Discussion: finishing is good

Good job on sticking with it and finishing. Given the huge differences in the times between the winner and 3rd or 4th place even the F/M 21 runners (and WOC runners who have a lot of experience) I think it shows that it was a bit funky. Hiding controls is a shame, but I think you usually don't see the control when you come into the control circle, of course there is that type of terrain, but most often you have to find the feature. The control shouldn't be so hidden that when you see the feature you don't see the control, but even that, something controls will be put on the far side of the feature from the approach.
Sorry that it was a miserable experience. Too bad.

Thanks!! Yeah, I always assume it's going to be on the opposite side of the feature from your approach.

As for finding the features, the distinct features made the controls distinct as well, but when they're using the middle of three shallow re-entrants with very little in the way of a reliable attackpoint, it gets a bit fuzzy. There were only a few controls like that and they seemed to be the ones people stuggled with.

Like I said, the majority was my mistakes and my fatuige in the last third of the course. I had trouble following my compass, making route choices, executing my route choice plans, etc. etc.

Yeah when looking at the maps and studying the splits a little bit too it became pretty apparent that people had a lot of problems on Saturday. Anyway, when about 10 people in blue either don't finish or have over time there is something wrong with the course setting or the terrain or the map or something. Btw, I am sooooooooo mad that they give over-time. What is the point of not letting someone have their finish time, even if it's long. I find it an insult to injury. I thought it was awesome that you finished and fought through a course that was hard for you. Earlier, I would have probably given up and felt shitty about it. I have a lot of respect for pushing through and not giving up. It's such a shame that you can't have a two day total, who cares with what time or placement. I am proud of you.

I am campaigning to get rid of OVT. I have an alternate scheme that will work much better. I have not been campaigning very hard, though. Somebody pester me to write this up and ram it through the adminstration of USOF.

J-J you should really do that! Good idea!!! Hi btw :-)

OK, I put it on my ToDo list. (I think it was on one of my earlier ToDo lists, but now it's on the one that I'm actively using.)

Yes, hello! It was great to see your mother (and brother) this weekend, and I'm looking forward to my next chance to see you again, too.

yeah it's been a while since the last time... I would enjoy seeing you again too.

Yeah!

I worked darn hard to finish that course and definitely wanted a 2 day total!!!

There were plenty of times I considered just stopping but I kept saying "just one more", and by that time I was so close to the finish that it seemed stupid not to complete the course.

The problem with doing away with overtime is that it encourages poeple to stay out an excessively long time - to the point where organizers are panicing and darkness is upon us. I would support a slight extension - 3 1/2 hours or the right to petition for an earlier start because you have a history of being close to OVT. I well remember Tom Good's goals during his early years on Blue - finish with out an OVT.

My proposal (which I'll try to write up tonight) still has the concept of a course closing time, so the approach of darkness isn't an issue. It specifically includes the option of asking for an early start if you expect to take a long time. And the OVT concept we have now does absolutely nothing to encourage people to come before the time limit. If anything, they slow down once the 3 hour mark arrives, but they keep on going.

I agree with JJ that there should be a "Courses Close at ..." time, so that the Search and Rescue option doesn't become an issue. But to take away someone's result just because they took a long time, even though they finished the course corectly, is a bit vexing. I'm not going to loose any sleep over it though...

Addition: Also, some people will just quit their course once they've passed the 3 hour mark and I think the OVT encourages this. Having a "Courses Close at ..." time gives people a window of time to try to finish their course. If they get past that time, only then, for their own safety, and the rescuers, should they be forced to quit.

Okay, I've written up the first draft of the proposal to eliminate OVT, and the discussion hereby continues in my log.