4 October 2007

Baltic Junior Cup

BJC, Long, 29.09
Latvia

Course: M18, 8,26 km.
Map: Lielupe, 1:7500, H 2,5 m.

It's the first time for Estonia to take part in this competition between the Baltic states, Poland and two counties from Sweden.
The previous day, on the training map, I drew a conclusion that the forest was something like two weeks ago at the Latvian championship in middle and relay. So I decided to take go with the same tactic as back then - equally fast the whole distance.
But what was not in my plan, was that my feet were really stiff when I was warming up. I still believed I could make a dignifying race though. If only that was true!

Starting beep. The course was quite what I had expected. When closing in on the first control, I was already about to make my biggest mistake in this race. And I did it! First I couldn't understand which way was up and which way was down, then I mixed the depressions and the result was there. About 30 seconds of loss already in the beginning. Still didn't change any tactics. After that it was technically OK for me for the rest of the distance. No big misses except for small direction flaws. But the trouble started just about before the 10th control. I was getting tired, which was notified by my stiff feet. I was giving my maximum, but my speed was just below any level. But the positive thing - I caught Mantas Martinkus, who started two minutes before me. At the moment I was running at about the same speed as he was, but that changed when being in the middle of the 13th leg. I was really tired now and Mantas was slowly slipping away... But I saw him almost the whole way to the end.
Splits
    1 Erik Folkesson-Blom        Småland        41:21
2 Andris Jubelis             Latvia         41:30   +0:09
3 Andris Kivlenieks          Latvia         41:59   +0:38
4 Kârlis Diðlers             Latvia         42:03   +0:42
5 Artûrs Pauliòð             Latvia         43:14   +1:43
6 Maciej Jasiñski            Poland         43:23   +2:02
7 Lauri Sild                 Estonia        43:29   +2:08
I was angry and pissed in the end. How the hell was I supposed to run the first leg in the relay on the next day!?
Again, I was surprised by the small loss to the winner. My speed really was low you know. But I didn't make any remarkable mistakes. Maybe that's the reason?
I'm guessing that the speed troubles were caused by the 3000 meters cross-country running that I had on wednesday.

BJC, Relay, 30.09
Course: M18, 5,78 km, first leg.
Map: Lielupe, 1:7500, H 2,5 m.

Woke up at 6 o'clock to eat. 8:30 mass start.
This was a special kind of relay. A little bit like 25manna maybe. The teams consisted of 6 runners - the best from each class. 1st leg: M18 & W18, 2nd leg: M16 & W16, 3rd leg: W20, 4th leg: M20.
As a surprise, I felt pleasantly loose before the race. Could this mean something good?

In the start, as usually, everyone launched away like cannonballs. I tried to be steady and not to fall too much behind the leaders. In the first control was a struggle for punching the SI card. Some elaborated words and the punch was made. The next moment, I found myself to be first in the second control. I tried to push myself to the limits and try to run away from the group while I was at it. I stayed in the lead just seconds ahead of the others until the 5th control where we had forking and I managed to run further away. Was running alone for some time, until the "accelerators" from the back caught me in the 10th/11th. Some even went ahead of me, but then slowed down for some reason and I got a safe lead again for a second. Then the mistake. Mixed up some of the roads since one of them was really wide, not like on the map (a small path). A small mishap and the lead was lost. I was side to side with the others again. I was together with Andris in the two "public" controls. But then again we had forking and we ran our own ways. Now I felt that I was in the lead again. On the way to the 19th I saw a polish guy getting closer and closer. Fought till the end and a five second vantage remained.
Splits

1. Lithuania 2:00:50
2. Sm
åland 2:01:57 +1:07
3. Poland 2 2:03:43 +2:53
4. Estonia 2:03:51 +3:01
5. Poland 2:04:03 +3:13
I was really satisfied with my performance and my result. My team was also doing great until it came to the junior classes, in which both of the runners, roughly saying, failed. And the total place was 4 - a disappointment for the whole team.

18 September 2007

Latvian Championship, Relay

Latvian Championship, Relay, 16.09

Course: V21, 8,9 km.

Map: Kalnu sili, 1:10000, H 2,5 m.


Although we were running in the mens elite class, most of the opponents seemed to be of my age and a bit older. My tactic was not to fall too much behind, if at all.
In the start I felt calm and relaxed, not worried about the race at all.

S-1:
After the start was given, I just had a quick glance at the map and it was all clear already. Saw the favorites accelerating in the front of the group. Kept the distance close to minimum. I rand between the bigger "hills" until I could see the knoll that lay in front of the control. And just like that, I felt that the group's speed was decreasing while I decided to keep going the speed that I had. Saw that one guy had managed to get ahead of the group and I decided to catch him. I was very close to him, when I looked behind and saw that the others had dropped behind even more.
1-2: At first, it seemed that if I could hold the fastness, me and the other guy in the front could break away from the others. Took a bearing to the narrow ride and to my surprise, a lot of runners from our class were coming out to the track also, right in front of me. What the heck!? All that effort and for what? The "forking" of the course was so that I had the longest route. Too bad. Stayed together with the others for a while and the fast runner in the lead. Easy map reading, tough running to the control. There were four of us at that moment, and I was the last one.
2-3: While the other ones went from the left, supposedly through the big depression, I took more of a straight direction in the beginning. Came to the other side and when reaching the tracks, the distances between th four of us were equal, about 10 meters each. I was the third. Followed the side of the hill until the climb. Tough. Forking. The one in the front maintained his lead and even increased it while I became second right behind him. Didn't look behind but I knew the others were close.
3-4: Straight going and no possibility of catching the leader. Saw some other runners speeding down the steep slope on the right. Again a longer forking for me? Kept going fast (for me). Saw the knoll right before the small depressions and ran there. The depressions looked more like pits to me.
4-5: Through the depressions, to the other side of the ridge. Mostly straight.Could see my greatest opponent ahead all the time until the 5th.
5-6: Long spur, around the depressions, onto the road. Up the hill.
6-7: At first, I wanted to go from the right side of the hill before the higher ridge. Then reconsidered and went from the left. Easy. Before the control, I had a good view of my position - I could see about a 150 meters the one ahead of me about and about 200-300 meters the ones behind me.
7-8: By the edge of the slope and avoided the extra climbing at the control area. Now I wanted to catch the one in front of me.
8-9: Just about when I reached the small path, something bad happened. A sudden pain struck in my chest, on the right side. At first, it was tolerable but just before I reached the big road, the pain had turned into intolerable. I had never felt that much pain in my chest before. It was impossible to run. I moved very slowly, but at least in the right direction. Damn that hurt! I was cursing so loud that maybe even the folks in the spectator control heard me coming. Just before the control, two rivals passed me. I was almost walking.
9-10: The pain had gotten worse and showed no sign of going away. I began to walk and even stopped two times to lean against a tree to breathe and try to make the pain go away. Hopeless. From the point where I had to cross the marsh, the pain had fallen back a bit. I could just jog slowly.
10-F:
The pain didn't stop until I finished. I was together with another guy that had the same speed that I did. I had difficulties running downhill but not uphill. No mistake but I lost about 4 minutes on the last loop of the course because of that awful pain!
Splits (V21)


