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The race is much different than IZU race, it is not really an endurance race but more of a fast race that requires speed and good management of the energy... A few minutes before the race, I try to isolate myself from the racers' group to start concentrating. My objective is simple... "beat" my team mate Yushi. The last race we did together was IZU race in September 2001 and my performance was quite poor. I really need to prove him that I am now a step ahead. First day: The race starts at 8:00 AM with a steep climbing for a few hundred meters..., the pace is quite fast and I try to keep a distance with the first racers of the group. Little by little we penetrate deeper inside the forest and go through the rocky paths bringing us higher in altitude. The trails are quite technical and we start finding more roots on way, then ice and snow getting close to the top. I try as much as possible to avoid any breaks and keep thinking of maintaining a good walking speed to stay in the race and keep the distance with Yushi who is behind me.
About
10:15AM, I finally reach the top, the view is incredible and the air is
really fresh. Too bad I do not have much time to enjoy it as I start
running on the way down through the trails covered of ice rocks and roots.
Helping myself by holding the branches of the trees on my way down, I
increase my speed and start running a bit faster paying still attention
not to twist my ankle or hurt myself. The first section of downhill is
quite technical, steep and slippery because of the ice. 11:00, a few
kilometers left before the finish line..., I slow down a bit, feeling that
cramps could be coming anytime. My water supply is now empty and I don't
know how much more I will have to keep going. I cross the finish line at
11.34AM (Total time: 3.34.34hours; Only 15 minutes before Yushi who did
the race with an injured hand and was not 100% percent). I am not
really confident for the orienteering section so I start to worry about
the next section of the race. I think that Yushi will do much better.
On my way back, I meet Yushi and we decide to finish the race together and take advantage of these few minutes together to practice orienteering together. A bit slow at the end (because of some technical problems with the bike of Yushi) we manage to finish the course without losing sight. We covered the full distance in 3.27Hours (that's way too long and we will do better next time). After the race and all our efforts, a good rest at the hotel is well deserved: hot bath and stretching to relax and preserve my muscle for tomorrow's second part of the race. Second day: it took me a bit of time this morning to warm up and fix up the blisters from yesterday. Band aid and double socks are necessary today if I want to finish the race without too much pain. Today, each racer has his/her time of departure (there is a 2 minutes gap between each racer). My departure time is 9.19AM, Yushi left already at 8.39AM. It is my first orientation race on my own and I have to admit that I am a bit nervous. However, I decide to stay focused and motivated. I will only receive the map at the departure signal. 9:19 AM, I receive the map in my hands and start aiming to the first check point. Getting into the deeper side of the forest.
The overall distance is in theory 8 Kilometers but considering all the tricky ways we have to take, I believe the total easily reaches 10 kilometers... I have to complete the full race before 1PM. If I arrive later than that, I will be disqualified. Trying to avoid the deep side of the forest, I follow my compass heading from one point to the other, crossing the forest, stepping on rocks, brunches, nettles, thorns... I start to regret not to wear a long sleeve t-shirt.., it would have protected my arms from the scratch I am getting from the trees. The first 3 check points went pretty much alright and I could cover the distance in about one hour. I start to put my objectives and expectations a bit higher that when I started the race as I keep going to a good pace. Luckily, I meet another racer (Yoko) doing orientation for the first time in solo (just like me); we decide to do the check point 4 and 5 together. This part of the race was the most technical I suppose. I believe it was a good idea to do so cause it helped us finding the little flags of the check points much faster (4 eyes are always better 2 right?). After reaching the check point 5, I go back to a faster pace, following an easy trail until the check point 6. My legs hurt but my mental gets stronger as I feel the end of the race is getting closer. Keeping thinking of my team mate Yushi who is way ahead, I keep running most of the way. Aiming West, I decide to choose a slightly longer but easier way and try to avoid as long as possible the deep forest that I will have to cross to reach the check point 7. It's been now 2 hours I am running and covering about 7 to 8Ks. I don't really know where I am but guess I am close to the end of the trail which is straight north the check point 7. I change my direction and start aiming south going through one of the toughest and deepest side of the forest (no trail whatsoever there), with lots of tricky sections with rocks, dead trees, high vegetations, small cricks, humid and muddy land. I really felt alone at some point in the middle of there. Surrounded by tight vegetation, I thought for a second I would never escape this part of the forest. Having no clue I am now, I just keep aiming south, hoping to find another trail noted on the map. 20 minutes after, I finally find it and the "hope" is back again. The rest of the race is quite easy and just requires some last physical strength. I cross the finish line at 11.49AM - 2 hours and 30 minutes after my departure. As a first orienteering race in solo, I am quite satisfied by my first performance. I look forward to race again soon and do better next time. Final Ranking (on 2 days race): 20 out of 60 participants
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