Return to the fold

Last weekend I went orienteering for the first time since 12th July. Probably the longest gap ever since I started orienteering that was not occasioned by dead season or no events to go to.

Well, I must admit I did better than I thought I might. Not so much the winning, as that was not difficult, considering there was only two of us in the class the other lady being a lot older than me. It was the fact that I could still run a bit (not a lot mind!) and that with some mistakes, but the mapreading was OK as well. After the first day I was so stiff, plus I strained a ligament in my leg, that I hobbled like I had a broken leg. It got better for the second day, when I concentrated on running with small steps, not to aggravate the ligament, which was on the inside of my right thigh and managed with just one mistake.

The terrain was forested sand, a bit like sand dunes, except there was even less contour detail and a lot of thorny vegetation at this time of year. I like technical areas like this, although I wished I was a bit fitter for the soft sand and a bit more with it for the tricky navigation. Still, I survived it, the ligament has settled down since (touch wood!!) and the only injuries still being seen to are two enormous blisters, which were expected after this long inactivity. I have to toughen up the skin on my feet if I want to run a bit more in what remains of the season.

As we are off to Canada next week, there are only the Cambridge Street Race and the CompassSport Cup Final prior to a few more events in November, like the Spartacus Cup and the Juniper Cup. The latter is going to be very similar to last weekend, so I hope my brain will be more in gear by then.

Next post is likely to come from Canada or a bit before, depending on time and Internet connections. I am taking the new Kitten, let us see if she will like Alex's WIFI?