Tracking my wanderlust need to get out of town once a month

Track my O progress here

SATURDAY 27 APRIL 2002: Day One in Chicago

A terrible day. First, it was pouring rain and 50 degrees. The trails were running streams; the hillsides were slick mud. I started off OK, then had a small bobble, then a big boom on #4. I passed near the control three or four times. I just wasn't orienteering precisely. The control was on top of a spur, I was walking along the side. Although, I did cross over the top of the spur twice, probably walking within a few meters of it without seeing it. Very frustrated by the time I finally found it.

I did a good job of keeping the pace I wanted (HR >155). The only times my HR dipped were either 1) when I was near a control or looking for a control or 2) near the end, when I was getting tired. It was good to hear my watch beep at the end of the course; it spured me to move quicker.

I made a huge, insane mistake near the end of the course. I had never done this one before, and I hope I never do it again. When I was about 20 feet away from what I thought was my marker, I looked at the code and saw that it wasn't mine. Several minutes later, after relocating off an obvious feature, I found myself back at the same marker. This time I walked all the way up to the marker,, and discovered that the code was correct and it WAS my marker. Just goes to show what a tired brain can do...

I think I was also suffering from lack of confidence and lack of A meet competition. There were times when my inner voice told me I was doing something wrong, but I didn't believe in myself, and did some dumb mistakes. I also have to figure out why I frequently have a bad day one at A meets, and a good day two. Maybe it's lack of map reading experience; maybe I don't sleep well the first night in a new place. Have to figure this one out before November!

I spent 90 minutes on a 4.8 K course.

TT = 135




posted by Mary 12:36 AM [edit]