Discussion: WOC Relay
in: Orienteering; General
Sep 9, 2005 7:26 AM
#
The WOC seems already ages ago, so what about reheating this World Champ with its last competition, the relay.
Below you can find a description of my race.
Cheers, Marc
And the map for it: http://epsilon.verkkomestari.com/~vehkalah/copperm...
The Relay was held on one of the hottest days of our stay in Japan. But the training camp ahead of the championships and the 4 WOC races I had done so far gave me the best acclimatization possible.
I knew, the climatic conditions wouldn¡¦t be the questionable factor for my performances on the relay, but much more the long distance race I ran 2 days ago. 2 years earlier at the WOC in Switzerland, I played in the same scenario but with one rest day more. We were running the 110min race on a Thursday and the Relay on Sunday, in maybe Switzerland¡¦s hottest days ever. I will never forget this relay, where my engine was stuck in its first gear. I just hadn¡¦t recovered from the very tough long distance.
Would I have to challenge the same problem this year? Apparently things were different. Shortly after finishing the Long Distance, I felt already quite well, and I could sweep away the ghost of 2003. Certainly winning a medal helpedļ.
In regards to the relay, I think that every team member, Matthias, Daniel and I, felt really confident. Not about doing a great result, but about being able to do our best. The three of us had been very consistent in the past the last months, never failing in important situations.
Matthias is an amazing start runner. I have never seen somebody being able to take such quick departs in races, and he has nerves made out of steel. Of course he would do a good performance. Running up the last hill, he lost contact with the lead, and set me into the race on 5th position 1 min behind. This was alright, but I wasn¡¦t sure I would be able to catch up with the top guys. One thing I knew, though, I wouldn¡¦t loose time if I ran a normal race. So, I headed out into the woods, with the usual mindset¡K orienteer carefully and wait patiently for the physically tough parts to attack.
Leg
Time loss
Comments
S-1
15¡¦¡¦
I can¡¦t wait to be set out. This is the last race of the WOC, and I have really learned to like this terrain. Christian Teich, from the German team runs at my side. I come too low in the marshy reentrant, and I have to run up quite a bit to the control
1-2
Easy control
2-3
Easy control
3-4
20¡¦¡¦
I take my time checking the possible route choices to be certain there is no way to run around the hill. I ran up as fast as I can, but Christian is still with me. Running down I feel really good, and I notice how the speed is now too high for the German. I know I have set the right tempo. Unfortunately I decided to avoid the green on top of the ridge and attack the control from the valley. Getting to the control following the steep slope was very slow. By the time I get to the control, Christian has again caught up with me.
4-5
Easy control, while running up I read ahead the next control.
5-6
Knowing how I want to run, I can just let it roll downhill. Christian looses again contact.
6-7
Alright, I have run the first loop without big mistakes. But the race starts only now, 2/3 of the course is still ahead. I can see nobody running in front of me. So my tactic to adopt is simple¡K just run my own race.
7-8
At the water stop I take my time to drink enough. Running through the coaching zone I get informed I still have about the same handicap on the lead as when I started. Actually I was pleased to hear that, as I hadn¡¦t been able to see any runner ahead.
8-9
Running through the green chaotic valley, I go slowly enough to know all the time where I am.
9-10
Climbing up the valley, I can see two dresses in front of me. Probably women, I guess first. But while getting closer, I realize they are Math Troeng from Sweden and Oystein Kristiansen from Norway. Of course I smile at the fact that for some reason they lost time on me. I run full speed uphill, knowing that I have no choice but make the contact with them. When I get to the control, I can¡¦t see them anymore.
10-11
Fortunately I had already planed my route, and I leave towards #11 as fast as I can. Running down the valley by #4, I realize I am going a little too fast. My coordination in this rough section is really bad, my legs become acidic and heavy. But there I see Mats and Oystein running out from around a bush. Now they are only 10 sec in front of me. I can¡¦t run faster anymore to get closer. My legs are dead. But they pick bad trajectories crossing the steep valleys, and by the time I reach the control, I am with them.
11-12
Oof, after my effort I stay a little behind, trying to recover. Climbing the steep slope, I feel how slowly my need to push harder awakens again.
12-13
45¡¦¡¦
Running away from the control, things get a little bustling. The root is obvious, the three of us switch into the fastest gear we have. Well, in such circumstances you can do stupid mistakes. Every one wants to run faster than the other. You think everything is alright because we are all together, but you go too fast too check. Running down towards the trail I take the lead. We follow the trail it until the junction. Handbreak! This junction isn¡¦t supposed to look like that. Quickly I realize our mistake. Mats noticed it too, but Oystein hadn¡¦t stopped, and was still running down the wrong path.
Annoyed by the mistake, I was also glad that two major competitors did it with me. Doing a mistake in a relay is not a drama if everybody shares it with you.