   1. Madonas BJSS 1                          2:02:26
2. Alūksne OK                              2:02:40  +0:14
3. OK Purva Bridējs 1                      2:05:45  +3:19
4. Auseklis IK absolut (a.k.)              2:10:59  +7:33
5. OK Võru                                 2:11:25  +8:59
Lauri Sild               47:00
Sixten Sild              45:35
Timo Sild                38:50
6. Burkānciems de Lux                      2:11:37  +9:11

When subtracting that 4 minutes off of our time, I guess we could have been able to fight for the bronze. But that's all "what if".
I came in at an awful place but the total position in the end was 5th.

17 September 2007

Latvian Championship, Middle

Latvian Championship, Middle 15.09

Course: V18; 4,1 km.
Map: Kalnu sili, 1:10000, H 2,5 m.

I was not running for the title - I had already ran and won the middle distance championship in Estonia.
The forest was as as sparse as it could get. It was like running in a city park, maybe even faster. Just so that you would know that the speed in the forest was high, and I mean REALLY high. The height differences were not that remarkable either. So I just decided to make an equally fast race instead of a really fast beginning or end. Since there was not much option to run around, the technique was to use the compass a lot and correct the heading on the way by reading the necessary objects. Every second counts.

S-1: Ran directly up by the beaten track, to the other side of the ridge. Followed the height and passed the two knolls on the right.
1-2: The location of the control could already be seen from the first one.
2-3: At first, I wanted to avoid the extra climb and run more around the depression but changed my mind once I saw that the heights weren't that big. Over the ridge and pure compass to the control.
3-4: Didn't know what the marsh would be like. Ran up the knoll and saw that it was a small well-runnable moor. Crossed it and ran up the narrow re-entrant, over the saddle. Again followed the height on the side of the ridge, into the control. So far I hadn't understood anything about the open areas on the map. I guess the density of the forest was so low that there was not much difference between areas with or without trees. No difference in the undergrowth either. So I just ignored them.
4-5: Bearing to the knoll with the rootstock.
5-6: Not avoiding the climb here either. The narrow rides were so sandy, that the forest was faster.
6-7: Didn't make out much of the form lines, so I inclined a bit to the left at first, then I saw the control.
7-8: Again, the location of the control could be seen from far away.
8-9: By the slope and up the steep one in the end. Took me walking for a few steps in the end though.
9-10: Compass. Through the saddle and already saw where I needed to go.
10-11: On the ridge, down right before the last knoll.
11-12: Again the destination could be determined from far away.
12-13: On the side of the slope, to the control on the backside of the knoll. There were many controls very close to each other in that area, which got a lot of people confused.
13-14: Easy. In the middle of the leg, a small insect flew int my eye so I couldn't see much for some seconds and my eyes got all watery and ran with one eye open until I got to the last control.
14-F: OK speed for a sandy track.
Splits (V18)

4:36 min/km

    1. Dišlers Kārlis      18:32
2. Sild Lauri          18:39   +0:07
3. Jubelis Andris      18:42   +0:10
4. Žagata Zemgus       18:48   +0:16
5. Pauliņš Artūrs      19:47   +1:15
6. Laveiķis Andis      20:07   +1:35

I was satisfied, in consideration of my physical abilities. I don't think I would have been able to run much faster than I did.
The next day, I was also going to run the relay with my family team. Too bad that I had to run the first leg - I'm best in the middle leg. But I had no choice since my father was running, he had to take the second shift. But I didn't let that interfere my plans.

10 September 2007

Estonian Championship, Ultra long

EMV Ultra long 08.09

Course: 16,1 km, mass start.
Map: Apuparra, 1:10000, H 2,5 m.

I was actually really waiting for a mass start as I couldn't remember when had been the last time that all the best from all over the country was taking part of a mass start competition. I was certain that I would be able to keep up with the fastest runners as my physical shape had been quite good during the whole late season.

