2012 National Orienteering League Race 10 part 1 (15/04/2012)

One of the smallest NOL fields since the early 90s. I was really enjoying this race until disaster struck half way through lap 3. Just before the common control I passed through a sandy shallow gully, and my right calf popped. It felt like someone had thrown a rock at it. I only lasted one more step before I could no longer move. My race was over and I had no chance of going on.

Earlier, I made a few small mistakes, but I was running quite strongly and was in a good position for a podium finish. I figured that everyone would lose time on some tricky controls. I came through the first loop in front (short loop), and had done the longest loop second, and I was still feeling good. Then, all of a sudden and without warning, my race was over.