JK Day 2 Ulpha Fell - M35L - 8.6k 465m
I AM NOT READY FOR THIS!!
Started steady and picked off first three controls which were pretty easy, then drifted right on #4 and got complacent so started looking for control too high. Lost 2 minutes just faffing confused. Out onto moor and good to #5, then slow up to #6, #7 was easy then down to #8 again just lost focus and let folk crossing my bows distract me, and followed them up to a control way too high and too far left. Stupid mistake.
Through crossing at #9 then into real tech stuff, took high line to #10 and missed, got confused and faffed about for ages. Another 2 mins burned.
Good high line to #11 making it easy, then should have stayed to right of wall but lost focus trying not to swim in bogs and ended up passing re-entrant by control, climbed over next hill and attacked about 150m too far on at next stream. Seems I lost 3 1/2 mins here! Jesus.
Good but slow to #13, steady through #14 - #18, not quick up to #19 but chose track option, wonder who else did? OK in rough stuff then felt solid attacking #21 only to not find it on the rocky spur I found near the rough open. Totally confused, did a full lap of the spur, nothing. Went up towards crossing point to relocate and found control. Think map was iffy here. Another 2 mins lost!
Solid again across moor, dying from the climb by now, so when I started to nav towards #25 I thought I was in control, but stayed too low on ridge and missed feature, then started to look below me, dropped and got well confused / pissed off. Went back up hill, long angry walk. 2 1/2 mins blown. FFS!
Drifted left on #6 before heading into woods, careless with compass, then got bang on line with attack on #27, standing over re-entrant but kite was near lying flat under some brashing that had been used to hide it then been trampled. Lost another minute relocating and attacking from different angle!
OK through next couple, then cursing the planners for #30, WTF is going on putting a control at the top of an 8m crag on a 35m steep slope when best route is down to a path, meaning 60m climb on one leg. Just unnecessary on an otherwise good course. Seems my shot legs after that climb meant I was a good minute slower than others on next leg too that I spiked.
Nothing left in legs to aid a speedy descent in rocks and mud, all I could do to stay upright. Felt broken, just wanted to stop. Slow into finish.
Lost 13 mins plus on navigation alone, not like me. Careless stuff and not learning from mistakes during race. That plus the buggered hamstring and lack of decent training, meant worst performance in a long time.
Results
Routegadget