Orienteering race (NOL 3 / VIC Long Champs) 1:26:21 [5] 11.2 km (7:43 / km)
shoes: Inov8 Roclite 243
I was determined to have a clean run after yesterday's effort and actaully orienteer properly.
Again I lost it on the first control. This is a big area of improvement for the future. I planned to go left and was executing itwell but then just lost all confidence half way along and went up into the green shit. Just as I relocated Eon came past which gave me reassurance. Went ok with Eon for the next couple of controls, we lost some time on 4th where I reckon there was bit more rock than mapped. Lachy came past at this stage.
We approached 5 from different directions and I never saw them again. 6 was ok but all the batre rocks looked the same so I lost a little in the circle, same in the circle at 7. 8, 9, 10 went well and I finally got comfortable orienteering.
I went the track for 11 and really concentrated on nailing this leg. Simon came along just as I left the track and got ahead through last part of the approach to the control in the white. 12 was a bit messy and we formed a pack of about 5/6.
Through to 13 the others seemed to drop off a bit and Simon found an unmarked track which we flew along. Picked up some more guys in 13/14/15.
Out of 17 we started to splinter and I was into 18 by myself not sure where the others were. Exiting it I saw them, apart from Simon, behind me. We got back to Simon at 20 were he dropped a little time. Finished together, I was going to be a gentleman and finish behind Simon but when Andrew put the foot down I I had to hold him :)
So there was a big adavatge in the packs at the end, obviously mostly from Simon. Whilst the result is a bit shallow for that reason it is still my best NOL result and I dont seem to end up in packs very much so I'll take it where I can. I had pulled myself up to 5th by the 11th control so it wasn't completely undeserved. The big positive was that I could push it right through in the second half of the race, I really didn't think I had the form to do it at this stage.
Lots of positives, intrinsic feedback on areas to work on and a lot of motivation to have a solid easter and set up a big training block for Aust Champs