarpa Cristallo
And back home - too late to get to the pub. Achy. But good to get a long day in the legs.