An Adventure Racer at an Orienteering Event
What NOT to do...
This isn't an adventure race. The volunteers aren't in it for a T-shirt. They are there to promote orienteering and to teach. They can provide help with identifying terrain, markers, and choosing the best route to take.
You have endurance, that's a given. But what's the point of going a long way fast if it's the wrong direction. Put your navigation skills to practice on a short "White", then a "Yellow", and then an "Orange". You can do more then one course in a day.
No treadmill running here. Terrain, trees, and vegetation make a difference.
On your first time out remind yourself you are learning a skill. If you were learning to paint you wouldn't try to see how fast you could finish.
As an adventure racer you know about cutoff times. Don't make a bad name for AR folks by having volunteers wait or go looking for you.
What TO DO...
Think of the volunteers as a built-in Support Crew that can help you with the course. That's why they are there.
This will give you a chance to gauge distance, learn topographical markers and terrain. Even better, these courses usually stay close to trails so you can move with more speed once you get the hang of it.
This isn't your day for running. This is your day for practicing a skill. Just like learning ropes, you focus on basics that will save your life. Here you are learning basics that can win races.
Help pickup bags after the event if you really want a challenge. It's a good exercise in itself (more mileage, more navigation, no time constraints so it's possible to try some route you normally wouldn't during a meet).
