#31daysofrunning: Day 4 New experience

Tuesday, July 4th, was another day of my running challenge. Yesterday I decided try something new. Meet orienteering.
Before yesterday I thought that orienteering is very easy. You just run through the forest and check-in at some points. Everything has changed.

All day the rain was pouring but when I came to starting point I hear one man saying that it will stop raining in few minutes. After registration I was given a map and then I headed back to car to grab my phone and study the map. I had no idea what those signs on map means.

3...2...1...Start! That man was wrong, the rain is still pouring. Finding first checkpoint was easy and headed to the second. Then the party started. Terrain was only hills and hollows covered in trees and I had no idea where to look for a checkpoint. I met a fellow orienteer which I followed. Long story short. According to map the track was 3.2 km, I did 5.7 km in 1:38:14. That was the slowest run I ever had. Actually only professional orienteers runs most of the time, others spend loads of time walking and looking to map. I get lost at least 5 times, I slipped and fell at least 3 times, I wanted to withdraw myself from the event at least 2 times, I was dirty and wet as a dog but still it was perfect time. Definitely I will repeat it next Tuesday!

Orienteering is -ing hard sport. You must have skills not to get lost in hills because they all look the same and trees in forest are not good guide. You must know what symbols on map means cause that helps a lot.