Discussion: Daze 6 - The always incredible One Cowboy Relay!
in: Laramie Daze (Aug 1–6, 2014 - Laramie, WY, US)
Jun 27, 2014 6:38 PM
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Laramie Daze will end this year with the One Cowboy Relay at Diamond Bay; usually it ends with the Rocky Mountain Goat, but we are switching things around this time since the Laramie Daze is being held in conjunction with the US Classic Championships. Who knows? Maybe ending with the One Cowboy Relay will prove to be the way to go!
This year's One Cowboy Relay will be run very much like last year's event. Each runner will run 5 loops, with the first 4 loops taken motala style (different loop ordering for different runners) and a common last loop. The race will be about 1 km longer than last year, at 6.3 km, but is a good bit flatter with only 155m of climb. Running will be fast, but some of the navigation may be more demanding, particularly in the last bits into some of the controls. Misses will certainly be more costly. This race will probably more fun than anything else you could do in the world on August 6, 2014. Some people may not even be able to stand it, and will need to come off their race exuberance by re-running the course several times. We hope there will be cattle but we can not guarantee it. We can guarantee there will be the traditional crystal One Cowboy Relay prizes to the top finishers. Yee-haw!!!
More information is at the website, and most of the information for Laramie Daze is now in more or less final form--though things can always change (just to keep you on your toes.)
And here's something else: at the end of Laramie Daze this year, after the last dazed cowboy orienteer has staggered in from the One Cowboy Relay, any participant who wants can come up to me and tell me how much they didn't enjoy Laramie Daze, and how if they could do it all over again, they would do something else instead. And when they are finished, I will smile and do my best Bob Dylan impression, and tell them: "I don't believe you." ; )
Well, we'll see about that. At this point, things are pretty much ready to go, and all fingers are crossed that we all will have a super good time in the Laramie Range!
This year's One Cowboy Relay will be run very much like last year's event. Each runner will run 5 loops, with the first 4 loops taken motala style (different loop ordering for different runners) and a common last loop. The race will be about 1 km longer than last year, at 6.3 km, but is a good bit flatter with only 155m of climb. Running will be fast, but some of the navigation may be more demanding, particularly in the last bits into some of the controls. Misses will certainly be more costly. This race will probably more fun than anything else you could do in the world on August 6, 2014. Some people may not even be able to stand it, and will need to come off their race exuberance by re-running the course several times. We hope there will be cattle but we can not guarantee it. We can guarantee there will be the traditional crystal One Cowboy Relay prizes to the top finishers. Yee-haw!!!
More information is at the website, and most of the information for Laramie Daze is now in more or less final form--though things can always change (just to keep you on your toes.)
And here's something else: at the end of Laramie Daze this year, after the last dazed cowboy orienteer has staggered in from the One Cowboy Relay, any participant who wants can come up to me and tell me how much they didn't enjoy Laramie Daze, and how if they could do it all over again, they would do something else instead. And when they are finished, I will smile and do my best Bob Dylan impression, and tell them: "I don't believe you." ; )
Well, we'll see about that. At this point, things are pretty much ready to go, and all fingers are crossed that we all will have a super good time in the Laramie Range!
Jun 30, 2014 4:47 PM
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All courses have undergone one complete round of test running, and I am happy to be able to say that on a basis of these test runs, that the International Cowboy Orienteering Association (ICOA) has preliminarily awarded 2014 Laramie Daze its highest rating: Five Spur status.
My test running confirms what I had already suspected: that compared to any of the previous One Cowboy Relays, this year's One Cowboy Relay will be more challenging. It's not that it's hard; if you do the right things and keep your head up while holding a good line, the controls will be there. But if you are sloppy....well, sooner or later you will be forced to ante up and pay the price. But then, sloppiness always costs time. Sometimes the time drains away on an ongoing basis, as you run slightly longer routes or zig-zag by varying amounts where you should be running as straight as possible, and it doesn't *feel* like you're losing time, but you are. And sometimes the time loss is theoretical, where sloppiness translates to increased probability of a mistake, and the time loss only materializes when the mistake occurs. Either way, sloppiness does not pay, whether running fast as a bee across the wide open short grass prairie or whether running through the subtle forested kimberlite areas that much of this year's One Cowboy Relay will take place in.
