Orienteering race 2:32:00 [3] **** 18.0 km (8:27 / km) +610m 7:13 / km
shoes: New VJ Spikes
Long O Champs.
Better run than the day before, but more manifestations of the same problem. I lost several minutes on the long route choice leg back from 4. Not only did I not take the best route, I didn't take the 2nd best, or a route anyone else would have considered. And, I didn't see any midcourse corrections. Really stupid.
I felt pretty good throughout. Probably could have pushed a little harder in the middle, but there was no need. I did begin to feel incipient cramping during the late marsh crossing and thereafter slowed down and grew tentative.
The final climb up the hill was a killer, not due to fatigue but mainly due to the fact that various leg muscles (calves, quads) threatened to cramp. Luckily, nothing debilitating.
Also, got a branch up my nose and a mean elbow contusion.
Had three gus, and one cup of water at each water stop on my course, plus 1 cup at two other aid stations I came across. (two cups of water were actually 50% gatorade/50% water.)
Should have been sufficient hydration?