Kilworth 2014
Munster League
Weather has been worse here in the past but today was a small bit damp at times but not too cold. Happy enough with these conditions.
On the way to the 1st control I realised that my running speed was too fast for the ground conditions. Next time here wear proper orienteering shoes as the Ice Bugs didn't quite cut it on the slippery stuff. Saw them in the shed so took them for a spin. Still fastest by 37 seconds to 1. The downhill leg to 1 was fast. The first 5-6 controls I found slippy.
(For some reason the Brown Course is missing from the html file so can't use that Splits Arranger programme)
Went a bit towards the right to 2. Some of the green on the map isn't on the ground anymore. Used the walls. Wasn't that fast to 3, wanted to be careful with a bearing as control seemed to be random enough. But once I got close to the control I was able to see the black x and then the earthbank.
4 was a bit sloppy. Missing green didn't help. Saw 5 to my right but wasn't sure it was 5. If green had been there no way 5 would have been visible. Ended up a bit right. And then came back to it seeing the control, wasn't certain it would be mine though.
5 was easy and then onto 6, grand.
Then to 7 I lost 5 seconds but in reality i lost more. Took the easy route choice option and it didn't pay me back. Had seen this leg earlier in the course and decided to run the road and trust my pace. Going straighter would have been faster. Danny had left 6 ahead of me and he was still ahead of me when he hit the road. Caught him quickly then but straight was the route. Oh well.
Green missing again after 7 heading towards 8. Found the fence after the road a bit messy to cross so went left to the crossing point. Saw LiamO following the correct wall but he then veered away from that wall to the one parallel to the south.
Again the green has changed a bit in this entire area. Was missing for 9 and then to 10 I did go close to the main road before cutting back up to be on the safe side.
Grass was long going to 11 but was able to work out the various walls. Control seemed to be to my left when I crossed the last one, but like all controls was visible. 12 was very visible. Some fences to cross on the way to 13. But handy attackpoint.
Achilles started to hurt between 13 and 14. So didn't really enjoy the rest of the course to the fullest. It improved though after 18 so that helped. And towards the end it stayed ok. Track session on Thursday I blame 100% for it and will have to stay away. Bit pissed off as training will be impacted, extra turbo sessions :-(
14 was grand, just along the path and cut in. Didn't really pay much attention to the detail on the map as it wasn't needed. Used the track to look at options for 15. Think my route ended up being a bit wayward, could have been more direct. Achilles was distracting me once in the better running too. Passed Arnis at 14 and he was now chasing me. Made his life much easier i'd imagine.
Had looked at 17 earlier too and just took the track past the start. Then 18 I just climbed a few contours and the control stuck out nicely. Put a few seconds into Arnis here and determined to try and lose him to the next one. Didn't work out though as got stuck in shite after crossing the fence. Track on the map doesn't exist. Now covered in high grass and furze. So had a bit of fighting to do and then fell just before the control.
Decided to go around the road to 20 after the shite slightly higher. Got some time back on Arnis here as he tried a straight but ended up curved route.
Between 21 and 22 there was extra green on the map as opposed to it being missing earlier in the course. Not really a concern as the leg was parallel to a road. Last control was easy, single trees are noticeable. Then the run to the finish was a bit rough too.
Race graph is pretty straight. Turns out I came 3rd in the Munster League and took home a box of milk tray for my troubles so worth coming to Kiltworth in the end. Came third with only 3 running scores and 1 organising score, with 5 events to count.
Total distance min/km today was 4.32 as opposed to 2 years ago where it was 5.25. Nice improvement.
Results
Splitsbrowser
QuickRoute