Latvian Championship, Middle

Latvian Championship, Middle 15.09

Course: V18; 4,1 km.
Map: Kalnu sili, 1:10000, H 2,5 m.

I was not running for the title - I had already ran and won the middle distance championship in Estonia.
The forest was as as sparse as it could get. It was like running in a city park, maybe even faster. Just so that you would know that the speed in the forest was high, and I mean REALLY high. The height differences were not that remarkable either. So I just decided to make an equally fast race instead of a really fast beginning or end. Since there was not much option to run around, the technique was to use the compass a lot and correct the heading on the way by reading the necessary objects. Every second counts.

S-1: Ran directly up by the beaten track, to the other side of the ridge. Followed the height and passed the two knolls on the right.
1-2: The location of the control could already be seen from the first one.
2-3: At first, I wanted to avoid the extra climb and run more around the depression but changed my mind once I saw that the heights weren't that big. Over the ridge and pure compass to the control.
3-4: Didn't know what the marsh would be like. Ran up the knoll and saw that it was a small well-runnable moor. Crossed it and ran up the narrow re-entrant, over the saddle. Again followed the height on the side of the ridge, into the control. So far I hadn't understood anything about the open areas on the map. I guess the density of the forest was so low that there was not much difference between areas with or without trees. No difference in the undergrowth either. So I just ignored them.
4-5: Bearing to the knoll with the rootstock.
5-6: Not avoiding the climb here either. The narrow rides were so sandy, that the forest was faster.
6-7: Didn't make out much of the form lines, so I inclined a bit to the left at first, then I saw the control.
7-8: Again, the location of the control could be seen from far away.
8-9: By the slope and up the steep one in the end. Took me walking for a few steps in the end though.
9-10: Compass. Through the saddle and already saw where I needed to go.
10-11: On the ridge, down right before the last knoll.
11-12: Again the destination could be determined from far away.
12-13: On the side of the slope, to the control on the backside of the knoll. There were many controls very close to each other in that area, which got a lot of people confused.
13-14: Easy. In the middle of the leg, a small insect flew int my eye so I couldn't see much for some seconds and my eyes got all watery and ran with one eye open until I got to the last control.
14-F: OK speed for a sandy track.
Splits (V18)

4:36 min/km

    1. Dišlers Kārlis      18:32
2. Sild Lauri          18:39   +0:07
3. Jubelis Andris      18:42   +0:10
4. Žagata Zemgus       18:48   +0:16
5. Pauliņš Artūrs      19:47   +1:15
6. Laveiķis Andis      20:07   +1:35

I was satisfied, in consideration of my physical abilities. I don't think I would have been able to run much faster than I did.
The next day, I was also going to run the relay with my family team. Too bad that I had to run the first leg - I'm best in the middle leg. But I had no choice since my father was running, he had to take the second shift. But I didn't let that interfere my plans.