My test running confirms what I had already suspected: that compared to any of the previous One Cowboy Relays, this year's One Cowboy Relay will be more challenging. It's not that it's hard; if you do the right things and keep your head up while holding a good line, the controls will be there. But if you are sloppy....well, sooner or later you will be forced to ante up and pay the price. But then, sloppiness always costs time. Sometimes the time drains away on an ongoing basis, as you run slightly longer routes or zig-zag by varying amounts where you should be running as straight as possible, and it doesn't *feel* like you're losing time, but you are. And sometimes the time loss is theoretical, where sloppiness translates to increased probability of a mistake, and the time loss only materializes when the mistake occurs. Either way, sloppiness does not pay, whether running fast as a bee across the wide open short grass prairie or whether running through the subtle forested kimberlite areas that much of this year's One Cowboy Relay will take place in.
Jun 30, 2014 5:45 PM
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I hope I'm not the only one that thinks the ICOA award should look a bit like this
Jul 1, 2014 4:48 AM
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That's nothing short of amazing! The actual formal certification is a sheet with all the appropriate verbiage plus an embossed seal which looks almost exactly like the one rosstopher drew up. The only substantive difference is that the colors used in the seal are Cowboy Brown and Cowboy Gold.
Jul 1, 2014 6:28 PM
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I have added some additional information at the event web site about the course over-printing.
Jul 10, 2014 3:56 PM
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The record for One Cowboy Relay finishers is 54. With 56 cowboys (and cowgirls!) already registered, this looks like a record teetering on a 1m precipice/cliff/rocky feature. I begin to wonder if the 72 sets of maps printed and ready to go will be enough. One thing for sure: this race is going to crack like a whip! Yee-haw!!
Jul 11, 2014 12:06 AM
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When my boss asked me why I was taking time off during the busiest time in the office, all I said was, "One just doesn't miss the One Cowboy Relay!" I think this was the easiest time I've ever had when asking for a time off.
Jul 12, 2014 9:43 AM
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I see the World Champs organisers have learnt from Laramie Daze and organised some cattle to feature in their broadcasts.
Jul 20, 2014 11:25 PM
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Formal test running of the One Cowboy Relay course was completed earlier today. We are pleased to be able to announce that this course has achieved certification as 5 Spurs
by the International Cowboy Orienteering Association (ICOA). This is the highest level of certification that is awarded, and indicates a quality level that many aspire to but few achieve.
Our calculated winning time for the 5 loop, 6.3 km course is 40:33, assuming there is at least one properly fierce, hardened, veteran warrior runner who knows how to handle those pin punches and who isn't afraid of a thin band of aspen krumholtz. And--most importantly--can hit all the controls dead on with cruise missile accuracy.
This will be a fitting end to Laramie Daze week, a real orienteering highlight!
The test/certification team is pretty well worn out by the beauty of the area, not to mention thin air and hills that beg to be run up, and they will be headed home tomorrow. And no doubt when they have returned to their lives of suburban pell-mell, now and then they will fall asleep and dream of a far away frontier place, where there are no red lights, just cattle stampedes and the occasional lone moose...
by the International Cowboy Orienteering Association (ICOA). This is the highest level of certification that is awarded, and indicates a quality level that many aspire to but few achieve.
Our calculated winning time for the 5 loop, 6.3 km course is 40:33, assuming there is at least one properly fierce, hardened, veteran warrior runner who knows how to handle those pin punches and who isn't afraid of a thin band of aspen krumholtz. And--most importantly--can hit all the controls dead on with cruise missile accuracy.
This will be a fitting end to Laramie Daze week, a real orienteering highlight!
The test/certification team is pretty well worn out by the beauty of the area, not to mention thin air and hills that beg to be run up, and they will be headed home tomorrow. And no doubt when they have returned to their lives of suburban pell-mell, now and then they will fall asleep and dream of a far away frontier place, where there are no red lights, just cattle stampedes and the occasional lone moose...
Jul 24, 2014 6:07 PM
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Will there be a Laramie Daze in 2017 around the time of the total solar eclipse? Its a bit off the centerline, but if maps need to be made farther north, its not too early to start. Now is also a good time to buy any gear (filters, lenses, etc) you might want. Those things will be in short supply as the event gets closer.
As novel as orienteering in an eclipse might be, there are better things one could be doing during those 2.5 mins. Perhaps a race before or after.
As novel as orienteering in an eclipse might be, there are better things one could be doing during those 2.5 mins. Perhaps a race before or after.
Aug 6, 2014 10:57 PM
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I don't know if it's always incredible or not (artistic license for some amount of hyperbole?), but today's One Cowboy Relay and finale to the 2014 Laramie Daze was quite the scene for some hyperbolic activity in the forest and meadows of Diamond Bay.
When the winds had finally blown all the dust away, it was Sergei Zhyk touching the Daze Control first, and thereby claiming back-to-back victories as top cowboy. Well done!
Many thanks to all who took part in Laramie Daze yet one more time. I hope you all had fun sampling a bit of what is hidden back off the roads in the Laramie Range.
