Run race 18:33 [4] *** 3.1 km (5:59 / km)
spiked:20/20c
NOL sprint at Keithcot Farm. The main concern with this run was would the body hold up; it did, more or less, with only minor hints of groin soreness. Also felt stronger than in much of the last few weeks, including on the hills. Didn't miss anything and routes mostly reasonably good in the building detail.
As usual, my start was on the slow side and Patrick Saile caught a fair bit of ground on me in the first 4 controls, before catching me a minute by 12. He would have done well to stay behind me because he then proceeded to lose time on 15 and then miss 16 altogether.
Filling in time between two races in a day is a bit of a challenge. We found ourselves at the local shopping mall. A little too late, I realised that venturing into an outer suburban Adelaide shopping mall wearing a Victorian team top might not be the most brilliant of ideas, but as most of the local bogans were otherwise engaged at the V8 race the visit passed without incident.
Run race ((orienteering)) 44:51 [4] *** 6.1 km (7:21 / km) +320m 5:49 / km
spiked:21/23c
NOL Middle at Para Wirra. A hot afternoon (33-34 degrees). The chasing start format made things interesting; I started with Ollie Mitchell (we dead-heated in the morning) and just behind Jim and Liggo. Jim went the other way on the first butterfly, and I gradually drifted behind the other two, although not losing much time. Caught Ollie again, along with Mark Gregson, on the second butterfly before blowing it with a 45-seconder at 13; then regathered Ollie quite quickly, which made think I might be able to drop him on the last major climb, which I did. This then left me in a group of 5 over the closing stages, but in the nice position of being able to relax because I was coming from furthest back and would therefore have the best time of the bunch as long as the group stayed together, which it did.
A little weak on a couple of the hills, but got a second wind later on and handled the heat OK - although I wouldn't have wanted the race to be much longer. 13th was a reasonable result without being stellar; certainly better than I had feared given my atrocious form over the last few weeks. Again no trouble from groin.