Oceania Champs Long (26/01/2025)

What a run. 1st M20E

Leg Analysis.

S-1. Good contact, just settling into the map. had to swing in from the right a bit, but both times crossing the track I knew where I was exactly.

1-2. Perfectly executed leg. Stayed straight, held great contact, picked off features as I went, and ran through the control with great flow.

2-3. Again, very strong on the compass, little bit of deviation for some of the re-entrants but good map contact all the way. Did have to climb a bit more into the control that I expected, but there was no hesitation or time loss.

3-4. A reasonably technical start to the course meant I hadn't planned this leg as much as I would have liked, however on first glance I knew that I wanted to go straight. There was no viable road option, and I didn't find it worthwhile connecting up pieces of track when I had started the race so confident with the nav. Heading into the first striped area, I used the hill system on my left as a handrail, but it pulled me quite far right into an area of flat forest. I knew I had gone right, so when I got to the next road I knew where I was. Good contact into the circle, but once I was on the form line hill, I didn't spot the flag. Without moving from my spot, I made out the shape of the hill, figured out where the control would be and went in from there. Probably only 15-20s of time loss. Playing really safe with the relocation, which I am happy with.

4-5. Pulled left out of the circle, to avoid the green. I was too far left and overshot the control. Spotting the clearing between 5 and 6, I knew I had overrun, and followed the re-entrants back north to the control. ~30s of time loss. The mistake was not identifying features when I crossed the track, I would have known I was off line if I did this.

5-6. Better, found my clearing again and by then it was pretty much in sight.

6-7. Had good exit direction, and chose to go left around the big depression. Followed the spur system and kept good contact of the knolls/small hills. On reflection, going right would have been more efficient, and nicer on the legs, but I wouldn't say I lost time, still spiked the control.

7-8. Jumping between the knolls, good contact. Really getting into the groove now. Feeling about ready for a gel, saw 10 was a drinks control as decided to push to get there.

8-9. Legs started to fatigue going through the stripe, I decided to bail out to the road (explains the big shift off the line), and avoid going up the hill in the stripe. Re-entered the forest at the road junction, and executed well from there. Spotted the hill from quite far back and started to plan ahead for the first time in the course.

9-10. Used the big depression on the right side of the line to enter the control. Short enough leg that it was mostly about exit direction. Spotted the radio for the control early and took my gel into the control.

10-11. A bit wobbly on the compass, but still hit the road in the clearing. Nice. Held good contact from there on, passed over the form line hills and the re-entrant before climbing the hill. Saw the control in the cup depression, and from there it was smooth sailing into the control.

11-12. Solid compass bearing to the road junction. Then following the hill system into the next block. Drifted a bit right before the circle. Ended up on the cluster of hills East of the control. Maybe lost a little bit of time, but the contact was still there so it was only a matter of turning left and heading into the circle.

12-13. Out to the road, follow the spur, through the big depression, pick off all the knolls, into the control. Good contact, held onto it when changing from the pine into the macrocarpa (which was my mistake at 5)

13-14. Good compass through the flat area, but drifted right going up into the hill system. Relocated off the tiny form-line re-entrant north of the circle, and into the control from there. Maybe 15s of time loss, but again relocated and reset quickly.

14-15. Sport Ident flung off my finger out of 14, spent maybe 20 seconds searching for it before continuing on my way. Through the clearing with the tree, left around the marsh, and then good contact through the hills into the control.

15-16. Had planned this leg going to 9. Left out to the road, tried to push down the road but was starting to fade again. The water on the road helped, but needed another gel, decided to take it at the spectator run through. After going off the road again, the map contact was great. Everything was making sense and I felt so confident through the terrain.

16-17. Identified it as a hard leg, and that I was tiring. Slowed down, kept very focused on the compass, making sure the contours were lining up and spiked the control.

17-18. Short leg, could see the arena. Spent this whole leg trying to get the other gel out of my pocket. The zip was stuck. Got through the run through, punch-drink-punch.

18-19. Compass to the clearing, over the hill, there is the control. Straightforward, these legs becoming autonomous at this point.

19-20. Was full of energy again after a drink/gel. Made my way through the clearings before locking in on the contour detail again. Ticking every spur off along the way, knowing where I was going over them. Spiked the control. Saw a lot of people in the clearings. I was hyping them up, and it was giving me energy too.

20-21. Out to the road on compass, right of line to go through the saddle. Follow the hill along, up the re-entrant, spot the control. Flip the map and keep pushing.

21-22. These next few legs were so pure. Just sitting on the compass bearing, ticking off contour features running through beautiful pine forest. This was so much fun.

22-23. Rinse and repeat. So locked.

23-24. Saw a few people from my grade up ahead, made it my goal to hunt them down up the hill. Pushed hard, but kept the map contact just in case they cocked up. They hesitated in the circle, but I had it on lock and got there just in front.

24-25. Just had to work my way through the clearings. Stayed in the yellow until the last second before heading straight south to the knoll.

25-26. Easy. Absolutely cooking on these controls. Up the spur and down into the re-entrant.

26-27. Had to crash through a bit of shitty thinnings on this leg, but stayed on the compass and used the clearings for safety, Might have been easier to go off the line but I made it work.

27-28. So clinical. Spiked. Everything just operating so well. Still have a lot of energy too.

28-29. Under the line. Pushing with everything I have left now. Still great contact and no mental fatigue.

29-30. Used the clearing on the left to keep the speed/momentum. Pushing at 110% now.

30-F. Celebrate