Saturday, 16 March 2019
Leeukop Golf Club
The 2nd night event was held on Saturday. Leeukop was a brand new map, which made it a level playing field for everyone. I was feeling a bit nervous before hand - I have been suffering with a tight hamstring, so I wasn't sure what my running speed would be like and this is something I rely on when I mess up on controls. I also wasn't sure how technical the course was going to be.
I set off last on the womens course, 2 minutes behind Sarah Wimberley. Out on the course I didn't really see who I was around, I only saw lights and people, so I am not sure where I passed Sarah as I didnt see her and she didnt see me.
Start - 1: Setting off, for the first few meters I forgot to put my headlight on (only realized when I couldn't see my map). #1 was quite straight forward, head around the bottom of the forest area. # was also easy to find.
1 - 2: Set off too much left, until I spotted the control and ran towards it.
2 -3: Followed the path and cut across towards the end of the forest area, ending up by the out of bounds, ran left around it and saw the feature the control was on. Was slow getting in to the control, running around the tree branches.
3 - 4: Read the wrong path, took the first path, crossed the bridge and starting looking for the control before I realized I still had another path I needed to cross. I was too far right and ended up by the path junction, so I just needed to run along a bit to the control
4 - 5: Followed the main path across the bridge and headed up towards the trees. I got confused between scattered trees and forest, and headed up towards the scattered trees, before realizing and seeing the control - too far left on this control.
5 - 6: Headed up towards trees, once again I was drawn to the scattered trees, so ended up left before seeing control
6 - 7: Followed the forest down, could see more of less where the path was that I was heading to. Hit the path and followed to control
7 - 8: Followed path back out, ended up going too far left around the dams. Once I crossed back under the power line I could see where the tree was, so made a straight line for it.
8 - 9: Set off too much left, almost heading towards boulder, but then saw the control
9 - 10: Too far right, got a bit confused with the dams and the distance. Corrected myself at the bottom of the top dam and followed it left around. Should have stuck closer to the power line.
10 - 11: Not the straightest line, thought I was following between forest and green vegetation, but apparently I was running between the 2 forest sections. Found the path quite easily.
11 - 12: Just followed the path all the way to 12. I considered going back out the path and running on the left of the green vegetation. Found Stephanie Mulder at this control.
12 - 13: Ran to the right of the golf greens, feature easy to see
13 - 14: Thought I was running right of the golf greens, turns out it was to the left. Feature easy to see
14 - 15: Not so confident on this leg, followed the overgrown vegetation until I saw the ride.
15 - 16: Followed the ride out. Was a bit too right but corrected when I saw the control
16 - 17: Went back up towards the overgrown area, saw people at the control
17 - 18: Half followed the path down, ended up being distracted by another control which pulled me left. Then ran towards the scattered trees
18 - 19: Crossed the path and the bridge, could see the control feature
19 - Finish: Ended up going through the car park and around avoiding the mud - slow finish sprint
Overall I felt I had a terrible run - I tried to take rough compass bearings but with the scattered trees and forest areas I always found that I was either too far left or too far right, I never quite got a control perfectly. I managed to get a few fastest legs, not sure how. Came 2nd female, 1 minute behind Michele - also not sure how I managed this.
It was a good course though, some technical aspects and good running legs. Need to focus the whole way, and follow where you are and also plan ahead.
Next up, another night event at Wanderers in 2 weeks time.
Leeukop Golf Club
The 2nd night event was held on Saturday. Leeukop was a brand new map, which made it a level playing field for everyone. I was feeling a bit nervous before hand - I have been suffering with a tight hamstring, so I wasn't sure what my running speed would be like and this is something I rely on when I mess up on controls. I also wasn't sure how technical the course was going to be.
I set off last on the womens course, 2 minutes behind Sarah Wimberley. Out on the course I didn't really see who I was around, I only saw lights and people, so I am not sure where I passed Sarah as I didnt see her and she didnt see me.
Start - 1: Setting off, for the first few meters I forgot to put my headlight on (only realized when I couldn't see my map). #1 was quite straight forward, head around the bottom of the forest area. # was also easy to find.
1 - 2: Set off too much left, until I spotted the control and ran towards it.
2 -3: Followed the path and cut across towards the end of the forest area, ending up by the out of bounds, ran left around it and saw the feature the control was on. Was slow getting in to the control, running around the tree branches.
3 - 4: Read the wrong path, took the first path, crossed the bridge and starting looking for the control before I realized I still had another path I needed to cross. I was too far right and ended up by the path junction, so I just needed to run along a bit to the control
4 - 5: Followed the main path across the bridge and headed up towards the trees. I got confused between scattered trees and forest, and headed up towards the scattered trees, before realizing and seeing the control - too far left on this control.
5 - 6: Headed up towards trees, once again I was drawn to the scattered trees, so ended up left before seeing control
6 - 7: Followed the forest down, could see more of less where the path was that I was heading to. Hit the path and followed to control
7 - 8: Followed path back out, ended up going too far left around the dams. Once I crossed back under the power line I could see where the tree was, so made a straight line for it.
8 - 9: Set off too much left, almost heading towards boulder, but then saw the control
9 - 10: Too far right, got a bit confused with the dams and the distance. Corrected myself at the bottom of the top dam and followed it left around. Should have stuck closer to the power line.
10 - 11: Not the straightest line, thought I was following between forest and green vegetation, but apparently I was running between the 2 forest sections. Found the path quite easily.
11 - 12: Just followed the path all the way to 12. I considered going back out the path and running on the left of the green vegetation. Found Stephanie Mulder at this control.
12 - 13: Ran to the right of the golf greens, feature easy to see
13 - 14: Thought I was running right of the golf greens, turns out it was to the left. Feature easy to see
14 - 15: Not so confident on this leg, followed the overgrown vegetation until I saw the ride.
15 - 16: Followed the ride out. Was a bit too right but corrected when I saw the control
16 - 17: Went back up towards the overgrown area, saw people at the control
17 - 18: Half followed the path down, ended up being distracted by another control which pulled me left. Then ran towards the scattered trees
18 - 19: Crossed the path and the bridge, could see the control feature
19 - Finish: Ended up going through the car park and around avoiding the mud - slow finish sprint
Overall I felt I had a terrible run - I tried to take rough compass bearings but with the scattered trees and forest areas I always found that I was either too far left or too far right, I never quite got a control perfectly. I managed to get a few fastest legs, not sure how. Came 2nd female, 1 minute behind Michele - also not sure how I managed this.
It was a good course though, some technical aspects and good running legs. Need to focus the whole way, and follow where you are and also plan ahead.
Next up, another night event at Wanderers in 2 weeks time.
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