Again, no pictures! Will have to see what I can borrow from elsewhere…

Description: Another brand new sprint map for 2013. This is a very unique and tricky terrain type never seen before in Sprint the Bay (or in NZ to our knowledge). Set in the riverbed of the meandering TukiTuki river with unusual contour and vegetation detail, Kaiwaka will challenge STBers’ physical and technical abilities to the max after the beginning urban stages.

I made my start time, though it was touch and go, since I had to wait in a long, slow line for the loo. I felt like just at home, with everyone knowing my name by now, hearing “here she comes” as they were calling my start time.

In retrospect, I should have treated this one like a middle distance race, and given it more respect. I did take it slow to 1 and 2, and I was in 11th place after 2, but that was the end of any glory for the morning session. I may have had more fun if I had tried something like spelling HELP out while I wandered around. Eventually, I was all by myself, finishing near last or last once again. Not a glorious day of orienteering, but it was still a good day since I didn’t mispunch.

Race stats: 2.2 km, 45m climb, 17 controls
Garmin distance: 3.65 miles with 44 m climb
Place: 21/23
Time: 1:05:40
Time lost:
Time per km: 29:51
Finish split: 5th – 29 seconds, with 1st at 26 seconds.