S-1: The starting shot given, took the map and immediately the first control was clear. Everything happened in a break of a second - a good start. Although I didn't want to heat up the speed right away, I was compelled to do it as everyone was closing in fast and I didn't want to stay behind the leaders. Strange that there was a forbidden area right in the way. I got on the big road, being in the lead, right beside to Kristo. The speed was definitely high, but I kept my cool. We were running a bit too far and I turned suddenly into the forest. The control was easy and I already had a 3-second lead ahead of the second.
1-2: Struggled onto the road. Was on it and already I could see everybody closing in from behind again and Kristo right next to me again. Tried to make a plan for myself. At first we had a "teamwork" plan but that wasn't used for long. I decided to follow the road to the crossing point and climb up top the field and use a narrow ride from there on. I knew that my opponents and I couldn't keep running with that kind of speed forever... When reaching the crossing, a thing that I had waited for happened - we split up. Kristo turned left and I ran straight on. To my relief all the others (at least I think so) took the same choice that Kristo took. Mass instinct. My plan was to take another route and run fast, to get ahead of the group. And it worked, although I didn't know that when running. I kept running until I reached the bog. On the first "island" I got together with the junior class. They had the same control. I made a small mistake but nothing big. Here I was already 50 seconds ahead of the second.
2-3: Without knowing if I was in the lead or I had fallen behind, I kept moving quite fast. The routechoice to the third was tricky. I wasn't really tempted to go from the left, so I went from the right, to avoid some of the bog. When I reached the hillside, I realized I hadn't made the right choice. The slope was rather green than white and it was covered with fallen logs. Fought my way through and reached the more plain grounds. Over the ridge, into the control. Saw the junior class men again - must have had the same leg.
3-4: Just going straight. When I was just about to reach the road again, I saw my opponents coming in the opposite direction. I was in the lead! I wanted it to remain that way and I added some speed. The control was easy, and again it was a same leg for the juniors.
4-5: Easy. Speeding on paths and a simple control.
5-6: Everything was really clear - one depression after another. The last big one and then a narrow ride. Suddenly, a knoll in front of me!? How can it be? There was supposed to be a depression instead of the knoll that I saw. Started running left by the track, to make some sense. Saw a depression ahead and automatically thought that it was the one before the control. Followed the side of it and saw another deep depression. Then it hit me where I was. To the control. The compass directions seemed weird. Punch.
6-7: Now, to the "butterfly". When running out of the control, I saw One of my main opponents coming from the fifth. I had lost time but the distance was good enough for me. Easy control
7-8: Took a bearing to the road and narrow ride. Ran straight on fast til I came to the point where I had run before. I had memorized the area well, so there was no difficulty to read myself back into the map.
8-9: Out to the road.
9-10: Back to the center. Up from the spur and following the long re-entrant on the side as well as the depressions.
10-11: Through the saddle and into a risky approach. Fortunately even the smaller re-entrants were clear and finding the flag didn't present any difficulties.
11-12: Down to the marshes and up the gully to the refreshment control. Stopped to have a drink. The relatively cold water caused a slight shock. It was almost impossible to swallow so I just flushed my mouth and poured some water on my head. Easy control.
12-13: Followed the hight and reached a wide, bigger re-entrant that helped my navigate. Onto the steep slope and the flag could be seen from far away.
13-14: Onto the road. Ripped my sleeve when fighting out from the bushes. Just running til the junction and down the slope from there on. Didn't know what kind of a threat the "uncrossable marsh" was, so I went around it.
14-15: To the center again. Straight up to the path, cut off the corner and through the depression.
15-16: Just running.
16-17: First, I had planned to run as much land from the right as possible but when I got to the higher area, I could see the whole picture. It seemed to be a long way around, so I just decided to head for the big island and to the next one from there on. I could feel the strength in my feet when running across the huge moor. Passed the islands and got onto the mapped small track. Followed it and ran through the small valley, over the road, across the drenched ditch, into the control.
17-18: The indistinct marsh got me frightened about the next leg. So I decided to go back to the road, the way I had come. Some meters and back in again.
18-19: Not much choice. Almost straight going back to the small track in the marsh. Easy.
19-20: Not tempted by the green so I ran along the ridge, until I came to the marshy area. Crossed it and got onto the smaller clearings and open areas.
20-21: Again not much choice. Path, narrow ride, control.
21-22: Took a bearing up to the fields. I didn't plan to drink anything, as it wasn't on my route and also, I knew there wasn't much more to go. But to my surprise, the refreshments were not exactly where they were supposed to. So, what the heck, I took a cup of water. Ran the road as close to the control as I could and with a small miss, I got it.
22-23: Nothing to it, just run! I was surprised how much strength I had left in my feet to run up the hill.
23-24: First I wanted to catch the end of the track but didn't bother and ran back down again. Crossed the creek and ran straight up. When closing into the control, a bit of misunderstanding struck. But not for long.
24-25: Bearing, roads, clearings, contours, control.
25-26: Straight to the road across the swamp. A solid run to the last control.
26-F: Despite the tiredness, I made a strong spurt into the finish.
Victory!
Splits

  1. Lauri Sild          01:44.46 
2. Kristo Heinmann     01:51.03   +6:17
3. Kaspar Kork         01:51.26   +6:40
4. Erki Pellja         02:01.09   +16:13
5. Priit Randman       02:13.13   +28:27
How!?

2 September 2007

Estonian Championship, Long

EMV Long, 01.09

Course: 7,8 km
Map: Juudakund, 1:15000, H 2,5 m.

I had had a great feeling the whole previous week. I also felt really good at the last orienteering training that I had. There was no doubt I was going for the gold. By chance, me and my brother had the same start minute. But we don't run the same class of course. I'm in M18 and my brother in M20.


