Wheaton - Jan 9, 2011

Course: Red [6.6 km; 170m; 18 controls]
Time: 2:14:45 - winsplits - routegadget


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It was very chilly in the DC area and Wheaton Regional Park was no exception. The temperature was right around the freezing mark and the wind was blowing at 20-30 mph.

I arrived a little early. I had my heart set on using a Garmin 205 gps watch to track my orienteering. After registering I waited for Jon to arrive. I didn't have long to wait but maybe I should have taken the fact that I arrived before him as a sign.

The first mistake I made with the 205 was forgetting to hit the start/stop button after punching the START control. It wasn't until after I punched the 1st control that I noticed. I hit the start/stop button and went on my merry way. At some point, 11 minutes and 47 seconds after I started the timer I hit the start/stop button again, by accident this time.

I didn't notice until I was between the 6th and 7th controls. I didn't bother starting the timer again. Because I was so close to the registration table I detoured and dropped off the 205, which probably added a couple minutes to my time.

The only control that gave me a lot of touble was the 5th one. I went right past it on my first attempt to find it. I thought it would be to my right but it was to my left. It took about three sweeps through the area and a little help from another person to find it.

The 15th control also gave me a little trouble. I knew it was just across a stream. When I crossed the stream and didn't see it I turned right and walked a ways without finding the control until I found a trail. That helped me to reorient myself and realize the I should have turned left after crossing the stream. I walked back along the stream, past the point where I crossed it and found the control without much trouble.

I wore long underwear for the first time this season, and I'm glad I did. It was certainly cold enough. I've gone without when the temperature was lower but the wind was the deciding factor for me. After I finished orienteering I could feel myself getting colder, probably due to lack of movement. It wasn't until after I got out of my sweaty t-shirts and socks and put on some dry, clean replacements that I started to feel warm again.