WOC...and the Perfect Race

Posted by Mike....
Aahhh, the perfect orienteering race. Strong woods running strength, great endurance, aggressive and high running speed, great flow into and out of checkpoints, mentally prepared, best route choices, enjoying the forest and no map reading hesitation and no navigation mistakes. That is what I consider the Perfect Race. If I run fast but make mistakes or if I run slowly and make no mistakes - that isn't a perfect race. There is no challenge in that for me. Running that perfect race is what keeps me hooked on the sport and it is what keeps me training (of course being in an awesome training group like we have in Hamilton always helps). The placing that you get in the race isn't important since you can't control that - but getting that perfect race 'orienteering high' is a great challenge and goal. If you can achieve the perfect race (the equivalent of a PB in other sports) at the main race of the year then that is all you can ask for. You need stay in shape physically, mentally and technically. A weakness in any of those aspects and you don't have a chance for the 'perfect race'.

I have had a couple of memorable perfect races since I started orienteering . ‘THE’ perfect race for me was the 2000 North American Championships (my 3rd title) in Harriman, NY. Two back to back perfect races in challenging technical and physical terrain. So with that race I decided it was time to 'retire' from international orienteering and try something else - a new challenge.

That something else was adventure racing. It was trendy and carried its own challenges. Longer 8-24 hour races, multi-sport fitness requirements, more endurance, less speed. AR taught me to be tougher. It also taught me that cross training was a great way to build endurance. My training hours increased and my training became more consistent. Yet something was missing and so just like the quote from the Godfather “everytime I try to get out they pull me back in” I started focussing on international orienteering again.

Why? Well I had the perfect challenge and goal - achieve a perfect race at WOC.

Yeah, I have never had a perfect race at WOC. But I certainly have had my fair share of bad luck. In 1989 I was in a bad car accident two months before WOC and lost three weeks of training. In 1997 I had a mental collapse in the middle qualifier and DSQd. 7 weeks before WOC 2004 I wrecked my ankle and lost 5 weeks of training. Now in 2006 I find myself injured yet again - this time my knee and interestingly likely due to the 2004 injury and also it started 7 weeks before WOC.

So while I am excited about the opportunity to represent Canada (which is always fun) and I’m excited by the challenge to put together three good races at WOC I know that my speed and endurance is sub par and the lack of orienteering training leaves me below what I had set for my goals: a perfect race. My approach to WOC has always been unless a perfect race is a goal (and achievable) it just isn't worth racing. So in here lies the dilemma.

Looks like I have something to keep training for....