Results to follow later.
When the winds had finally blown all the dust away, it was Sergei Zhyk touching the Daze Control first, and thereby claiming back-to-back victories as top cowboy. Well done!
Many thanks to all who took part in Laramie Daze yet one more time. I hope you all had fun sampling a bit of what is hidden back off the roads in the Laramie Range.
Results to follow later.
Aug 6, 2014 11:05 PM
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walk:
Thank you Mikell. A great week and we are so glad we made it back. Wonderful. Now you can enjoy summers again.
Aug 6, 2014 11:14 PM
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Mona:
This was the first time I attended all days of the Daze and I can say for sure it was very much worth it! Great views, great courses, great camaraderie! I wish we had about 4 of those a year. Thanks Mikell!
Aug 6, 2014 11:29 PM
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Troy and I had a fantastic time! Now that it's all over, it feels like the letdown on the day after Christmas...
Aug 6, 2014 11:53 PM
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I have to agree with all, because this was an orienteering Christmas.
Thanks for the most fun 6 day event anywhere!!!
Thanks for the most fun 6 day event anywhere!!!
Aug 7, 2014 7:17 AM
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Results One Cowboy Relay--weather perfect with light cowboy breeze, forest conditions delightful, cattle pleasant and not ill-disposed towards O' runners, finish located properly at top of hill.
Sergei Zhyk 37.23
Wyatt Riley 38.44
Robert Killian 44.12
Mikhail Martemyanov 44.34
Tom Svobodny 44.46
Theodore Good 45.12
Troy Bozarth 45.49
Clinton Morse 45.58
Peter Zakrevski 45.59
Nadim Ahmed 46.51
Bill Langton 50.14
Steve Gregg 50.29
Kseniya Popova 50.53
Charlie Shahbazian 52.02
Ron Birks 52.59
Ben Langton 56.38
Riley (team) 59.01
Peter Golde 59.44
Mike Poulsen 60.11
Stina Bridgeman 60.36
Gavin Wyatt-Mair 60.56
Ioana Lindsey 61.12
Sam Listwak 61.32
Craig Weber 62.48
Sue Kuestner 67.27
Eric & Quincy Rosenzweig 68.17
Mark Parsons 68.37
Brooke Mann 68.44
Kris Beecroft 68.52
Kathleen Lennon 70.05
Albina Zakrevski 70.37
Brendan White 70.52
Peggy Dickison 74.37
Peter Goodwin 75.51
Leonid Shatskin 80.15
Steve Dornseif 81.53
Lyn Walker 82.01
Hayden Morse 82.21
Rob Wilkison 82.55
Sam Bali 83.01
George Walker 84.01
Paul Clatterbuck 93.05
Yuri Zakrevski 93.07
Donna Fluegel 94.01
Shelagh Pepper 97.01
Valentina 98.01
Virginia Church 103.01
Robert Minto 114.36
Linda Moore 116.01
George Wood 117.01
Steve Fluegel 119.01
Bob Ellis 131.38
Sergei Zhyk 37.23
Wyatt Riley 38.44
Robert Killian 44.12
Mikhail Martemyanov 44.34
Tom Svobodny 44.46
Theodore Good 45.12
Troy Bozarth 45.49
Clinton Morse 45.58
Peter Zakrevski 45.59
Nadim Ahmed 46.51
Bill Langton 50.14
Steve Gregg 50.29
Kseniya Popova 50.53
Charlie Shahbazian 52.02
Ron Birks 52.59
Ben Langton 56.38
Riley (team) 59.01
Peter Golde 59.44
Mike Poulsen 60.11
Stina Bridgeman 60.36
Gavin Wyatt-Mair 60.56
Ioana Lindsey 61.12
Sam Listwak 61.32
Craig Weber 62.48
Sue Kuestner 67.27
Eric & Quincy Rosenzweig 68.17
Mark Parsons 68.37
Brooke Mann 68.44
Kris Beecroft 68.52
Kathleen Lennon 70.05
Albina Zakrevski 70.37
Brendan White 70.52
Peggy Dickison 74.37
Peter Goodwin 75.51
Leonid Shatskin 80.15
Steve Dornseif 81.53
Lyn Walker 82.01
Hayden Morse 82.21
Rob Wilkison 82.55
Sam Bali 83.01
George Walker 84.01
Paul Clatterbuck 93.05
Yuri Zakrevski 93.07
Donna Fluegel 94.01
Shelagh Pepper 97.01
Valentina 98.01
Virginia Church 103.01
Robert Minto 114.36
Linda Moore 116.01
George Wood 117.01
Steve Fluegel 119.01
Bob Ellis 131.38
This discussion thread is closed.