S-1:
Saw my brother speeding away right in front of me. Didn't mind that. There were logs on the path so I wasn't really running on the path. More like by it. Got back on it and turned left from the path junction. Ran down the slope and saw the marsh on the left. Climbed up a bit and crossed the narrow ride. Followed the height and noticed the pits a bit lower, on the right side. To the wide spur and the control behind it. To my amazement, my brother led the exact route, all the way through my control. But he didn't have that one.
1-2: Since the paths were just terrible on this terrain (they were grown into grass and bushes), I didn't follow or seek for them. Ran past the depression, up the slope and past the stone. Bearing to the swamp. Also noticed all the paths on the way. Some fighting through the bushes and I noticed, that my brother was right behind me. This time we had the same control.
2-3: Right past the first clear marsh, across the small stream to the gentle hillside. And stop! What!? A swam right in front of me?
Turns out, that the elongated, narrow depression was wet. Didn't let that discourage me and went along the slope to the control.
3-4:
The first real loss. No special plan. Straight to the big road with a bearing. With a slight tilt to the right, to avoid the greener areas and to know which way to head when I'm on the road. Had quite a high speed, frequently checking the direction with the compass. Everything seemed all right. I was guided by the marshes, but I couldn't determine my position. But I knew that I just had to get on the road. When finally getting on it, I was chocked how much to the right I had inclined. Ran to the higher area and turned right in the forest again. Followed the side of the big wide spur across the road, to the clear marsh. Used the big deep depressions for easier navigation. No problems. The way I had came to the road, I figured out only later that evening.
4-5: As some kind of a path was already visible from a greater height, I went to it. Followed it to the swamp, crossed it and punched without difficulties.
5-6:
Again, took a bearing to the road. As you can see on the map, that didn't turn out quite as I had planned. And again, my location was a mystery. But as long as the direction according to the compass was correct, it should be OK. That it was, but the map just wasn't a match to the terrain. When I reached the big clear marsh, I knew where I was and I tried reach the path as fast as possible. Even that didn't work out well. When I got on it, I was trying to cut off the corner constantly, straight to the road, but I was always set back by the small trees and bushes. So I ran all the way out. High speed to the bigger road junction, to make up the time loss. When seeing the roads split, I went in. By this time, it had hit me that my usage of the compass was not very reliable. But still I checked it once in a while. Everything was very understandable and clear on this route. Later I realized that I had ran the same way I had ran to the fourth control.
6-7: It was very difficult to go straight as a lot of trees had fallen down in that area. About ten meters after the control, I was crossing a tree on the ground and I hit a tip of a dried-up, stiff branch in my groin area. A loud sudden cry sounded. It was not pleasant. The control was easy.
7-8:
Another stupid act. When having a quick look at the map, it seemed that the yellow area was just a narrow clearing. I didn't see that road on it at first. When having run for some time I saw another runner in my class running on the open area and a lot faster than me, I checked the map again. Dammit! Quickly got on it and ran faster. Wanted to go straight to the left hand path again but couldn't, because of the bushes again. The other guy in my class ran straight into the forest. I ran fast by the road all the way to the control area and saw that guy about 100 meters behind me. But the control that I was about to face, are just the kind that I'm afraid of. Not much to read before the object, in fact almost nothing to read. Just checked my heading and wanted to catch the knoll. I did get to a knoll, and started looking for the re-entrant but when I saw the marsh below, I knew where I was and quickly went back. That other guy just punched.
8-9: Before the control, I had noticed two routechoices. From the right or from the left? I chose the left option since I had come from that direction and the way was known. The moor was very runnable. Finally got to the hill and slowly gained height on the slope. First I thought the control object was a re-entrant and I was heading towards it but I saw that there was no flag there and I saw it on the spur. Great!

9-10: Straight to the road. Forest was well runnable. When I was on the road itself, I started running north as I misread the map for a second. But fixed that right away and went back to the narrow ride across the moor. No difficulties.
10-11: Onto the path. Followed it and then went straight past the big depression. Looked for the bigger marsh on the right. Up the spur to the depression.

11-12: Bearing to the narrow ride. Followed the track to the crossing and ran across the two swamps' "neck". Up the hill, past the two boulders. Was not sure in my direction. Got to a big gully and didn't know which one it was. Ran over it, as well as the spur on the other side as I had thought that it was the next spur already and I was expecting for the control. I saw a flag but I knew it wasn't mine. Though I ran to it to check just in case. Stopped right there and delved into the map. It hit me right away where I was and quickly ran to my flag.
12-13: Just straight. Followed the paths as long as I could and then fought through the dark green. Down the hill through the depression. A few meters on the road and then through the grove next to the pond. Up the hill by the path and over the clearing. A lot of nettles. Down to the creek and the stone. Although there were two stations in that control, I had to wait in line just to punch.
13-14: Around the marsh, onto the open area. Again too many people in the way.

14-F: Max speed. Perfect punch in the last control, as well as the finish.

Splits


  1. Lauri Sild          00:53.00,0
2. Kristo Heinmann     00:57.16,0  +4:16
3. Erki Pellja         01:07.37,0  +14:37
4. Kaspar Kork         01:16.30,0  +23:30
5. Sven Oras           01:17.10,0  +24:10
6. Priit Randman       01:19.42,0  +26:42

When I finished, I knew I had made a bad race. By then, I really hoped I would get at least the bronze. But when hearing the
results, again, I was chocked by the weak performance of my opponents. 4 minutes in front of the second!!?? Tremendous. But at least, for me, I have the two most important victories in Estonia - middle and long champion!

28 August 2007

Weekend in Finland

I went to Finland last weekend with my clubmates to take part in the Youth Jukola and the individual competition on the next day.

Nuorten Jukola
, 25.08.
Course: 6,37 km. 
Lap 1
My goal wasn't a super run as we were not on a very high position but I wasn't going to just jog either. While my speed was quite low due to the pain in my chest almost all the way from the 7th control till the end, I made only one significant mistake (8th control).

Lap 2
As for the results, our Total place was 39. The first leg came in 65th and all the other legs but one finished in a higher position. I ran the last leg and started on the 50th place. I had the 10th leg time and came in 39th. My splits.
I guess we can be pleased by that place as we haven't been that good for a very long time.

Rastipiikkiö, 26.08.

The competition turned out to be quite fun, despite my reckless run.
The beginning seemed auspicious, until I came to the 3rd control. I started looking for it too early as there were cliff-like formations there also.
The area before the 6th was very weird and I lost some time there.
You can also see the brilliant routechoice to the 11th.
The second big mistake was the 12th. Ran to the southern marsh.

Splits
  1.   Lauri Sild        49.44             
2.   Mikko Siren       50.20        +36
3.   Petr Zaslonkin    52.52      +3.08

But still, I won. Surprisingly mild opponents. I thought that I came about 5th, when I finished.

Bohemia day 5

Bohemia 2007, day 5, 19.08

Course: 5,1 km, ~330 m climbing.
Map:
Železná brána, 1:7500, H 5m.

Before the start I felt relaxed and confident. I knew that nothing could stop me.

