Jukola.
In the original club plan I was to run the last leg for the 2nd team which was looking incredibly strong and was aiming for a potential top 15 finish. However, we had some sickness problems with the 1st team and so runners were moved up but this did not effect me, I was still on the last leg. I spent Saturday preparing as normal, ran in the late afternoon, ate some dinner and then went to bed at 19.00 with the plan to wake up at 02.45 to eat and leave for the race. Just as I was dozing off I was woken by our team coach and was informed that due to some more sickness I was now running 3rd leg for the 2nd team because “I was the only guy left who can run that far at night”, fantastic.
I was suddenly pretty nervous about my new job. Whilst I had done a lot of night training in the lead up to TioMila I have only run at night once since then so I was nervous about my technique. I was also worried about my sleeping, ideally I would have slept more during the day if I ran known I was to run the 3rd leg. I spoke to some of the experienced team members about my nerves and by the time I arrived at the arena I was much more relaxed as I had realised that there was no expectation on how I should perform. If I was to run badly then nobody would be unhappy as I had not prepared properly, however, if I was to run well then it would be really good for me.
Johan did a good job on 1st leg and then Pål ran well on 2nd to send me out in 49th position and just off the back of a group containing the Halden 1st team.
http://sno-kartor.se/show_map.php?user=RaplhStreet...
S-1
At the change over Pål shouted at me to run right of the fence and then I would catch Halden. I did my best to fold the A2 map so I could see the first control, it was all a bit dark though and it was then that I remembered to actually turn my headlamp on. Quick glance at the first leg, a long one with some big paths to tick off and on the edge of an open area, excellent – not too tricky. I ran very hard out of the start to catch up to the group. I knew that if I was together with some people through the first few gaffled controls then they would really help me and give me confidence and security in my orienteering. As we came down the path next to the open I cut into it and took my control and realised that it was only Doug Tullie (Turun Met) who had the same one as me. I knew now that I would have to really focus on my own orienteering and if I kept the speed up maybe I would see the group again after the gaffling.
1-2
Another quite simple leg. Down the slope ticking off the round hill, crossed through the green and turned right, ran into a control – wrong code, oops, ah it is in a pit, I know where I am. Nobody in sight, Doug had run more left of me so I guessed he was behind.
2-3 (46th)
Tricky. Accurate compass. Looked ahead to try and spot a reflex or some other people punching the controls. Stumbled into it.
3-4 (44th)
Simpler control, compass out, ran for the white. Came into the control just behind Raumar.
4-5 (44th)
Down the veg boundary and then cut in. Just Raumar in sight
5-6 (43rd)
Out to the road, look around, can't see anybody who I think is on my leg apart from Raumar. He seems a bit insecure as we cut into the forest so I take the lead.
6-7
Down the edge of the marsh, cross the bridge, start cutting up the hill through the green. I get a bit worried here about what I am going to see to relocate on when I get to the top of the hill but I bump into Doug just as we come out of the green and I feel more secure. When we get to the top I notice the open yellow hill and then the spur beyond. I feel very secure again and take the lead from Doug. The control itself is a bit vague and I am lead into it by Leonard Novikov from Hiidenkiertäjät.
7-8
Novikov looks good and strong so I decide it is safe to follow him, he is going in the right direction at least. I relocate when we get into the open and everything looks good, I feel a bit less secure going down the slope then pick things up again as we cross the hill and the marsh. Novikov continues up the re-entrant we are in but I think we have gone far enough, I turn to the left and sure enough, just visible through the bushes is our control. I am leading again.
8-9 (35th)
Compass out again and I stick to the edge of the open, bit dodgy underfoot on the slope but I know to just keep going and I will fall into the re-entrant. As I get in sight on the control I spot Halden leading a big group in from the right.
9-10 (34th)
I know there is a long leg coming up and that it will be best if I can get right up with Halden for it. I fight my way through the hoards of legs 1 and 2 as I chase Halden down on the path.
10-11
Mad bash through the green. Get out on the track and make sure I catch the distance up. As we climb up through the green to the next track I lose a bit of focus and don't know exactly where we are. Halden cuts in along with a couple of others, I get a bit stressed and decided that I should also cut in. As soon as we get into the forest I know that we must have a different gaffle however I am still pulled further into the forest. I am with Tyrving, I am pretty sure he is looking for my control as he also looks a bit unsure. We both relocate at the same time, turn left and find our control.