13-14
Leaving the control, I notice that not only Mats is just behind me, but Oystein too. So no big change, I thought¡K But while I am approching the steep slope to #14, I see Damien Renard, from the French team, almost on top of it. I guess he was still 25¡¦¡¦ in front. Such a deficit is quite a bit, but I had the fact on my side, that I was the one catching up, not the one loosing contact.
14-15
I can see Damien¡¦s blue dress from time to time, but he is just too far ahead in order to make contact.
15-16
The route choice is clear. Run by #13, follow the trail I had taken by mistake in the other direction and surround the rest of the hill. By the 2/3 of the leg I manage to catch up Damien. Mats and Oystein aren¡¦t anymore with me.
16-17
The last challenge before the change over. I give everything I have running up the hill, I know every second I can run away from Damien, Daniel Hubmann will get it back cash in front of Thierry. By the time I am on the top of the hill, I am really alone. Attacking the control goes alright, but my tired legs and the rush of adrenalin take all my focus to nail # 17.
17-18
The last control in the forest. Punching it feels great. The race is done.
18-19
RUN! Mats Troeng, Oystein and Damien are definitely behind me. I didn¡¦t have in mind who else could be in front of me. Actually I had forgotten Mats Haldin from Finland, who I never saw during the whole course¡K
19-F
While I enter in sight of the crowd, I don¡¦t perceive any reaction from them. I realize I am probably the first, and they weren¡¦t ready yet¡K maybe also not to see me ƒº
Interestingly, Mats Haldin was all the way in front, until # 17, where he lost 50 secs, and where I passed him without noticing.
Handing over to Daniel, I was glad to have given him the best starting position possible. I had done my job well, I could smile, but it was too early to be happy. The race wasn¡¦t over. Now started the most difficult part¡K holding my breath for Daniel and hoping that everything goes well. The gap is small, Finland just a couple of seconds behind, France and Norway a mere 45sec and Sweden 1min35sec.
After a nerve-racking 45 minutes while Daniel was out in the woods, and finally seeing him win the sprint for the 3rd place against Sweden, it made my most wonderful moment in the WOC. WE WON A MEDAL!!! I couldn¡¦t believe it, my emotions where overwhelming me.
Two days before I had won the silver in the long distance race. But this third place in the relay was surely more emotional. When you are able not only to compete, but also to observe your success (seeing Matthias and Daniel run), it is much more exiting. And furthermore, what is more wonderful than to share a World Championship medal with two good friends?
Below you can find a description of my race.
Cheers, Marc
And the map for it: http://epsilon.verkkomestari.com/~vehkalah/copperm...
The Relay was held on one of the hottest days of our stay in Japan. But the training camp ahead of the championships and the 4 WOC races I had done so far gave me the best acclimatization possible.
I knew, the climatic conditions wouldn¡¦t be the questionable factor for my performances on the relay, but much more the long distance race I ran 2 days ago. 2 years earlier at the WOC in Switzerland, I played in the same scenario but with one rest day more. We were running the 110min race on a Thursday and the Relay on Sunday, in maybe Switzerland¡¦s hottest days ever. I will never forget this relay, where my engine was stuck in its first gear. I just hadn¡¦t recovered from the very tough long distance.
Would I have to challenge the same problem this year? Apparently things were different. Shortly after finishing the Long Distance, I felt already quite well, and I could sweep away the ghost of 2003. Certainly winning a medal helpedļ.
In regards to the relay, I think that every team member, Matthias, Daniel and I, felt really confident. Not about doing a great result, but about being able to do our best. The three of us had been very consistent in the past the last months, never failing in important situations.
Matthias is an amazing start runner. I have never seen somebody being able to take such quick departs in races, and he has nerves made out of steel. Of course he would do a good performance. Running up the last hill, he lost contact with the lead, and set me into the race on 5th position 1 min behind. This was alright, but I wasn¡¦t sure I would be able to catch up with the top guys. One thing I knew, though, I wouldn¡¦t loose time if I ran a normal race. So, I headed out into the woods, with the usual mindset¡K orienteer carefully and wait patiently for the physically tough parts to attack.
Leg
Time loss
Comments
S-1
15¡¦¡¦
I can¡¦t wait to be set out. This is the last race of the WOC, and I have really learned to like this terrain. Christian Teich, from the German team runs at my side. I come too low in the marshy reentrant, and I have to run up quite a bit to the control
1-2
Easy control
2-3
Easy control
3-4
20¡¦¡¦
I take my time checking the possible route choices to be certain there is no way to run around the hill. I ran up as fast as I can, but Christian is still with me. Running down I feel really good, and I notice how the speed is now too high for the German. I know I have set the right tempo. Unfortunately I decided to avoid the green on top of the ridge and attack the control from the valley. Getting to the control following the steep slope was very slow. By the time I get to the control, Christian has again caught up with me.
4-5
Easy control, while running up I read ahead the next control.
5-6
Knowing how I want to run, I can just let it roll downhill. Christian looses again contact.
6-7
Alright, I have run the first loop without big mistakes. But the race starts only now, 2/3 of the course is still ahead. I can see nobody running in front of me. So my tactic to adopt is simple¡K just run my own race.