S-1: Took it slow and firm.
1-2: Straight up, around the cliffs, heading to the clearings. When reaching the path in the gully I looked at my watch and saw that the second place just started. A tricky control. Tried to hold the height and navigate by the bigger cliffs. Mixed up the lower cliffs with the upper ones and got confused. Landed in some other control and tried to figure out my position. Finally got it and ran to my control. About 30 seconds of loss.
2-3: Quite easy. Right up and through the small crack.
3-4: Almost straight to the clearing heading to the control itself. Didn't quite get the location of the control at first. But when I got it, it was back to mountaineering. Tough climbing between the narrow openings.
4-5: Back down from the crack and up from the opposite side. 90 degree turn to the left, to avoid the huge cliffs. Jumped over a lot of deep cracks on the way. Now that felt like parkour. The control itself was a little tricky. The small knolls In the green and yellow were tough to separate but I managed and didn't lose any time.
5-6: Straight to the road by the narrow clear area. Avoided as much green as possible. Some seconds in the control area.
6-7: Down and held the height till I came to the right spot and went down to punch.
7-8: The plan was unclear. Just held the height and tried to figure out a plan. Made up my mind and decided to go from above.
8-9: No problems.
9-10: Straight. No need to drink.
10-11: I was afraid that the control would be hard to find as the object wasn't so distinctive. But no problems occurred.
11-12: At first I didn't even see the 12th control and wanted to run directly to the 13th. Got on the road and only then noticed the
control. Didn't know where I went in exactly but I thought that I went up almost directly to the control. There was a flag but it wasn't mine. So I wandered around for some time before understanding where I was.
12-13: To the southern road. By the edges of the green areas. Down around the cliff.
13-14: Up and by the side of the hill. Some seconds lost near the control again.
14-15: Right around the gully and followed the road for a while. a bit after the fenced open area, I turned in and crossed my route to the first. I saw the 8th place in our class running to the first. Down the gully, into the control.
15-16: Very tough climbing. Maybe the last serious ascend this competition. To the road and to the north-western tip of the hill. First wanted to run around the green but couldn't really do that. It was awful but I managed to see a wild boar running like a torpedo. If only I could run that fast.
16-17: Between the cliffs. I was afraid of the control as it seemed a bit bingo. But fortunately the green was distinctive and found the flag without difficulties.
17-18: Down the road and over the big spur.
18-F: At last!

Splits

1 Malý Ondřej          49:12
2 Procházka Pavel      51:39 +2:27
3 Sild Lauri           51:48 +2:36 
Total

1 Sild Lauri        234:30
2 Klapal Jan        246:34 +12:04
3 Malý Ondřej       252:45 +18:15
Victory!!!
I was sure that the second place would get closer to me but to my surprise I doubled the lead! This competiton was really fun! I hope to run there again some time.

27 August 2007

Bohemia day 4

Bohemia 2007, day 4, 18.08.

Course: 4,48 km, ~275 m climbing.
Map: Habrůvka, 1:7500, H 5m.



As I had taken the lead in total now, I tried to continue running as good as I had the other days.


S-1: Wasn't afraid of the green so I went straight through it. Climbing was difficult but I managed. Easy.
1-2: Up to the road and down the narrow re-entrant, sided by cliffs.
2-3: Up the gully, onto the path. Followed it for a while and went straight on to the next path. Tried to use the narrow clearing but didn't hit it at once. Went in the green and wound up to the clearing. Easy.
3-4: Tough choice. Left, right or middle? Chose the middle as I thought that the green wasn't that bad according to the previous days. I was mistaken. In some places, I even had to crawl. Fought to the spur right before the control and continued in the right direction. I was very close to the control but I didn't see it as it was in a small crack between the cliffs. I thought I had gone too far and started running back by the slope. Then I understood that I had been in the right place and went back quickly. Damn! I couldn't afford any mistakes like that.
4-5: Ran slowly downwards while trying to figure out a way to the next control. Left or right were my choices. Took the left one as I had already been there and I didn't know what was on the right. Only after I had already ran up the hill, I saw that I could have also come straight. Control itself was easy.
5-6: Down and then trying to keep the height. Started running to a wrong cliff at first but then corrected my direction.
6-7: From above. Fortunately, the distinctive tree was very clear before the control.
7-8: Down and up. The climbing was really tough.
8-9: Up to the vegetation boundary and past the rootstock. Some difficulties crossing a small canyon before the control. Down to the flag.
9-10: Up by the two stones. Down to the cliff junction where the control was.
10-11: Back to the path. Hadn't decided where to run from to the big road. Decided on the spot to go through the white. Over the road itself, through a corner of the green and down from the gully. From below the cliff into the control.
11-12: Didn't want to back to the road so I ran on the flat area between the cliffs. Then down to the dell and back up again. A lot of people seeking the control nearby. No problems for me.
12-13: Quickly back down again. Was afraid of the green and avoided it. Ran till the clearing came on the left. Since it was supposed to be a passable fence, I wanted to pass it. Quite impossible at first. Then I saw a small opening and entered the area. The whole open area was covered with some thorny plants and they got stuck to my clothes all the time. Fought till I came to the other end. Great! No opening here! I started climbing over the fence, which was quite tricky but after a while I got over it. No mistake with the control but I lost a lot of time.
13-14: Straight down.
14-F: People in the way.

Splits

1 Jan Exner          39:37
2 Lauri Sild         39:49 +0:12
3 Marek Pospíšek     41:50 +2:13
4 Jan Klapal         44:36 +4:59 
Total

1 Lauri Sild        182:42
2 Jan Klapal        188:16 +5:34
3 Jan Exner         201:48 +9:06
I was surprised to have finished second since my speed was quite low and I lost a lot of time at places... But now I had a clear lead in front of the second place.

Bohemia day 3

Bohemia 2007, day 3, 17.08

Course: 3,1 km, ~200 m climbing.

Map: Krtonožka, 1:5000, H 5 m.

A very technical and detailed middle - just what I had been waiting for.

S-1: Right past the special feature and down the gully. Hesitated for a moment as if the cliffs seemed to be too low but kept to my plan and I wasn't mistaken.

1-2:
Decided to go around. Back up from the south-eastern gully, onto the open area. Down the road, into the green. I was afraid that I might lose contact with the map if there's nothing to read but since the cliffs formed a "bottleneck", I kept on moving.
2-3:
Bearing to the road below, then back up again by the track. Saw the knoll with the cliff and passed it straight into the flag.

