Discussion: relay

So I read your post and was like, "yeah, why wouldn't anyone want to run a relay? they can just show up, form a team, and run their course... who cares if it's on a team if they don't?"

Then I clicked on the event info to see what it was all about, and while it sounds like oodles of fun to me, I can make a few guesses as to why people are being annoying about it. I think some local orienteers might find the format intimidating - around here it's tough to get people to do anything that isn't a simple course. Plus, each person has to run multiple times, which, for some reason, people find weird or too much work or something.

I say you tell them all to just show up and run on a damn team. ;-)

Me, too. I'm really sorry I can't come, Becks. A relay would be a much better use of Brooksvale than individual courses and lots of fun.

That's alright Charlie! Valid excuses entirely accepted!

I can understand the running twice - but 4.5km plus 1.2km is still less than your average Red. Hmmm.

I also feel bad I won't be there and think that this format is the only thing that would bring me to Brooksvale had I been in the country. It sounds super-fun.

Hopefully we are in Ireland by then....

I know what you mean Becky. We have the same problem anytime we try a 'more interesting' format (to us serious orienteers anyway). It's super frustrating.

Does sound super-fun, and was hoping to make it, but between a few not-orienteering things (whoa!) happening on the weekend, doesn't quite work for me to come... bummer!

Relay = less time orienteering, more time hanging around = less fun unless you know lots of people will be there that you want to hang out with + annoying waiting around while your partner gets lost = waste of time = less fun than individual courses. Also local meet relay = not many people show up = no atmosphere = no fun.

Also preregistration = organization = nuisance.

I was thinking about signing up to run the whole darn thing, by the way, until you canceled. That dodges the issue nicely, but 17-20km isn't for everyone (or even for me unless, as it looks like, the weather is cool). And then it was going to be annoying not starting until really late because of the handicap system, so I held off signing up. (Plus flexibility is good: given shoe clone's busyness at the moment, I didn't want to commit to coming in advance.)

Well you didn't have to register in advance, you just would have known your start time before turning up if that was the case.

But yes, not even sure if you're around this weekend now, but you're still welcome to run everything. The courses were still planned for the relay, so they're generally quite different for the low number of controls.

I'll be running a relay this Sunday!

The QOC Beer Chase

Except its a motala rather than a team relay. And there's the beer, usually a nice amber draft acquired by the resident Marine vet Don Davis. Plus BYO BBQ and picnic afterwards.

Does this mean they're way less uptight about drinking alcohol outside in your region? That sounds like fun!

Sometimes that can be an issue, but there are ways around it. This year the start/finish is at the park caretaker's house, and he happens to be a QOC member and the mapper, so its all good. Other times when they've done it at Great Falls NP which doesn't allow alcohol, they have the start/finish across the street at the local VFW hall - which most definitely does allow alcohol - and just pop across into the park to run the loops. And at Mckeldin State Park there is a 20x20 foot concrete pad in the picnic area that is the only place in the park where you can have alcohol, so that works out perfectly.

The annual QOC Beer Chase is awesome. Some of my best races have been there, although last year I MP'ed on the last loop and threw away the win. Beating Pam James in a drink-off at Great Falls once is the highlight of my orienteering career. Its been all downhill since then. My favorite part is the fact that I'm never one of the first off the start line. Middle of the pack if I'm lucky. Epunch queen Valerie Meyer is often the first one off. Not sure how far back this race goes, but at least back to when QOC was primarily a Marine Corps club.

Shouldn't that be "MP'ed on the last loop and threw up the win"?

Yes, I can guzzle pretty darn fast for some reason. Too bad I I don't know where I am going once I turn over my map (with or without beer). Fun event. Fond memories of people doing silly things on courses often designed to confuse ("windows" or lots of criss-crossing). Then there was the year I almost came to blows with a guy who cheated on the beer splits.

I have been training for the Beer Chase without realizing it. But, it is my favorite event of the year. And the US Relay Championships is the most important event of the year.

Had I been in the area I would definitely have attended your meet Becky--I love relays!