Orienteering race (SE Sprints, Sussex Univer) 34:07 [5] *** 2.5 km (13:39 / km) +60m 12:11 / km
spiked:19/22c
Morning heats. 'Do you remember what to do?' the first person I recognised in the car park said. Good question. For sure, though, nothing inspires anticipation like a well-run orienteering event and I knew this would be. I was really looking forward, if only to see how my back/legs and probably more importantly vision would cope. It felt great, map in hand, burning up the grass to 1. I'd not made out the uncrossable walls though and had to backtrack right round the first building. Settled down for 2 through 7 and was quite pleased with the speed I was managing to hold. Got confused on the way to 8 and had to relocate when map stopped fitting. Lost over a minute here and was caught by DM. Tried to catch him in the easy section through 17 but couldn't and was quite pleased to see the last 5 legs were a bit longer as I was finding the nav challenge a bit straightforward. Careful what you wish for I guess. I missed 21 on the straight line between 20 and 22. Didn't realise and punched finish in 22.45. On the way to download the light dawned and I cursed a bit as a mp sort of wrote off the afternoon race as well. So I decided to jog back for 21 and then do the finish again and see if my hired SIAC card would allow me a result. It did, but I'd binned 12 mins. At least I'd have an early afternoon start.
