Discussion: Laramie Daze Live Blogging Event, 1830 hrs MT, Friday 18 July

We are planning to get together for a live blogging event starting at 18:30 Mountain Time on Friday here at AttackPoint, with an interview with racer XLR8. We'll go for about 30 minutes, or longer depending on interest level. It's your chance to ask any and all questions concerning Laramie Daze, the 2014 US Classic Championships at Round Mountain, and life itself including even relegation.

LROC reserve the right to cancel at the last minute, just in case the pre-Live Blogging meal at Sweet Melissa's should run longer than anticipated.

It looks like we're going to need to postpone our live blogging, so we are going to tentatively aim for tomorrow at 1800 hrs MST instead.

Okay, Laramie Daze live blogging starts...NOW!

Well, hello, to whoever might be out there! We're going to talk a little Laramie Daze stuff, as it's coming up fast.

And with us this evening, we have one of the test runners who has been helping us test and finalize our race courses, the racer XLR8. XLR8, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in Florida, very flat and swampy. My first sport and outdoor activity was surfing in Vero Beach. But once Disney showed up, we hit the road. So, I'll always be a surfer dude at heart.

XLR8, we understand you want to keep your identity somewhat "under the weather", so to speak, but your AP handle does remind one suspiciously of racer X8A7. Any relationship there?

He's a distant cousin, on my mother's side.

Did you drink all of the beer in the refrigerator, SF?

So now you've test run 5 of the 6 daze, and you've hung controls for tomorrow's test running of the One Cowboy Relay, which means you've seen the terrain. Any overall assessment of orienteering in the Laramie Range? Anything jump right out there?

Beer's where you look for it.

Suggest looking in one of the bottom drawers in the fridge.

The thing that jumps out is how diverse the terrain is. It can go from something that is flat, very open, and fast to terrain that is a little chewier running to physically intimidating where the orienteer has be strong, determined, and defiant of nature.

K. I'm taking a slight pause to get a beer...

Do you think the One Cowboy Relay is going to be fun? Extreme fun? Unimaginable amounts of fun???

I think it's appropriate that the relay is the climax of the Daze, so I would say it's unimaginable amounts of fun. (From what I remember of climaxes.)

Okay, XLR8, try to keep in mind we need to keep the conversation here at generally PG acceptable level now.

Keeping in mind that we've already got 69 folks signed up for the relay, men and women, what do you think it's going to be like out in the forest there?

Unimaginable amounts of fun.

No question it will be unimaginable amounts of fun!

Has anyone successfully defended their title twice in the row in the past?

But seriously, I think people should think "roller derby" and wear lots of body armor.

Good question, z-man. Offhand, I don't think we have any back-to-back winners yet. But let me check something quick here...

I need another beer.

Nope. You could make history this year!

But you better run smart and fast if you wanna be cool...

Folks, XLR8 is pulling your legs, the woods are super great at Diamond Bay!

XLR8, which would you say is your favorite daze of the 6?

So I have a chance to become a cowboy with two spurs!

That "nope" response was directed to z-man, if it wasn't clear.

Absolutely!

My favorite Daze were the two days where the rest of the testing team was unable to match my xlr8tion.

Well, that aside, of the actual *races*, did you have a favorite, Mister Smarty Pants?

I am loving my souvenir from last year btw, won't mind another decor in our house :)

Because of the diversity of the terrain, it's difficult to single out one Daze as the best. Each day has a sterling attribute that the other Daze don't have. So, for everyone who didn't sign up for the whole Laramie Daze, you'll be missing out on some primo orienteering.

That's interesting, because more than a few people have the idea that running in the Laramie Range is just running fast and loose across wide open prairie, just trivial stuff, no need to read the map, nothing the least bit technical out there. But it really isn't that way at all, it is?

Well, for one, you absolutely need to look at your compass.

As one of the members of the testing team said, if you take that approach, you'll end up lost in an aspen grove, face to face with an angry bull moose. And that, my friend, is no bueno.

XLR8, the Devil's Claw area is fairly demanding physically. Are the hills there too much for the average orienteer?

If the average orienteer is Michael Commons, it might be a problem. But my dear cousin, X8A7, should have no problem.

How does the vegetation on our maps compare with typical summer vegetation elsewhere? Any bad stuff?

Btw, if there is anyone out there with questions they'd like to ask, this is your chance!

I can't decide which is tougher to fight, the sage or the mountain laurel when running uphill.

It's hard to say right now due to the recent massive rains. The Laramie plains are flush with wild flowers, blooming bushes, and lush green meadows. And the orienteer is so overwhelmed with this beauty that any troubles with difficult vegetation are overlooked. But I'm not making any promises for two weeks from now. It could be grass seed hell.

The mnt laurel here in NE.

XLR8, the Brown's Landing map (Daze 4) is brand new, never used before, virgin terrain. Is it exciting to run on a map that no one else has ever run on before, to be the first to gaze upon that which has never before been revealed or touched?

