![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.stodgell.co.uk\/pics\/2009\/warwickuni.jpg\" "\\"Warwick")
<\/a>dy underfoot it was almost perfect for orienteering.<\/p>\nThe map, drawn to sprint specifications at 1:5000 was extended out into some scrub parkland and a housing estate in order to give enough ‘room’ for the brown course (longest distance course available)<\/a> that the West Midlands League requires.<\/p>\n I had an appalling start, running away from the startline\u00a0I got about 30 metres before realising I should have run back through the start line to the first control. Flustered I then totally overshot the first track junction, not being used to the 1:5000 map, and was forced to run right around an out of bounds area. Luckily I only lost about 2 mins, but it is a lesson in preparation. If possible you should always watch the start area for a few mins to pick up what you can. I also should have focused before hand on being hyper aware of the map scale on the way to #1<\/p>\n Back in the campus I started enjoying myself again, but I had one frustrating moment losing about 20 secs waiting for a gap in the traffic.<\/p>\n Initially I was quite disappointed with my result, but if you remove my muppet moment\u00a0on the way to #1 it was not too bad for someone who said they would be happy to jog round a green course if the operation on my foot worked !<\/p>\n<\/a>The orienteering in the campus was amazing, with total concentration needed. We then had a bit of a slog through some grotty parkland and a long leg back through a housing estate, that to be honest I think the course could have done without. Another loop in the campus and a reduction in length would have made the course so much better. I made one mistake in the parkland, trying to cross a stream, well small river really, basically chickening out twice and then running round using the bridge.<\/p>\n