Occassional thoughts about orienteering
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| okansas.blogspot.com Occassional thoughts about orienteering |
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Friday, May 31, 2002 Thoughts about the O' World CupThe first race from the 2002 O' World Cup is tomorrow in Belgium. It looks like there will be internet coverage through both Belgium's WC page and the IOF's WC page.After the races in Belgium, the World Cup moves to Switzerland for races on June 6-9. Both the U.S. and Canada have entered a few runners for these races. I guess the World Cup is a good thing for international orienteering, but I've never thought it makes much sense for Americans to bother with (except when the races have been in North America or otherwise very convenient). I've run a few WC races in my past. In addition to events in Canada and the U.S., I ran one WC race in Sweden (when I was travelling around Sweden anyway). For the money and time involved, I don't think going to WC races is worth the trouble. Either a training camp or going to regular European national races (like the Swedish 5-days or the Swiss 6-days) seems like a better choice. Some people think the experience is good if you're preparing for a World Champs. You get a chance to compete in a World Champs-like environment (relatively small fields of absolute top-level elite runners, model events, busses to the start, etc.). Some people feel like this sort of international experience is necessary if you're going to be able to do well at a World Champs. I don't buy that. I've always thought that one key to running well at a World Champs is recognizing that it isn't really different than any other O' races.* The important stuff -- using a map to find your way through the course -- is just like any other event. The stuff that surrounds the event (opening ceremonies, being around national teams, etc.) is not really related to your performance. Or at least it shouldn't be. If you start thinking it is important, it becomes important. If you start thinking you need World Cup experience in order to do well at a World Champs, then you'll need World Cup experience. But, if you believe you don't need World Cup experience, then you won't need it (and you'll save a lot of travel and entry fee money!). Or maybe I'm wrong? * For what it is worth, I'd say I've run well in 3 of the 4 World Champs I've run in. By "run well" I mean run near my ability at the time. My best WOC races were my first two -- France in 1987 and Sweden in 1989. My worst WOC performance was in the U.S. in 1993. posted by Michael | 1:20 PM 
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