Orienteering race 1:36:14 [5] *** 13.66 km (7:03 / km) +610m 5:45 / km
ahr:163 max:176 20c shoes: VJ Falcons 2014
Leinster Orienteering Championships 2016
Carrick Mountain
Didn't have any real expectations for this race, was a test to see what sort of shape the body is, and I think it's not too bad, but of course could be better. BS not where i'd have liked before the race so think that might have contributed to the later cramp, or else I was dehydrated after yesterday which I don't think I was. Could feel the legs were a bit crampy early on. But ignored it. Also felt a slight twinge in the right calf going to 1 too but that went away again, not encouraging start.
Very tough start I felt physically, lots of climb. Ended up going straight up to the road going to 4, climbed more out of the control, but lost some time in the circle finding the control. Was confused on the path going to 5.
Then there was 6. Disaster of a route choice, green looked ok so went for it. My destroyed legs didn't thank me for this and it was a bit of a blow mentally. Lost around 4 minutes here. 7 wasn't fun either, the climb up from the road took longer than I expected, rough, ended up along by the stream near the end. Got the control ok though.
Went low to the road for 9, straight might have been quicker, also lost time in the circle, a bit to the left of it. 10 got stuck in more crap. Lorrieq caught me here, knew he was gaining.
More climb to 11. Spent the rest of the course with Lorrieq, either in front or behind him. I did manage to get ahead of him going to 16 but lost that time having a cramp before crossing the stream, along with a couple of more cramps in the mud before 16. Not fun. And there was more climb to come to 17.
This sort of run was definitely outside my comfort zone in time, haven't done this length of a run in ages. Good training since it was a very physical area, can't say the orienteering was difficult, my time loss was due to bad decision making with regards to the terrain.
Did struggle on a few occasions trying to read the vegetation on the map along with some earth features.