The Red and Green courses at Lake Jacomo were very similar. The only difference was that the Red course had 2 extra controls (numbers 8 and 9).

My strategy was to work on "good habits" -- checking my compass as I left each control, making sure I was reading ahead, actively looking for the markers as I neared the controls, etc. Here are my notes on the Red course....

1. (5:59) I stayed in the open field (to the right of the straight route). This seems like the obvious choice. I cut through the forest about 100 meters north of the control (so I could minimize the amount of thick woods I had to run through). As I was nearing the control I saw Mary.

2. (5:20) I went left of the straight line and avoided the woods and thick areas as much as possible.

3. (2:56) I first thought about a route slightly left of the straight line (to avoid the green area just before the control). But, then I decided a right route would be better because it would get more open area. I began on the right route, then noticed that the green area before the control had been mowed -- it was now an open field. So, I went more-or-less straight.

4. (3:07) Leaving three I fell and smashed both my shoulder and my compass. The shoulder hurts and the compass is busted. I got six years of good use out of that compass....oh well...

5. (2:00)

6. (2:40) I got a bit confused (I'm not sure why). I guess my mind must have wandered. In the middle of the leg, I stood still for a few seconds and made sure I knew where I was.

7. (4:36) The road route (avoiding the hill) seemed obvious. I lost a bit of time when I left six -- I got in an area where I was stuck on the wrong side of an uncrossable stream. It cost maybe 30 seconds. On the road heading to seven, I saw Gene crossing the road on the way to eight.

8. (6:06) The road route is tempting. It is probably a decent route. But, it doesn't really give you a better attack point (compared to a straight route) and it is a fairly long way around. I went more-or-less straight. I saw Gene on his way out from the control before I saw the control itself.

9. (5:27) I was chasing Gene on this leg. As I was following him along the road I noticed his running style. He was not lifting his legs high, but the cadence was quick. I tried to match Gene's cadence -- then I realized I was not thinking about orienteering and I'd better take a look at the map. Gene cut through the open field (which had lots of head-high grass. I ran around the field and passed Gene on this leg.

10. (4:56) Went straight, trying to minimize running through the head-high grass in the field.

11. (3:09)

12. (3:19)

Finish (1:16) I was not moving fast on the run in.

Overall, I was pretty satisfied with my run. I managed to keep a steady pace and (with a couple of exceptions) kept myself "thinking orienteering."

-- Spike (meglin@juno.com), October 26, 1999