Discussion: Sprint Championships!

Cemetery Hill has now been designated a championship event (by me): the Sprint Champtionships of Western Mass. There will be prizes, there will be glory, and, of course, the agony of defeat.

It will work as follows. There are three sprints: short, long, and final. (The long and final are each 3.1k; if you think it is oxymoronic to call 3.1k courses "sprints" you may call them "short middles", or "spriddles".) There are two divisions: "blue" and "green". Blue runners will do all three sprints: the short and long sprint (in either order); then, the final sprint as a chase with start times based on the combined total from the other two sprints (fastest runners going first). The chase will begin at (about) 12:30; so be sure to start the qualifying sprints before 11:00 to have plenty of time. Total distance for the three sprints is 8.4 k. Green runners will do two sprints: the long sprint, and then the final sprint as a chase starting at around 12:45. Total distance for both sprints is 6.2k. Red runners can move up or down.

The four winners – blue male and female, green male and female – will be crowned the sprint champions of Western Mass.

Can't they be spriddle champions of Western Mass?

I think they ought to just be Western Mass. Orienteering Champs. That's it. Clearly a bigger deal than just the Sprint champs. So that's good. And since your sprints are somewhat middlish, and certainly long, then with all the bases covered in the SML triad, it makes sense to just call it the overall championships.

And maybe CSU would like to use it for its 2011 Champs, as I don't believe they have happened yet?

Which makes sense, since Cambridge is west (or something) of the mighty river that divides the Commonwealth, that being the Charles.

With Biggins in California, the center of mass of the CSU orienteering section is in Western Mass., so obviously that's where its champs should be held.

Umm, doesn't Biggins being in Cali make the centre of Mass in Cali too? Or perhaps Nevada.

I'm just picturing JJ spreadsheeting that to figure out where the actual CSU-CoM is...

In my analysis I also took into account that Mikkel is in San Francisco and Boris and Ross are in Uppsala. It works out perfectly.

Boris is not as influential as once he was.

I don't think influence is the relevant metric. Does anybody know what his current G reading is?

I think that was ndobbs point...

I wonder if I got Becks to translate, would people understand the maths I write too.

I think the first step of that idea is probably the killer. Becks and maths are not close bedfellows.

After consulting with the appropriate authority (me), I have decided to take Peter's advice and upgrade this event to the Orienteering Championship of Western Mass. So be it. The prizes (which will all come from my basement) will be upgraded accordingly.

"Maths" -- "Math" with an "s" Is that a British/Irish thing?

Seems reasonable that "mathematics" would remain plural when shortened, right?

You need to get out more (to AP). One can learn lots about maths, badgers, Greek, and more, all in the comfort of one's own home.

Given OCWM status, will you be publishing eligibility criteria- eg in good standing with the Commonwealth including, but not limited to, a valid drivers license and paid up taxes? Oops that sounds exclusionary :-)

At the very least, I think you should require physical presence in Western MA (i.e. the 413 area code) on the day of the event.

I like J-J's suggestion better than BPs.

We are inclusionary in Western Mass: we welcome all citizens of the world. Political boundaries mean nothing to us.

I am not an Athenian, or a Greek, but a citizen of the world. Socrates.

will there be mini golf, bowling or perhaps pole dancing?

Pole dancing available upon request.

There's talk of making it a weekend of fun: bring the whole family. Ali might arrange a night-o Saturday before dinner. There's a WCOC event at Sessions the next morning, just over an hour drive. Adding bowling is easy enough for me to arrange. Maybe too late in the season for mini golf? But Cemetery Hill includes an excellent disc golf course you can do after you run. (The pole dancing I'll leave to Boris and Kat.)

Hang gliding? At Skinner? Hmm? Hmm? Can you arrange for suitable wind conditions?

Wow, your Socrates quote was in a Jeopardy answer tonight. ("What is an Athenian?" being the correct question.) That's gotta be an endorsement of the inclusionary approach.

Yup, happy to plan a night-o, can start quite early given 5pm or whatever sunset!

Bill and I are going for a forest examination at Sessions on Saturday. I've heard the damage from the snowstorm was pretty severe. Stay tuned.

I have called an emergency meeting of CSU Bowling to ascertain the feasibility of sanctioning the New England Bowling championships for the weekend. We'll see what they say.

That would be the New England Orienteering Tenpins Championships, right? (There probably is a legitimate New England Bowling Championships already, with participants who would laugh at all of us. But maybe not, because Google doesn't reveal such a thing, other than in 1963...)

Sessions update - there is some damage, but not at all bad, and it shouldn't compromise enjoyability or safety. The meet at Sessions is on for Sunday Dec 4.

Will the night-o be on U Ma** campus?

Mmm, was thinking Mt. Tom. UMass might be still pretty busy Sat. night?

And that's not a good thing?

I'd rather be in the forest, personally, but I could set something at UMass if people would prefer. No controls, though.

Sure, we should ask for permission and do something that might get some UMass kids involved, but don't think this is the right time- a Sat night event in Dec.? Cold + busy student social lives, no?

I was just thinking renegade-style.

Occupy UMass (with controls)?

I kind of like the UMass idea, since it could be pretty cold and icy at Mt Tom. Sat. night partying is all off campus, which tends to be quiet all weekend (other than the library, and where music/arts events are held). Definitely would be renegade-style; not the sort of event to use to get UMass kids involved. There's a chance of being stopped and questioned by UMass police. I'm not sure headlamps would be needed though, if you stuck to the campus, so wouldn't attract to much attention.

The key is to tell the police that this is being done under the auspices of some professor, maybe one from the Philosophy department...

Correction to my last post: though the campus is pretty well lit, I suppose headlamps would still be needed for reading the map.

@Ian. There is an occupy UMass with about 8 tents set up. We'll have to be careful not to trample them.

should I bring pepper spray?