3-4:
Back up the way I came, heading to the higher area. Around the high cliff from the north, into the control.
4-5:
Ran up by a beaten track, onto the path. At first, I wanted to run through the huge gully but when I saw it, I decided to go around.

5-6:
To the tip of the clearing. Tough choice. Didn't take the path from above or the one below. Ran right between the cliffs. Down from the narrow clearing on the side of the green area. Up and a small disruption in the flow, that I was having. Didn't understand which cliffs were which and if I could get past between them. The only thing I saw was a long sequence of cliffs. Went around and followed the small path.
6-7:
From under the huge cliff. Up the long narrow re-entrant. Then right, below the cliff and a brief stop to determine the exact location of the flag. Bueno.

7-8:
Ran above the smaller cliffs but didn't want to run into a dead-end and turned right at the last moment. Now it was just running straight down. Saw a small entrance on the tip of the spur on the map as well as the terrain. Easy control.
8-9:
The same way back. A very narrow passage on the map. Fortunately it was passable.

9-10:
around.
10-11:
Up from the ridge. Past the huge rock faces, into the control which was visible from a long distance.
11-12:
Held the height. Almost passed the right entrance.
12-13: Just up to the spur.
13-14:
No problems.
14-15:
Straight down, by the track and back up again.
15-16:
Straight and down from the last re-entrant.
16-17:
Pain.
17-F:
The best.


Splits

1 Lauri Sild        26:45
2 Jan Klapal        28:35 +1:50
3 Marek Pospíšek    32:54 +6:09 
Total
1 Lauri Sild        142:53
2 Jan Klapal        143:40 +0:47
3 Ondřej Malý       156:02 +3:09
4 Teddy Lejsek      157:23 +4:30
A very satisfying race. I've still got it! ...I think...

22 August 2007

Bohemia day 2

Bohemia 2007, day 2, 16.08

Course: 5,2 km, ~320 m climbing.
Map: Upíří hrad, 1:7500, H 5 m.

S-1:
Directly down from the big gully on the left. Up from the cliffs.

1-2: Looked for a possibility to run around but saw none. Right back down again, over the clearing and up the re-entrant. Up and down. Over the last open area and the control was taken easily.
2-3:
Saw three choices in the beginning of this leg. From the right, middle or the left? Chose the middle one. By the path and down from the slope. Ran up right before the green area started on the left.

3-4:
Saw only one optimal choice. Down to the road, across the open area. Then right back up again, which was brutal. When finally up, followed the edges of the hill until I went down again and passed the small swamp, which was very clear. Going up again, I almost ran into a dead-end. The slope between two cliffs was too steep, so I was in trouble. But fortunately managed to climb up in the end. Seemed easy - I was certain of my location all the way, until I got really close to the control, I ran up the wrong re-entrant. To the stone where supposedly the cave had to be. What? Immediately realized where I was. Quickly to the correct boulder.

4-5:
Back the way I came. Between the upper and the lower cliffs. Some hesitation before the control but no mistake.

5-6:
Holding the height, ran through the green areas and down the hill from the side of the dark green. Followed the path until it split. Up. Got in the middle of the cliffs and was confused a bit. Couldn't make up anything from the map. Some seeking in the area but no progress. Decided to run up and come in from another direction. On the way, I stumbled upon the control.

6-7: Down and up again. Easy.
7-8:
Painful running down the hill. Just roads to the control. The last hill was hard to take, so I walked in the end.

8-9: Continued climbing. Around the big gully, No problems with the control.
9-10: Didn't want to go straight, so I went west and climbed up to the road. Tough running til the refreshment point in the re-entrant. Didn't drink, just went down to the control.
10-11: Back up again. Now I drank. Down the big spur. Down to the control. By the way, the control was in a quite a narrow crack between the cliffs. About the width of a control flag.
11-12: Zig-zagged through and over the gullies and the spurs. Got to the last hill and looked for a way up. Saw the first corridor up - not possible to run up. Saw the second - seemed OK. Went up but unfortunately there was a stone right in the way. Couldn't get over it. Damn! Back down again. Continued to look for an entrance. In the end, I saw a very narrow crack again. Climbed through it. I felt like an alpinist. Control was easy.
12-13: Down the way I came. Again some rough climbing. Saw that it wasn't possible to go straight, so I ran around. Down the road and up right before the clearing on the left. Easy.
13-14: Fast. The control object was an entrance to a cellar.
14-F:
Best time.

Splits

    1 Jan Klapal        59:09   
2 Lauri Sild        59:20     +0:11
3 Teddy Lejsek      61:00     +1:51
Total
    1 Jan Klapal        115:05
2 Lauri Sild        116:08    +1:03
3 Ondøej Malý       118:11    +3:06
4 Teddy Lejsek      124:05    +9:00
Disappointed in my race. How could I have lost only 11 seconds with this kind of a run? Everyone must have made mistakes.

21 August 2007

Bohemia day 1

Bohemia 2007, day 1, 15.08.

