Ballyannon Wood Winners Route Analysis

Route 2-3 

I had a bit of a hesitation to control 2 as I got pulled by another control close by. I slowed down a bit and lost contact with the map briefly. So I ran on in the direction of control 3. I made the commitment and stuck to it. In hindsight, a better planning would have caused me to run the other route.

Route 4-5

I only actually saw the purple route. Fast running and being able to plan the next leg where key here.

Route 5-6

I very briefly considered the green route however decided to take the longer one. It is faster running for this type of wood. I cut in a little too early near the control circle to control 6 due to a path that isn’t on the map. It cost me about 15-20 secs

Route 6-7

Fast path running was the key here again for me. Knowing that I had a bit of a decision to make from 7-8 I took my time for planning that route.

Route 7-8

My thoughts initially was to take the blue route but knowing the map from previous events, the area here is a bit flawed. So I opted for the cleared attackpoint at the end of the path to north of the control. I also had fresh legs so climbing 2 contour lines was quick enough.

Route 8-9

This was an interesting one as I did not have a clear plan leaving control 8. I have a tendency to keep to the right of the control line. I also remembered passing the path leading to the control from the north, it seemed fast enough so my mind was made up.

Route 9-10

I wanted to get out of control 9 quickly and did not really think of any alternative for going to control 10. However, some might have wanted to go around the lake so I considered that in my analysis. The path is fairly overgrown and longer so I would not consider that an option.

Route 11-12

I took the purple route and did not really consider anything else during the race. There is a trail that isn’t on the map that I found that helped me getting to the control. Some might have seen the shortest choice here.

Route 12-13

I am not sure why I lost time here. I had the control already in the race and knew where it was. I took the shorter route also. Only after the race did I discover the green choice.

Route 13-14

The controls 12-13-14 I consider the middle of the race. Mental and physical fatigue started to set in. I took the blue route, a direct approach to the control. I was approaching that a little too slow as I want to nail it rather then go looking for it.

Route 14-15

As I was running to control 2 earlier I discovered a trail to the south of the blue route here. So I was aiming to hit that track. I also remembered the control 14 from earlier passing it on the way to control 3.

Route 16-17

Nearly at the end of the race I need to concentrate, at this point I can feel my legs getting tired from all the highspeed running. So I need to be able to drive on hard but relax mentally to not make a mistake now. So my route choice here was the main track where I could execute this nicely. I cut in a little early on a small track that let me to control 17. On the way to control 17 I made the decision to attack control 18 from the south this time. Which I knew would be a little bit more difficult.

Route 17-18

As planned I attacked the control from the south instead of the the safer longer route in the north. I wanted to keep my legs for the final few controls and not power out too much. It was slow and not clean so I lost about 20 secs here.

Route 18-19

I opted in to stay low and avoid the climb and small trails that would slow the progress. I found a reasonable path through the shaded green, aka brambles. Going loosely by compass direction to hit the path and follow the contours by looking up. So I saw control 13 early enough that handrailed me to control 19

Route 19 – 20

All I wanted was to go home at this point, well finish the race.

Get out onto the main path as quickly as I can. At this point I knew the control needed to be on my right hand side and I took all my last energy to keep those tired, burned out legs moving fast to control 19 and the finish.