okansas.blogspot.com Occassional thoughts about orienteering
Thursday, February 08, 2007
DQ? What the @#%%&!?
When you run a relay, you make sure to punch at the right control. The last thing you want to do is to mispunch or skip a control.
Way back in 1991, I ran the first leg at Siljanskavlen (that's Aspleaf's map and routes below). I ran hard and had a decent race. I remember feeling pretty satisfied as I ran up the last hill and exchanged to the second runner.
It wasn't long before a clubmate, Kjell Oberger, showed me the results board - DQ. What the @#%%&!? I felt like a complete idiot. How could I mispunch on a relay?
Fortunately, Kjell went over to the event organizers and got them to show us my punch card. One of the organizers showed us the card and asked, "what is wrong with it?" We looked pretty carefully and it looked like nothing was wrong with it. Sure enough, the organizers made a mistake. I'd punched all of the correct controls.
I'm glad I got a chance to simulate what it would feel like to mispunch at a relay...but mostly I'm glad Kjell had the sense to find out what had gone on. I'm happy to say that I've never DQ'd at a relay...though I've had a few bad races, but that's another problem.
I ran this relay too. Interesting area, although I favour it more in the winter, like Boris, than summer time. After the race, I went to Stockholm together with national team member Mattias Karlsson to see Sisters of Mercy. I still have the concert t-shirt, and I will never throw it out.
