Discussion: O Champs

I had a similar experience at the Canadian O Champs last month. In some years, I've done a lot more orienteering and I got much better at racing on the more detailed maps. This year my splits were mostly better but I *really* blew a couple of controls on each of the Middle and Long courses. I figured that I got exactly what I deserved for the amount of specific training I'd put into it. Eye opening, as you say.

It only took me about 5 minutes of my first race to realize I was supposed to do it with my eyes open... much easier after that :-)

But you have to watch for sticks if you do it that way.

Revy, Thetis is also a tough map thanks to all the heavy salal. Makes it hard to read contours, never mind travel through. Should have tried to get out to Royal Roads the day before for the Sprint and Middle as that map is much more open woods and trails. Glad you got out and enjoyed!

Yeah would have liked to do the sprint and middle but was travelling from home. More map time would be nice. Not necessarily for the big mistakes - they were just dumb mistakes from rushing and not stopping to think and then losing contact with the map. It would help though with the micro nav decisions. When I looked at the splits and the map afterwards it was interesting to note alot of legs where I had a good route but not a perfect route and consequently my time was 10 or 20% longer than the fastest split. Certainly a different level of precision than adventure racing.

FB it took you 5 minutes to realize that your eyes were closed?:)

Took me ten minutes to realize it the first time I went duck hunting... sew I'm getting smrter :-)