Discussion: results

You still kicked my butt big time!!!! If there is Routegadet up at some point you'll have to put your routes in to see if we did anything differently.

Nt sure about that. I'm not sure we did the same sprints, anyway.

Ross and I were just barely under 16, and you were 14:30 so I think you clearly beat both of us!

Sandy had remembered you two at 13 something, with little stakes only. I was pretty impressed, as I only had to run into the circle until I saw Orange. Maybe 14:30's okay...

It seems at least OK... especially as Ross and I didn't even need to punch, just reach down and touch a streamer/stake. I think you had a great run.

Apparently I won every split, which shows consistency, but more so, shows a lack of local depth. If Vadim was successful at drugging his knees back into shape, that might help, but I'm recognizing yet again that there's a major lack of interest in orienteering in this country. Trying to build on the momentum of my WOC run, and the solid local publicity (front page of local paper and most of my local running friends aware of it), I pinged several people about an event, right in VF Park, that I was hosting, the Sunday after WOC - close by, I'm happy to help intro them to the sport, etc.., but everyone is too busy, or afraid of bugs, or something. As a parent/athlete/full-time-worker, I don't really have the time to invite people out 1 on 1 and intro them to the sport. Do others, e.g. those in college, try to get their friends out to at least try the sport any more? Perhaps...

A closer inspection of the splits, however, reveals that the first leg of White, and Sprint, were the same, and an 11 year old girl beat me (and the rest of the Sprint'ers) to # 1.... I heard she took off really fast, and perhaps was even told in advance where # 1 was, but that's still embarrassing.

I agree it is depressing that we do not have enough competition of top orienteers, however I think it would have been more depressing if someone over 50 had faster splits than you. Maybe you have given me a challenge!

"but I'm recognizing yet again that there's a major lack of interest in orienteering in this country" - I think logistics are one major hurdle around here, as opposed to smaller countries where woods are far more accessible, me thinks.

I agree to an extent, however I think a bigger issue is that orienteering is not one of the 3 key sports in this country.
An example of this is in Alison's school. You'd think they'd be over the moon at having one of their students represent the USA in a sport, some teachers have acknowledged the accomplishment, but not the wow it should have received.

I got one of my college friends out to VF! and I almost got one of my classmates out for the sprint.
Local depth? we have quite a few people in the club compared to most in the country! We just don't have anyone right now that can challenge you. Although to be fair i was close on a few controls, or rather closer than i thought i was going to be.

Yeah my principal even asked my parents at one point if i was really as good as i said i was haha. My classmates normally just tease me about the sport, so half the time i don't even say anything in school about it.

I'd say that 14:30 was a solid race... and that feeling personal guilt that more people don't come to orienteering events in the US is a waste of emotional capacity. You do more than your share to make meets welcoming. It would be nice to see more recruits especially wicked fast ones but don't take the blame for less than stellar turn outs.