okansas.blogspot.com Occassional thoughts about orienteering
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
A beginner's mistake
Before the US Champs, I wrote "my goal is to have two clean runs."
I didn't reach my goal. On the first day, I boomed and boomed a lot. I had two mistakes that must have cost three minutes each and one that cost at least a minute.
I think I failed to reach my goal because I didn't do anything to make sure I would have two clean runs. I didn't take any action to reach my goals. I hadn't been orienteering very well recently. I needed to do more than just set a goal. I needed to do something to give myself I chance to meet the goal.
Having a goal without having a plan is a real beginner's mistake. I should know better.
Saturday night I realized I needed a plan if I was to do better the next day. My plan was pretty simple. I would come to a complete stop before I attacked each control and I would come to a complete stop at each control while I planned the next leg. On the first day I was rushing. I was in a hurry with my orienteering and I paid the price.
It helped, though I still didn't orienteer all that well. I still made my share of mistakes on the second day. But, my mistakes were smaller and I caught myself before I made a couple of mistakes.
