Discussion: Big thanks to...
in: US Night & Relay Champs (Oct 28–30, 2011 - Troy, MO, US)
Oct 31, 2011 5:30 AM
#
I just want to thank SLOC and Carolsteam for a really fun weekend. The biggest problem with this event was that more people weren't there.
The Friday Sprint was a good warmup and introduction to the map, and one of the most interesting sprints I've done with so few controls. Eric said he was going for route choice, and he succeeded.
The Night-O Champs was a tough but fair course marred only, in my opinion, by the last leg having a lot of unmapped downfall in the stream route option. Because it was the last leg, I think it dominated the post-race commentary and wasn't really a fair assessment of the course as a whole. Several of the legs were seriously tricky, and I thought the controls were all fairly placed with good reflectors. It felt dogleggy, but looking objectively at the map, most weren't, *and* I honestly can't think of a time it helped or hurt me in the woods.
(Looking at the Red Night-O map, I would call 1, 4, 7, and 12 doglegs. 1 doesn't count because it is the first control and there should be enough spacing between competitors. 4 is a dogleg because everyone I saw there approached from the NE, looped around the green on the spur and approached the control from the NW (180 opposite the connection line), and then they turned around to exit. I actually liked the placement because it sets up a nice exit from 4 that is kinda tricky (It got me), plus the only people you help are close anyway---the green really limits visibility. 7 is an obvious acute angle, but people following you can only see you punch if they're within about 50m because beyond that they're climbing the hill and can't see you. 12 is another one that doesn't really look like a dogleg, but it was near the end of the course, I was tired, and the approach from the west just looked vague to me, and the approach from the south looked solid. I punched, turned 180 and headed toward the finish. There aren't too many large parking areas on the map, and the finish needs to be where it is. Honestly, I really liked the course.)
I don't run a lot of Middles, but this one kept me working all the way to the finish. Some of the green was annoying, but I have myself set controls in briar patches thicker than this. (I did hear bad things about a control on Blue, but I didn't have that one.)
The Corn maze was my first, and if you haven't done one, you need to add it to your bucket list. Just crazy intense fun, and a reasonably safe way to really practice reading a map while running a trail network.
I was really impressed by the relay. When I set my first relay, I remember standing in a campground loop that had electricity, restrooms, and showers---and plenty of parking---and I remember not knowing how that area might work for a relay arena. I stood there on a cold, dark, rainy day in February for about 20 minutes, and then something clicked, and everything fell into place, and I knew how to do it. I won't claim it was an awesome arena, but it did the job. I'm always amazed at how different people recognize an area to be a good relay site, and this was a good one. There were perhaps 5 controls visible from the arena, and plenty of opportunities to see the race evolve. The flood plain terrain was a little weird, but I'd travel to do it again---I'm a sucker for clear open forest with little fight and essentially no climb. Again, the biggest problem was that more people didn't show up to run it.
5 events in three days---with a small crew---Wow. And thanks.
The Friday Sprint was a good warmup and introduction to the map, and one of the most interesting sprints I've done with so few controls. Eric said he was going for route choice, and he succeeded.
The Night-O Champs was a tough but fair course marred only, in my opinion, by the last leg having a lot of unmapped downfall in the stream route option. Because it was the last leg, I think it dominated the post-race commentary and wasn't really a fair assessment of the course as a whole. Several of the legs were seriously tricky, and I thought the controls were all fairly placed with good reflectors. It felt dogleggy, but looking objectively at the map, most weren't, *and* I honestly can't think of a time it helped or hurt me in the woods.
(Looking at the Red Night-O map, I would call 1, 4, 7, and 12 doglegs. 1 doesn't count because it is the first control and there should be enough spacing between competitors. 4 is a dogleg because everyone I saw there approached from the NE, looped around the green on the spur and approached the control from the NW (180 opposite the connection line), and then they turned around to exit. I actually liked the placement because it sets up a nice exit from 4 that is kinda tricky (It got me), plus the only people you help are close anyway---the green really limits visibility. 7 is an obvious acute angle, but people following you can only see you punch if they're within about 50m because beyond that they're climbing the hill and can't see you. 12 is another one that doesn't really look like a dogleg, but it was near the end of the course, I was tired, and the approach from the west just looked vague to me, and the approach from the south looked solid. I punched, turned 180 and headed toward the finish. There aren't too many large parking areas on the map, and the finish needs to be where it is. Honestly, I really liked the course.)
I don't run a lot of Middles, but this one kept me working all the way to the finish. Some of the green was annoying, but I have myself set controls in briar patches thicker than this. (I did hear bad things about a control on Blue, but I didn't have that one.)
The Corn maze was my first, and if you haven't done one, you need to add it to your bucket list. Just crazy intense fun, and a reasonably safe way to really practice reading a map while running a trail network.
I was really impressed by the relay. When I set my first relay, I remember standing in a campground loop that had electricity, restrooms, and showers---and plenty of parking---and I remember not knowing how that area might work for a relay arena. I stood there on a cold, dark, rainy day in February for about 20 minutes, and then something clicked, and everything fell into place, and I knew how to do it. I won't claim it was an awesome arena, but it did the job. I'm always amazed at how different people recognize an area to be a good relay site, and this was a good one. There were perhaps 5 controls visible from the arena, and plenty of opportunities to see the race evolve. The flood plain terrain was a little weird, but I'd travel to do it again---I'm a sucker for clear open forest with little fight and essentially no climb. Again, the biggest problem was that more people didn't show up to run it.
5 events in three days---with a small crew---Wow. And thanks.
Oct 31, 2011 2:49 PM
#
I really enjoyed my entire time out there - thanks SLOC and everyone else who made us feel so welcome!
Oct 31, 2011 3:01 PM
#
An excellent meet by SLOC. I really enjoyed the number and diversity of the races this weekend. Thanks so much for the investment of time and effort that made it possible!
Will splits from the sprint and corn maze be posted?
Will splits from the sprint and corn maze be posted?
Oct 31, 2011 3:53 PM
#
RJM:
Wonderful terrain, fun courses, friendly people, and a relay - can't be beat! Thanks to SLOC/Carol's Team for a lot of hard work to put on a splendid event.
Oct 31, 2011 4:23 PM
#
well done SLOC. It is really a shame that more people did not come - probably many were scared off by the night and relay comnbination, but they really were fun events!
Oct 31, 2011 5:17 PM
#
Thanks for the many kind words. Yes Corn Maze results and splits will be posted.
Nov 1, 2011 2:23 AM
#
Thanks for making US Night-O and Relay Champs happened. Complementary Sprint and Corn Maze-O made weekend even more enjoyable.
Nov 1, 2011 5:07 AM
#
GuyO:
Can't say much more than has already been said...
...except, maybe this:
Getting to miss the freak snowstorm and resultant loss of power/internet/warmth was a definite plus! (back now, though... at least most neighborhood roads are clear) Thank you for enticing me to go out there with fun and varied O-events!
...except, maybe this:
Getting to miss the freak snowstorm and resultant loss of power/internet/warmth was a definite plus! (back now, though... at least most neighborhood roads are clear) Thank you for enticing me to go out there with fun and varied O-events!
Nov 1, 2011 1:42 PM
#
The Chicago group also wish to add thanks for a great weekend of orienteering.
Nov 2, 2011 5:32 PM
#
Thanks to SLOC for a great weekend.
Any results from the sprint?
Any results from the sprint?
This discussion thread is closed.