Course: 5,4 km, ~325 m climbing.
Map: Uhlířská věž, 1:7500, H 5 m.
This was my first experience on this kind of terrain. I was afraid that the routechoices would be really tough and that I would be defeated by the steep hills, which I'm not really used to.
S-1: The plan was just to run straight. Over the clearing, onto the steep hillside. It was pretty darn difficult getting from above to below - the soil was quite loose and running down fast from such a steep incline didn't seem like a very good idea. Ran up from the junction of the big gullys, around the big cliffs. No difficulties with the control.
1-2: Straight down, to the small path on the other side. Followed the track and then the distinctive boundary for a while.
2-3: Slowly and carefully in the beginning. Got exactly to the right place and ran directly to the flag.
3-4: No straight running here! Some fast running on the slope of the hill, finally reaching the bottom. Powerwalking up the re-entrant just before the clearing. Just running from there on.
4-5: Some running on the slope again, past the cliffs, then up and onto the path. Straight to the open area.
5-6: Down and up. Ran to the bend of the hillside and went down. Was in the control and checked the code – didn't match! What the heck!? This must be mine! After walking away from the control a few meters, I checked the code again and this time it was a match! Dammit, why did I look at the wrong code in the first place?
6-7: Around the big gullies. Didn't see the control flag at first, but after a second I did.
7-8: Started quite slow, as I couldn't choose a route at first. When coming out on the open area, I had decided to avoid as much climbing as possible and run from above. Used the open areas at first, then zig-zag over and through the spurs and gullies. In the end, followed a track and kept my distance from the cliffs.
8-9: Another tough choice for me. Now I was just standing in the control, selecting a way to the next one. About 10-15 seconds passed and I decided to go down from the south and run up the opposite gully (not the best choice). When trying to run up, I almost barged into a deer calf that looked exactly like “Bamby” and who was really terrified. It was running downhill at full speed and passed my with about two meters. Back to business. After recovering from the climbing it was just path running.
9-10: Not really possible to run straight down without seriously injuring myself. Up from the side of the big spur. Easy control.
10-11: Followed the side of the green until I came to a definite cliff, from where I went down. Fighting with the vegetation. Couldn't tell the difference between the path and the narrow clearing, so I ran all the way up from the left hand gully, till I came on the clearing. No difficulties with the control.
11-12: On to the road. Ran to the place where I had been before and turned in from there. Some contours and then the control.
12-13: Here I didn't notice that I had the 13th control. I was planning running directly to the 14th, since the legs were on the same line. I saw two choices – running down right away or following the hillside for a while and then descend. Chose the second one. First I wanted to run down from the gully which I had come up before. But big gully before that looked fine, so I went down from there. When reaching the bottom, only then I noticed that there was another control. Angrily walked up again and punched. This was fatal on that day.
13-14: Down again. Run. Wanted to go straight up from the clearing, but changed my mind when seeing that the forest before it was OK. Easy.
14-15: Some beaten track.
15-F: People in the way.
    1 Jan Klapal         55:56      +0:00
2 Ondøej Malý        56:34      +0:38
3 Lauri Sild         56:48      +0:52
4 Jiøí Petr          61:56      +6:00

I was quite satisfied with my race. Except for the control that I almost missed.

12 August 2007

Estonian Championship, Night

EMV night 11.08

Course: 7,39 km.
Map: Mooste, 1:10 000, H 2,5 m.

Fortunately my foot somehow didn't hurt anymore. Maybe the sprint did some good to it?

S-1: Followed the ditch to the road. Didn't want to run straight through the forest as it would be hard to position myself on the big road afterwards. When I came to the road, I followed it till I felt that it was far enough. Crossed the first track and got to the second. A bit bingo-orienteering, huh? Looked around and saw the reflector.
1-2: Crossed the ditch and followed it for a while. Then took a bearing to the road. I even managed to run on the short narrow ride. Just running along the road until I turned off it from the edge of the green area.
2-3: Straight down. At first impression, the object seemed to be a big depression on the map (the hole looked like a slope indicator). It can't be a depression, or can it!? Checked the control description and it was clear that is was a knoll.
3-4: By the edge of the slope and to the re-entrant before the control. A quick look on the map - the next re-entrant!
4-5: By the edge of the green, across the marsh and up the hill. Got on the narrow ride and checked the compass, just in case. Didn't cut the corner off the paths - took a confident choice. Turned in the forest right before the re-entrant that came onto the road. Followed the height and ran around the shallow knoll, which was not so distinctive.
5-6: Straight. Used the big clearing as a safety net.
6-7: Saw two choices. From the left and from the right. Took the right hand one. To the path on the clearing and straight on to the long narrow ride. Quite a high speed. Ran completely out to the road. Straight in from the crossing.
7-8: Mistake of the night. The plan was to run across the small marsh and down the wide re-entrant. Set to straight away. Across the marsh and started looking for the re-entrant which I was to run by. When I came to the marsh, I didn't know where exactly I was and just stood there, trying to figure it out. Once I realized my location, I headed straight to the flag but didn't hit it. Then I ran on, to place myself on the big knoll. Didn't quite find the high spot, so I continued scanning the grounds. Came out on another control, which was in a big depression. Knew where I was and again headed for the control. Misfortune - I passed it again! Turned around and went back. Finally saw the control when I was a few meters from it. Darn!
8-9: Some random direction to the road. Down the hill by the path and waited for the swamp to begin. Saw something ahead while the road was disappearing too, so I turned left. Once being on top of the wide spur, I understood where I really was and took off quickly.
9-10: By the ditch, up the hill and the reflector could be seen from far away.
10-11: To the clearing, past the hill and over the small knoll.
11-12: Bearing. Almost passed it but I saw the hill and ran over it.
12-13: Misfortune returns. Took a bearing to the road and when finally reaching it, I didn't exactly know my position, as the highest area of the shallow hill was so wide. So I decided to go on whatever happens. If I'd pass it, I'd locate myself in the marsh below. And that's what I did.
13-14: Run.
14-15: Straight down. Fought through the really dark green (quite impassable) out to the path. Ran all the way to the end of it and then up.
15-16: Some hard time running out of the forest to the quarry. Through it and ran along the long spur to the control.
16-17: My feet felt quite good, so I ran quite fast.
17-F: Even faster.

Splits
1. Kristo Heinmann   45.00
2. Priit Randman     49.30    +4.30
3. Lauri Sild        50.57    +5.57
4. Kaspar Kork       51.52    +6.52
5. Erki Pellja       56.44    +11.44
The loss to the winner was immense. But when taking away the mistakes, the time would have been about the same. But of course, he made mistakes also. So he really is in good shape.

Estonian Championship, Sprint

EMV sprint 11.08

Course: 2,45 km
Map: Mooste alev, 1:4000, H 2,5 m

When warming up, I didn't fee so good in the feet. Four days ago I had a training that included about 50-meters maximum running cuts. But on about the 7th cut I strained a muscle right below by right buttock. It didn't feel so good. As for that, I was running with a small limp as it still hurt, especially when running at max speed.

