I almost missed my start, I didn't realise that the clock wasn't set 3 mins fast like usual (and like the past two races) so I turned up a few moments before my time, only to be ushered straight through all the boxes right to the front! I was only there a few moments and the bleeper went and I was off. That's one way to avoid all the waiting around in the boxes before a race!
I rounded the corner and chuckled at the start kite, they have super sized start kites, about a metre tall or something. Even I could not miss it..
The scale of the sprint map was 1:7500, twice the scale of yesterday's map, so I was expecting everything to come at me really quickly. I was getting worried when I'd been going a while and not reached number 1 yet. But it was fine, the scale wasn't as big as I'd imagined.
There was a super junction which had 12 paths going from it. The first time through (2-3) I was fine. The second time through (4-5) I had to take the fifth exit. I must of missed a small track when I counted because I went down the wrong one. I could tell straight away because the compass was slightly off. So I spun around and went back to the middle and had to chuckle when I looked at all the paths and had no idea which one I'd originally come from. I guessed that I must only be one out so I tried the next one round, luckily it was correct.
Most of the controls I think I did well, apart from I overshot one junction to number 6 because the path was hidden from my direction of travel. I realised I was climbing and I shouldn't be so I spun around and it was easy to spot on the way back. Also I went around two sides of a triangle to get to number 8, but I thought that on such a short distance by the time I'd turned around it would probably be quicker to just press on.
I could see a whole crowd of people at control number 13. I thought something must have happened! But when I got closer I realised it must be a spectator control. I must have looked slightly confused as I punched that one and spun back round into the forest.
I was also a little confused at the end, there were two controls right next to the finish on my map. One was number 13, but the writing wasn't right next to it so I was wondering if I'd missed one. I was looking at the map a lot instead of racing to the line. I finally realised it was a different one and sped to the finish. Not very cool though!
I enjoyed this race a lot, my orienteering has come on a lot since last year. I would have hated this race back then. I think sprints are my new favourite! My next MTBO race will be at the world championships! Blimey...
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| My route - green = fast, red = stationary! |
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| The new Giant Anthem 29er |