Sage does take a special kind of running hop to take it efficiently, that's for sure.

Yes, however don't put too much credence in the pre-race notes. A little bit of bait and switch going on. (Hint, hint...it's not all downhill)

What's the deepest water you've crossed so far on any of the courses?

Most have only been ankle deep. However, the race director wakes you up on the first day with a waist-deep crossing. And that's a waist for me as a 7 footer.

Have you encountered any scary cattle this time out?

Since I'm 7 feet tall, the cattle don't intimidate me, I intimidate them.

I am the one who knocks.

Any tips for the folks who will be showing at Yellow Pine soon? How might they best prepare for Laramie Daze?

Bring enough bottles of wine and their finest maracas.

And I understand you've also done some test running of several of the upcoming championship courses down at Round Mountain. How was it down there?

That was an unbelievably wonderful experience to run at Round Mt. It is one of those unique areas that should be on every orienteers' bucket list. (Kris paid me to say that. :-) )

Well, how would you compare some of the Laramie Daze terrains with the championship terrain at Round Mountain?

Well, there are 2 days of Laramie Daze that cannot be compared to Round Mt. Then there are 3 days that are comparable. So, anyone coming to Laramie Daze will have a distinct advantage at the Champs.

Which Daze course comes the closest in feel to what you experienced at Round Mountain?

Probably Remarkable Flats because of the speed of navigation required. And Pelican Bay comes a close second, with the smell of oil and gasoline from the ATV'ers.

Please be it the Cowboy relay!

You've also run in a couple of World Championships, and seen some of what the rest of the world has to offer. How does orienteering in the Rocky Mountains measure up, in your opinion?

Are there any options to shortcut the RMG course for younger runners that might not be up for 11km of excitement?

It's not as wet as Switzerland. But some of the marsh crossings are as wonderful as in Norway. Especially with the verdant green and the pretty white edelweiss. Oh, wait...maybe that was Switzerland, too. I need another beer.

cmorse, there aren't any official, shorter versions of the RMG course. But there are absolutely many ways--that are easy to see on the map--to shorten the course as you go along. And we encourage anyone who is afraid of getting in over their heads to do just that. Plus, it's a fairly forgiving area (if you need to just get back to the finish) in general.

Very forgiving, for that matter.

As it happens, we happen to have another guest here with us.

Very forgiving, for that matter.

That's all I needed to hear, thanks... Bummer we won't be there in time for the first couple daze, we'll dive headlong into the Goat....

Most folks camping at Yellow Pine?

11k at Remarkable Flats is no 11k at Black Diamond.

The Meet Director for the US Classic Championships, miss Kissy herself!

Anything you'd like to say about what folks are going to find at Round Mountain and at the M Lazy C?

Yellow Pine is absolutely the place to be. Guaranteed. It will fill up fast, and musical instruments are encouraged. Cards will do in a pinch.

I don't know that I could state it any more eloquently than XLR8 did...a once in a lifetime experience. Until the next time you come to Round Mt.

The courses are set, the ranch is ready, and the Champs are on the horizon. Everyone should come with their speediest O-shoes on. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to a spectacular Champs.

Well, in that case, we've run over our scheduled time of an hour for what we hope has been a very special live blogging event, and I do believe it's...pizza time!

See you all soon at Yellow Pine! We're under 2 weeks now, and it's going to be a blast!

Good morning! 4 am here in Istanbul, but can't wait to be back on cowboy country!

Thanks for the kind words, Mike!

I'll be there with a van load of kids. Can't wait!

Yellow Pine is absolutely the place to be. Guaranteed. It will fill up fast, and musical instruments are encouraged. Cards will do in a pinch.

Dang, so coming in on Daze 3, not likely to get a spot? Are they particular about putting multiple tents/vehicles on a site?

cmorse, there are rules about how many people are allowed per site, but things get pretty generously stretched during Daze. I would say with a 6 pack of the right kind of beer that was sufficiently cold you could fairly easily talk your way into a shared spot. It's definitely not time to despair yet. The place will be packed wall to wall with orienteers, and everyone is friendly.

And if the worse should come to worst, and it does become time to despair, handily there are some plains nearby perfectly suited to that task. Namely the Plains of Despair.

There are plenty of indoor camping options down the hill from the mountains in Laramie.

Unfortunately, they are pricier then one might expect for parts of WY whose first syllables are not "Yell" or "Jack". Where do they think they are? Oxford?? (OH)

:-D

And why on earth would anyone choose to stay in a stuffy motel when they could camp in the beautiful pine scented wilds of Medicine Bow NF?

Two words: Indoor plumbing

Yeah, one thing that has, at times in the past, been pretty awful at Yellow Pine was the necessity to hold your breath the entire time you were in the outhouse. (No idea if that's still the case or not.) It sure wasn't pine scented in there!