S-1: Quick reading. Nothing to it - just run.
1-2: Ran out in a presumable direction, then corrected my heading. To the big road crossing and from there the small building could already be seen.
2-3: No choice.
3-4: The leg was easy but it didn't go so smooth in the control itself. There were two stations right next to each other. I took one of them and held my SI card in it long enough but nothing happened. As I had already started running to the next control for about two meters, I had to stop and go back. Punched in the other station now - no problems occurred.
4-5: Around the building from the left and then a small choice which I chose on the spot. Decided to go by the stairs.
5-6: Past the grove, onto the road. Straight.
6-9: Didn't see much choice.
9-10: Which way around? From the left.
10-11: Around the house and straight on, to the big road. Didn't want to run around as the marshy area didn't seem so bad. Lucky for me, it wasn't. But when coming out onto the clearing, a bit of confusion struck. The border of the clearing didn't go as I saw it. And I didn't know which way to go. But I decided to go where I wanted to go in the first place - to the control.
11-12: Straight to the passage.
12-13: The first serious choice on this course, I think. First I wanted to run from below but then I saw that there was a passage in the wall and went from above.
13-14: Went back the way I came. I didn't see the small path going through the flowerbed on the map but I saw it on the terrain. Since I didn't see it on the map, I ran around (just in case, not to get disqualified).
14-15: Just run.
15-16: Started running towards the control and saw a flag ahead which I thought was mine. But Then I saw another flag on my left and quickly checked the map. Dammit, this one is mine! About a second or two of loss.
16-17: From the left.
17-F:
Tried to push myself to the limit, but my feet hurt sooo bad. Still had a good finish though.

Splits

1. Kristo Heinmann   10.26     
2. Lauri Sild        10.33    +0.07
3. Tiit Toomas       10.52    +0.26 
4. Kaspar Kork       11.14    +0.48     
The results between me and Kristo turned out to be as I had expected actually. I lost him about a second or two with almost every control. The loss I gained with my running speed. He is in a rush at the moment and doing really good. But I hope to give him a great battle in the long distance.

8 August 2007

Koprakarikas day 3

Koprakarikas 05.08


Long distance, 8,89 km
Map: 1:15 000, H 2,5m


Since I had finally made a race that was close to "the zone", I felt quite optimistic about coming in on the third or even the second place totally. Winning was out of the question.


S-1: Turned in from the bend of the road and ran upwards. For a second I stopped, as I didn't want to lose contact with the map. Wanted to hit the big clear swamp but as I got closer, it didn't seem to be very clear. But as long as it was the right marsh, it didn't matter.
1-2: By the side of the hill and along the spur, out to the path. Turned in just a little before the end of the road, but still thought that I was on the last spur that went into the marsh. So I went a bit to the left but I found out where I was and took the control. Lost valuable seconds.
2-3: Path and "white" forest indeed.
3-4: Took a bearing and used the big distinctive green as a catching feature. Hit the small marsh just before it.
4-5: Around
5-6: Straight to the first bigger path, by the side of the green areas. When I got on the big road, I still hadn't made up my mind about which way to take. I saw that there were some runners in my class that were running by the side of the clearing but I didn't like that choice. Decided to take the right way around. Bare running and then by the edge of the marsh. Over the spur and then followed the height. Fastest was to run straight.
6-7: Took it slow. To the road.
7-8: I figured that the big field might not be so easily crossable. They usually aren't. So took a bearing to the end of the small path and wanted to run totally around the field and the green. But just like that, the path disappeared and I had to go straight on. Hit exactly the tip of the road and from there on it was no problem.
8-9: Followed the narrow ride. Ran up a bit to the left but got it quite well.
9-10: Climbed up slowly by the side of the slope and after crossing the road for a moment it was so difficult to ascend that I walked a few steps.
10-11: Used the same tactic as the day before - the place was familiar. Though I ran a bit differently in the green part. When I got on the road, I was pleasantly surprised by an unmapped refreshment point. It was exactly on my route, so I considered this as a bonus and took a drink. Carefully went to the control.
11-12: Over the knolls, around the marsh and tried to see the clear swamp ahead. Saw something like it and ran towards it. Aarrgh, it was the left one. Again lost some time.
12-13: Since the yesterday's course went the same way, I used that to my advantage. First ran to the depression that had been a control the day before. And then max speed to the small depression that was the next control of the previous day. Continued till the edge of the clearing. Slowed down and started looking for the control too early. Finally got it. Too much time lost here.
13-14: To the road and into the depression. Followed the small track as far as I could.

14-15: Along the ditch, onto the spur before the control. Instead, I landed on the right hand spur. Some confusion, and over the right spur. Was surprised by the depression as first I thought the stone was on a small knoll.
15-16: One confusion right after another. Past the hill. Very unconfident of my location when crossing the marshes. After the last marsh, continued in a random direction, to get somewhere. But eventually I realized where I was and headed for the control.
16-17: Difficult to go in the direction that I needed to. Followed some beaten tracks that lead to the clearing on the right. Some seconds more lost right before the control.
17-18: To the path as fast as I could. Easy.
18-19: Narrow ride, road, re-entrant. What's so difficult?
19-20: Bearing to the road. No cutting through the green there! Missed the road by a few meters. Turned in from the corner of the clearing.
20-21: Run!
21-22: Why run straight onto the clearing when you can also run a bit longer and through the thickest hedge you've ever seen? Well, that's what I did. That cost me about 15 seconds.
22-25: I was in the "zone".
25-F: Pressed out the whole maximum strength. Wanted to win everybody in the finish. Unlucky. As there were two stations in the finish, one didn't have the correct time of day programmed into it. So my finish time was about 8-10 seconds more than it really was.


Splits
1. Lauri Sild                   00:58.09
2. Kristo Heinmann                00:59.37  +1:28
3. Priit Randman                  01:03.10  +5:01
4. Andris Kivlenieks              01:05.02  +6:57
Total
  1. Kristo Heinmann              02:23.43
2. Lauri Sild                     02:31.14  +7:31
3. Priit Randman                  02:33.16  +9:32
4. Andris Kivlenieks              02:36.20  +12:36

Still not a satisfying race made. But the last loop of the course showed some potential. What a place in total after a disastrous first day. That means only one thing - not many good runners here.