½ way point at the World Orienteering Championships, in 0lomouc, Czech Republic
Wednesday, 16. July 2008, 16:12:47
The World Championships consist of four disciplines: sprint, middle, and long distance and a relay. Each discipline has a qualification race and the top 15 in each of the three heats run in the final. The relay does not have a qualification race. I was selected to run all the disciplines this year, including the relay. If things were to go optimally it would have meant running 7 races in 8 days.
On Sunday July 13th I competed in the Sprint qualification. I was already pretty nervous a few days in advance and really had to work hard to get myself into the right state of mind. I managed this and the beginning of my race went well.
The race was quite simple, which meant you had to run really fast. I must have run over my limit and in the state of my oxygen debt I skipped a control, running from number 9 straight to 11. All three controls were on a straight line and I just skipped ahead in my map reading. I only realized this mistake when I was told in the finish that I was disqualified. This was very upsetting. I do however have to admit that I made a big error at the end of the race as well. The sounds of the speaker at the finish and seeing spectators flustered me; I suddenly couldn’t read the map well and lost 1 minute on my 12th control. With this mistake I would have not made the cut off for the final anyway, even if I had visited all of the controls. The only positive thing I can take home from this experience I could see in the splits that if I run a normal good sprint race I am fast enough to make the final.
However, it is difficult with the pressure and stress of running at the World Championships to run “normally”. This mental hurdle is something I am still struggling with.
There was certainly no time to wallow over my mistakes; I had 24 hours time to get ready for the long distance qualification race. I am pleased that I could get over the nerves I felt for the first race and felt confident and ready to race again.
The long distance qualification went well but not great. I had a solid run up until the end, with some small mistakes, but still at a speed where I was within qualifying for the final. I saw ahead on the course and noticed that the last few controls were “tricky” and prepared myself to take them carefully.
I was successful at doing this for the first tricky control but did not have my navigation in control for the next one. I ended up loosing 4 minutes on that control and loosing my chances at making the final.
This WOC week so far has been tough. I feel like I have the ability to make the finals, but it takes getting every part of the race right. There is just no room for error. Luckily, I will get one more chance to see how good I can be. The middle distance qualification and final are tomorrow. I hope to navigate to all the controls in a manor that I am proud of when I run into the finish. If I can achieve this and I have a little bit of luck as well I may make it into the final. That would be a nice way to wrap up my individual races at WOC.
On Saturday, there is the long distance final race, where Marc will be taking part in. In 2005 and 2006 he was 2nd, winning the silver medal. Although he has been fighting with a hip injury since this spring he is ready to fight for the medals again. I will be there cheering for him.
On Sunday there is the last event, the relay. Samantha Saeger will run the first leg for the US team. I will run the 2nd and Samantha’s little sister, Hillary Saeger, will run the last leg. Our best placement at a WOC was 17th place in 2006. We hope to break into the first 15 places this year (and beat Canada too!).
I will keep you informed!
(Pictures from Will Smith: http://orienteering.smugmug.com/)
On Sunday July 13th I competed in the Sprint qualification. I was already pretty nervous a few days in advance and really had to work hard to get myself into the right state of mind. I managed this and the beginning of my race went well.
The race was quite simple, which meant you had to run really fast. I must have run over my limit and in the state of my oxygen debt I skipped a control, running from number 9 straight to 11. All three controls were on a straight line and I just skipped ahead in my map reading. I only realized this mistake when I was told in the finish that I was disqualified. This was very upsetting. I do however have to admit that I made a big error at the end of the race as well. The sounds of the speaker at the finish and seeing spectators flustered me; I suddenly couldn’t read the map well and lost 1 minute on my 12th control. With this mistake I would have not made the cut off for the final anyway, even if I had visited all of the controls. The only positive thing I can take home from this experience I could see in the splits that if I run a normal good sprint race I am fast enough to make the final.
However, it is difficult with the pressure and stress of running at the World Championships to run “normally”. This mental hurdle is something I am still struggling with.
There was certainly no time to wallow over my mistakes; I had 24 hours time to get ready for the long distance qualification race. I am pleased that I could get over the nerves I felt for the first race and felt confident and ready to race again.
The long distance qualification went well but not great. I had a solid run up until the end, with some small mistakes, but still at a speed where I was within qualifying for the final. I saw ahead on the course and noticed that the last few controls were “tricky” and prepared myself to take them carefully.
I was successful at doing this for the first tricky control but did not have my navigation in control for the next one. I ended up loosing 4 minutes on that control and loosing my chances at making the final.
This WOC week so far has been tough. I feel like I have the ability to make the finals, but it takes getting every part of the race right. There is just no room for error. Luckily, I will get one more chance to see how good I can be. The middle distance qualification and final are tomorrow. I hope to navigate to all the controls in a manor that I am proud of when I run into the finish. If I can achieve this and I have a little bit of luck as well I may make it into the final. That would be a nice way to wrap up my individual races at WOC.
On Saturday, there is the long distance final race, where Marc will be taking part in. In 2005 and 2006 he was 2nd, winning the silver medal. Although he has been fighting with a hip injury since this spring he is ready to fight for the medals again. I will be there cheering for him.
On Sunday there is the last event, the relay. Samantha Saeger will run the first leg for the US team. I will run the 2nd and Samantha’s little sister, Hillary Saeger, will run the last leg. Our best placement at a WOC was 17th place in 2006. We hope to break into the first 15 places this year (and beat Canada too!).
I will keep you informed!
(Pictures from Will Smith: http://orienteering.smugmug.com/)
WIDGETIZE
Anonymous # 17. July 2008, 12:04
Hey Chicka :-)
Been watching the results on the web and enjoyed your comments above. Sorry about your races, but as you said, you are fast enough and it is "just mental"...good news is that you are pulling it together quite regularly even at events like EOC (impressive), so WOC is just around the corner, no? Wanted to SMS you, but realize I don't have your cell #. Good luck in the relay and good luck to Marc in the long final. Sending well wishes and big hugs. Have to get together sometime soon.