11-12 (26th)
I want to run to the left of the green but end up running too straight. Novikov is here again and he looks to initially be going round the green as well however we get distracted by some elephant tracks and end up ploughing straight through the green anyway. Into the white, spot the boulder and into the control.
12-13
Quick exit straight along the contours after Novikov. He goes straight into the green ahead of me, I stop and check, I do definitely need to go round. I run to the path junction and then straight through the marsh to the control.
13-14
Simple, off the streams and some compass work. Tyrving in sight again
14-15
Bit insecure here, struggling to read the detail but I just trust the compass and the control appears.
15-16 (24th)
Compass out. Control appears sooner than expected.
16-17 (23rd)
Follow the big track out to the pylons and hit the cliffs. Correct the direction, look up spot the boulder. Find the control, check the code. What! Wrong code. But I am sure I am right, where could I be? Oh, I am reading the wrong code. Oops. Punch and continue.
17-18 (23rd)
Looks missable again. Bit tough through the green and I get a bit worried with the direction. I can hear the group behind me and see some lights in front. Eventually come across the green stream climbing the hill. Stick to the left of it and find the control. Just as I am punching I can see a group ahead.
18-19 (22nd)
Run hard out of the control to catch the group. However, when we get down to the first marsh people in front start being indecisive. I shout at them to continue. As we climb the hill I see the around option that they must have been looking at. I stay in second place to let the group decide. I am comfortable with whatever option is chosen because I know that the control will be the same for all of us as it is so far from the arena. What I want to make sure of is that I dont take a route that leaves me on my own.
Crossing the ditches I feel strong but I drift a bit right and have to work to get back into the group. We pass the end of the stream and along the veg boundary then climb the spur and cross to the control.
19-22 (22nd)
Novikov and Doug pushing the pace.
22-23 (20th)
Doug leading, me following. I have looked at the route round but straight must be great. As we cross the first track Halden appears. He is pushing the pace, time to put the effort in. I feel good, but stumble a couple of times and take some hits and lose a bit of track of where we are. I trust the compass and the group begins to wobble but I know we must be getting close to the track. I come out at the junction a bit down on Halden and some other runners. I push hard on the track to try and and make up time. We have now caught even more teams up and as we punch I can see a long string of lights behind us as well.
23-24 (20th)
Follow the line of new runners and check the compass.
24-25 (15th)
I've seen the leg before from watching the women's race. The other teams are going further right, I go straight for the road. I am leading again and decide that this is the time to push the pace and try to either get a gap or at least drop some teams off this huge pack that has formed.
25-26
I grab a cup of water as I leave the control, I attempt to drink this on the run but I am not doing very well so I throw the rest of it over myself. This was not a good idea, it's 2.30AM, I am not overheating and the water is very cold. There is a big track going in about the direction I want, I run hard for my control. I have a bit of difficulty actually finding in when I get there, tucked away behind the wall in some green.
26-27 (15th)
Out to the track, safety required here.
27-28 (15th)
Horrible green exit from the control so I decide to go for the paths again. Make a bit of a silly mistake as I get confused but the pack is following me. Up along the power lines, cut in early and spot the control.
28-29 (15th)
Down the powerlines, cut in. Easy.
29-30 (15th)
Run hard out to the fence, get to the top of the hill and look for the control. Spot a lot of photographers, that will be it then.
30-31 (15th)
Try to avoid getting blinded by the flash bulbs of the photographers. Run as hard as possible along the tracks, cut across when it looks okay. Keep checking the compass and looking ahead, do not want to make a mess of this now. Suddenly appear out of the forest and into the arena, 2 last controls in sight, club mates shouting at me to check the code, double check and punch.
The Run In
Club mates screaming at me, I shout back in celebration but take my eyes off the ground. I trip and fall hard onto the stony track right in front my friends, this is embarrassing. Negotiate the rest of the run in safely, check my number bib and make sure I pick up the right map to give to Ivar my 4th leg runner. Shout some encouragement to him as we change over. Job done.