[ARDF] How did I do in Brno?

[Vadim Afonkin]

Good writing Matt, here is some of my quick notes, I will write more
detailed note later but here it is for now:

I  did screw up second day no matter what... I ran overtime 10 minutes,
which I never did before in my entire life. Yes, it was my first overtime on
ANY competitions, but not finishing with all 5 Txs would be even worth for
me. So when I found #5 at 104 minutes I could finish with 4 transmitters and
would be  getting in 27th place, but decided that I would manage to get #4
on time, right? Wrong! I already was exhausted after number 2...   But no
matter what I am satisfied with finding 5 Txs in about 10 minutes overtime.
Most professional competitors spent about 120 minutes to complete course. So
I found all 5 Txs as only 28 other competitors did.

Not bad for tourist( Yes, I considered myself tourist this year, despite
been #1 in US).

My physical condition caused all of the damage. That's it. I could not run
more then 9 km and stay competitive, even after training camp. My order was
the same as leader's: 1-3-2-5-4, and I know exactly why he did it this way -
there simply was not enough time to get precise bearing on Tx #4, it was not
clear where it is - my bearing also was showing #4 close to finish, so I
quickly decided to leave to the finish. And that plan would work if I could
run that day. With this order course distance by "flying bird" was 11.5 km,
and I run 16.5km.

I analyzed my course and here it is(look at splits):

 Tx #1 --- I spent 15:33 to find it - here I bet Fuchik and all others
except one guy - Nikolay Tarasov from Kaz   who spent 15:12 to find it. Not
so bad, right?
>From Tx #1  to Tx #3  -----  12:15   - no loses for me here - excellent
time, Fuchik saved few minutes here as he run 2:37 per 1 km.... I am in the
third position here...

Then # 2.... , here I made common mistake - underrun, ... but here I still
was in top 20 with 67 minutes to get 3 Tx's...here I got exhausted and stop
to compete and run.

93 minutes to find remaining 2 transmitters by walking and 10 minutes over
time with all Tx's

Nothing else to say...

However:

1. It looks like I really got p..st off on myself, and looks like I want to
compete next time.
2. I am angry - this is good feeling.
3. I still have all of my skills with exception of running.
4. I want to run and get ready, no matter how difficult it is to exercise.
5. It looks like if I will exercise on regular basis, then I will be able to
compete despite not doing it for 15 years. I must run 1 km under 4 min  in
order to do it.

I will try to go next year for the  Europe Champ and test my skills again.

Vadim