7-8
At the water stop I take my time to drink enough. Running through the coaching zone I get informed I still have about the same handicap on the lead as when I started. Actually I was pleased to hear that, as I hadn¡¦t been able to see any runner ahead.
8-9
Running through the green chaotic valley, I go slowly enough to know all the time where I am.
9-10
Climbing up the valley, I can see two dresses in front of me. Probably women, I guess first. But while getting closer, I realize they are Math Troeng from Sweden and Oystein Kristiansen from Norway. Of course I smile at the fact that for some reason they lost time on me. I run full speed uphill, knowing that I have no choice but make the contact with them. When I get to the control, I can¡¦t see them anymore.
10-11
Fortunately I had already planed my route, and I leave towards #11 as fast as I can. Running down the valley by #4, I realize I am going a little too fast. My coordination in this rough section is really bad, my legs become acidic and heavy. But there I see Mats and Oystein running out from around a bush. Now they are only 10 sec in front of me. I can¡¦t run faster anymore to get closer. My legs are dead. But they pick bad trajectories crossing the steep valleys, and by the time I reach the control, I am with them.
11-12
Oof, after my effort I stay a little behind, trying to recover. Climbing the steep slope, I feel how slowly my need to push harder awakens again.
12-13
45¡¦¡¦
Running away from the control, things get a little bustling. The root is obvious, the three of us switch into the fastest gear we have. Well, in such circumstances you can do stupid mistakes. Every one wants to run faster than the other. You think everything is alright because we are all together, but you go too fast too check. Running down towards the trail I take the lead. We follow the trail it until the junction. Handbreak! This junction isn¡¦t supposed to look like that. Quickly I realize our mistake. Mats noticed it too, but Oystein hadn¡¦t stopped, and was still running down the wrong path.
Annoyed by the mistake, I was also glad that two major competitors did it with me. Doing a mistake in a relay is not a drama if everybody shares it with you.
13-14
Leaving the control, I notice that not only Mats is just behind me, but Oystein too. So no big change, I thought¡K But while I am approching the steep slope to #14, I see Damien Renard, from the French team, almost on top of it. I guess he was still 25¡¦¡¦ in front. Such a deficit is quite a bit, but I had the fact on my side, that I was the one catching up, not the one loosing contact.
14-15
I can see Damien¡¦s blue dress from time to time, but he is just too far ahead in order to make contact.
15-16
The route choice is clear. Run by #13, follow the trail I had taken by mistake in the other direction and surround the rest of the hill. By the 2/3 of the leg I manage to catch up Damien. Mats and Oystein aren¡¦t anymore with me.
16-17
The last challenge before the change over. I give everything I have running up the hill, I know every second I can run away from Damien, Daniel Hubmann will get it back cash in front of Thierry. By the time I am on the top of the hill, I am really alone. Attacking the control goes alright, but my tired legs and the rush of adrenalin take all my focus to nail # 17.
17-18
The last control in the forest. Punching it feels great. The race is done.
18-19
RUN! Mats Troeng, Oystein and Damien are definitely behind me. I didn¡¦t have in mind who else could be in front of me. Actually I had forgotten Mats Haldin from Finland, who I never saw during the whole course¡K
19-F
While I enter in sight of the crowd, I don¡¦t perceive any reaction from them. I realize I am probably the first, and they weren¡¦t ready yet¡K maybe also not to see me ƒº
Interestingly, Mats Haldin was all the way in front, until # 17, where he lost 50 secs, and where I passed him without noticing.
Handing over to Daniel, I was glad to have given him the best starting position possible. I had done my job well, I could smile, but it was too early to be happy. The race wasn¡¦t over. Now started the most difficult part¡K holding my breath for Daniel and hoping that everything goes well. The gap is small, Finland just a couple of seconds behind, France and Norway a mere 45sec and Sweden 1min35sec.
After a nerve-racking 45 minutes while Daniel was out in the woods, and finally seeing him win the sprint for the 3rd place against Sweden, it made my most wonderful moment in the WOC. WE WON A MEDAL!!! I couldn¡¦t believe it, my emotions where overwhelming me.
Two days before I had won the silver in the long distance race. But this third place in the relay was surely more emotional. When you are able not only to compete, but also to observe your success (seeing Matthias and Daniel run), it is much more exiting. And furthermore, what is more wonderful than to share a World Championship medal with two good friends?
Sep 9, 2005 12:46 PM
#
thanks marc!!
if it's exciting just reading... wouldn't it be nice to have been there... and as for doing it...
if it's exciting just reading... wouldn't it be nice to have been there... and as for doing it...
Sep 11, 2005 11:57 PM
#
That was a good report and you ran great, in both races for two medals.
Sep 15, 2005 7:53 PM
#
I am not sure why there is not more commentary on this, but this was another awesome report by Marc! I think that anyone wanting to do some armchair orienteering can do well by taking the WOC long and relay maps and sitting down and reading through Marc's report, route choices, and though process.
This discussion thread is closed.