okansas.blogspot.com

okansas.blogspot.com
Occassional thoughts about orienteering

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

S is for Skogum

Marita Skogum hasn't just won several gold medals at World Champs, she's also written a book. Here are a couple of bits (selected more or less at random) I've translated:

Here, Skogum describes some preparation for the World Champs in New York (1993), where she won the classic race:

In earlier WOCs, I haven't trained with a map much the last weeks before the event. But now [a bit before the Swedish team was selected] I decided I needed it.

One day, I filled my thermos with coffee and walked around on a detailed map. I did a map walk where I talked to myself, as I do when I'm orienteering. I was very concentrated. At the top of a hill, I sat down and enjoyed my coffee and just listened to the sounds of the forest. I felt that this "training" gave me a lot of energy.

Here, Skogum talks about how she orienteers:

My O' technique is based on having map contact the whole time. The goal is to orienteer fast, but without making any mistakes. To do that, I look for handrails and try to simplify the map. I look for the fastest route that minimizes my mistakes. I try to prepare myself as much as possible and I prepare how I will react to different stresses, e.g. if I boom a control or get disturbed by another competitor.

I have to prepare myself physically for what I expect. If the race is going to be in continental terrain with a lot of steep hills, then I've got to have strong leg muscles and learn to push myself both up and down steep hills.

To be able to orienteer with a high level of concentration, it is important to have good physical condition. When I'm orienteering, I don't want to have to think about running.

Even if it is the orienteering that is decisive, it isn't enough to just have good endurance and be strong; you've also got to be fast. But, you can't go too fast. You've got to maintain a balance between running and navigating. When I'm preparing, I don't think about running fast, I think about orienteering fast.

S could also be for "spiking" controls

There is a discussion at Attackpoint about what "spike" means. I think it is an interesting topic....maybe something to write about in the future.

posted by Michael | 8:50 PM

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