Training Log Archive: iansmith

Run with Klepperton around High Park and the surrounding. My pace fell off a bit as I tired.

Long Live the King:


It's been a pleasure to witness. French federation post.

While I don't have any international experience running for Team USA, I have had the pleasure of running into some world elite at Oringen and North American races. On Day 5 of Oringen 2013, I bumped into Tove Alexandersson, Simone Niggli, Valentin Novikov, and Kempster during my run. I'm just some scrub, but getting to see these amazing orienteers in their natural environment was incredible and inspiring.

I met Thierry for the first time when he came to Harriman in 2009. His devotion to his craft was apparent even then (though not to bowling), but I was most impressed with how approachable and friendly he was. I was a terrible orienteer at the time, but he still invited my questions, inquired about my experience in the woods, and took the time to give thought to my inquiries. I have bumped into him at Oringen 2013 (Seven Wonders) and at the US champs and NAOC in 2016. He ran by me on Day 1 of the US classic champs, which was sublime. Thierry is world class in every sense of the word - an amazing athlete, competitor, and fanatical student of the sport, and his character is of the highest caliber.

Athletics is ultimately a self-indulgent activity which does little tangibly to advance society. But to witness true greatness, even at a contrived activity, is to grasp what is possible and to understand the apex of the human condition. I have witnessed true greatness. Perhaps one day, I will get to race it in the corn.

THIERRY! And TOVE!! Kempster!!!

I've been a bit busy with life, but let it be noted that I am participating in Fantasy WOC with 7 other managers. The premise is simple: you draft orienteers at WOC, and your score is the sum of the places of those you draft. The person with the lowest score wins. We've been drafting four orienteers for each of the individual races (men and women) - with the top three counting, and two teams in each of the relays.

My picks:
Men's Sprint: Aleksi Niemi, Jan Petrzela, Oystein Osterbo, Vilius Aleliunas
Women's Sprint: Lina Strand, Anastasia Rudnaya, Nikoline Schjerve, Kateryna Dzema
Sprint Relay: Norway and Czech Republic

Long Men: Eskil Kinneberg, Jan Sedivy, Kenny Kivikas, Aleksey Alekseyonok
Long Women: Merja Rantanen, Anastasia Rudnaya, Adela Indrakova, Liis Johanson
Middle Men: Thierry Gueorgiou, Lauri Sild, Jan Sedivy, Jonas Gvildys
Middle Women: Tove Alexandersson, Inga Dambe, Sari Anttonen, Hanna Wisniewska

I had a rough sprint, but I have done well in the other events. I'm sitting in 2nd with 292 points behind Clem's 263. The Relay is make-or-break.

C • As it should be 2