The run in

[Street]

The run in split, as all long time orienteers know, is the most important part of any competition. In fact, former world relay champion Graham Gristwood might have said

I would gladly sell my gold medal to win the golden boot at the CSC final

Now the run in is usually muddy, uneven, and full of slower individuals so you would expect that if a run in specialist was to race on an athletics track they would be simply untouchable. Well. New evidence has come to light that orienteers find in very difficult to stay upright even on this perfectly flat surface - as this youtube clip shows

My point is thus:
All run in's should be off tracks as they are clearly too dangerous for orienteers

[Mrs H]

Oh my poor boy - come home I'll look after you.
I'm crying now

[redkite]

dan is obviously use to running on the Hills of Malvern and not on flat tracks.

Pure magic

[Big Jon]

Horses for courses! Respect to him for trying a 200m race.

[NFKleanne]

Ouch!! And that wasn't a flat track.

[Spookster]

[Copepod]

Being serious for a moment - if an orienteer saw someone fall and hit their head, surely they'd check they were OK, but no-one seemed check Dan. Surely some officials, if not competitors noticed?!?

[DIDSCO]

If you want a hilly track check out this amazing arena in Alicante
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/ ... track.html

[Mrs H]

That's amazing - it might have suited him rather better.

Dan (aka Young Neville) reports he is rather bruised and battered but was well enough to have a good run in the relays afterwards as well as compete in the shot putt (I hope someone showed him which end to hold!)

He said by far the most painful part was crashing out in front of Jess Ennis. I guess his total lack of track experience was his down fall (I just wish Ralph hadn't shown his downfall over and over again). apparently the youtube video is proving rather popular his aunt and uncle just picked it up in Spain and e-mailed to ask if he was okay - global fame at last!

He says he's enjoying the attention and hopes to be back in top form for the JK run-ins

I wonder why Spookster thought it was funny?

[DeerTick]

I wonder why Spookster thought it was funny?

Because it was? I can't see a hint of a tree root or tussock on the run in.

AP

[Spookster]

I wonder why Spookster thought it was funny?

I'm hoping the trophy engraver hasn't seen Nopesport/YouTube before I take the Golden Boot in.

"Ah, so you want me to engrave it with "Hartmann/Ward", because you tied with that guy in a sprint?!"

golden-boot-2010.jpg (80.68 KiB) Viewed 7266 times

Glad to hear he's ok!

[justin_ruch1180]

i feel sorry for him but it was really funny..

[HOCOLITE]

As someone who started on the track. 100 was better than 200 I send young Neville my sympathy, but perhaps you see why I check the run in before I decide on whether to sprint or take it carefully. Flat and fast yes yes yes rough or long and no no no. The best of course was the Battersea WOC race. I didn't want to do it but when I saw the run in I was convinced it was a good decision

PS I came a cropper on 100m hurdles on a cinder track and still have the scars on my elbows now. Only done hurdles once good job they don't put those on run ins.

[keever]

Clipping a hurdle isn't always so bad (Sanchez won with the dive).

[229]

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