okansas.blogspot.com

okansas.blogspot.com
Occassional thoughts about orienteering

Friday, August 27, 2004

An unexpected game situation

As I was thinking about potential "game situations" for a relay I thought back to the WOC relay in Finland in 2001.

The US Team was Kenny, Eric, Eddie and me.

For teams that were relatively far behind the winners there would be a mass start. The organizers announced (in writing as well as in meetings, I think) that the mass start would take place no sooner than 5 p.m. [Note, I might be wrong about the exact times, but the relative times are correct].

As the relay went it looked like we'd make it before 5 p.m. If Eddie ran as expected, he'd come to the finish in time for me to go out about ten minutes before 5.

I began to jog around a bit to loosen up. I started to think about the race. I expected Eddie in about 30 minutes. It must have been about 4:20. I shuffled around for a few minutes, stopped to adjust my shoe and drank some water.

I checked my watch and saw I had about 20 minutes before Eddie would arrive. I took a few steps then heard an announcement -- all final leg runners who hadn't started should assemble at the finish line for the start. What? It was only about 4:30.

The organizers had specifically said that the mass start wouldn't happen before 5.

An official chased me down and told me to hurry to the start.

I rushed down to the maps where a group of maybe 10 or 12 of us stood, ready to go. I don't think any of us had warmed up.

We waited a minute or two and then took off.

The whole experience was rather stressful. But once I had the map in hand I started paying attention to what I was doing. My legs didn't feel great and it took a few hundred meters to feel more-or-less ok.

It wasn't a "game situation" I'd prepared for.

For what it is worth I had a reasonable run. Not perfect, but not so bad. Near the end I took a chance in an effort to keep Canada within sight. I boomed a tricky control less than a kilometer from the finish...But the Canadian boomed it more.

posted by Michael | 7:46 PM

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