Orienteering race (False Bay NR) 1:14:54 [5] *** 7.4 km (10:07 / km) +142m 9:14 / km
ahr:178 max:188 spiked:14/24c shoes: Inov-8 X-Talon 212 Blue
Western Cape O' Champs Long
False Bay Nature Reserve 1:10'000 5m
New map on the very old Pelican Park area from the 80's. So haven't run here since I was a M12. Lots of vegetated sand dunes and a bit of the edge of the water works. Not as technical as the west coast maps and also more bushy.
Started off okay but HR started taking strain after about 8 controls and had to try and moderate the pace afterwards. Still a worryingly high HR for the run.
Had a good race otherwise, easy to start using a few tracks (I didn't try to cut corners unlike some others). Got into the map after #1 already. First good RC was 8-9 but I went straight and regretted it. Split times aren't so decisive though, but I really struggled to get through the green patches. Another green patch problem just before 11. Made an error 12-13, leaving the path way too early. Thereafter I started using all available paths and running around wherever logical. Had to backtrack a bit and retry 16-17 to get through some green. I could probably have run straight on 17-18. Felt like there were too many legs where I didn't quite spike the controls.
Got beaten by Tim by about 15 mins! I reckon about 6-8 mins of that due to fitness, the rest speed.