Sprint Race
Today’s race at Bicton College, Devon was a sprint format. Lots of controls in a short distance, complex navigation requiring constant decision making and a winning time of approximately 20 minutes. Sprint racing is relatively new to orienteering, only appearing about 10 years ago, loved by younger generations but many older orienteers are put off by it’s name and
not seeing it as value for money. I’m glad to say this attitude seems to be changing judging by the huge numbers running today.
With the event in Devon I was sort of on home turf as I grew up in Taunton and we are staying with my parents for the weekend. Mum dug out a big photo of me taken at the 1985 JK where I was 2nd on M13B, scary to think it was 25 years ago…..
With a late start, looking at the finish times posted when I walked to the start, I knew I was in with a chance and luckily the rain held off whilst I was out (although my map was like a dishcloth when I picked it up). I started well and nailed the first 5 controls not going too fast, but lost perhaps a few seconds on the slippery boardwalks on number 6 . The run back across the fields to number 8 was very muddy and I struggled in trainers, wishing I’d packed some dobb spikes. Then we were into the complex layout of the college, lots of small buildings, hedges, walls, little alleyways and fences. Great fun! I spiked every control except number 10 where I lost about 5 seconds going in via another control on a tree and number 12 where I perhaps lost another 10-15 seconds getting confused by the complex path junction. We then had a great control in a court yard down some steps before turning for home
. Coming into the last control I was on my own. Chris Poole did a great bit of commentary over the tannoy, talking about my foot injury and subsequent return to form and MTBO. Punching the finish I was in the lead 1 minute and 35 seconds up, a big margin in sprint racing. I was very happy. Unfortunatley for me, fellow ex-South West Junior Squaddie Julian Simpson, then came in 18 seconds ahead pushing me to 2nd, but I was still chuffed though looking at splitsbrowser its the two mistakes that cost me the win as I was leading till that control.
I really enjoyed the complex navigation in the college, probably some of the best sprint racing I have done, its a shame about the rain because everything else about the event was first class.
Coach Ada was worried about me seizing up after a sprint running race, so I had to get 30 minutes on the bike on the way home. I’m not sure he will approve of the monstrous hill on the way back over to Exeter but the run down the other side was nice. Traffic was heavy though, with everyone leaving the event and I was forced to bunny hop a pot hole on the road bike whilst someone overtook a bit close !
I decided several months ago not to run M35 all weekend as it will take too much out of my legs and put me at risk of injury, with the Swedish training camp next weekend and only two weeks to the first MTBO selection race, so a day off for me tomorrow, before running M35 short on Sunday and the relay for Chasers on Monday.
Results available at http://www.siresults.co.uk/2010/JK/