Discussion: Article on Runner's World Site

An article with a lot of quotes from (and a great picture of) US team members.
Check it out

I love the angle about it being the original obstacle racing!

Just curious, how does one find this article without a direct link? (ie Joe Runner browsing the website for stuff to read)

It's remarkable how in 2.5 years the mudders have so defined the landscape that when explaining orienteering (a 100-year-old sport) to runners (whose sport is a million years old), a journalist finds it necessary to constantly resort to mudderology as the reference frame.

I say pretty much the same thing at the RRS Adventure Runs. Stuff like "orienteering is the original adventure running" and "we've been putting on adventure runs in Seattle for over 30 years."

It's all in what's familiar. Attendances dictate that more runners have done a mudder than an orienteering event. And obviously, more people at a RRS Adventure Run, have been to a RRS Adventure Run than an orienteering meet.

I think saying this actually gives us some cred. We're the original, and not a fad.

I wholeheartedly agree (before J-man has a chance to say it's like introducing Bach as the original Justin Bieber). Most orienteering club members, however, have never heard of a mudder, much less realize that's what the youngerfolk are doing nowdays.

Woohoo! I have Bieber fever! Whoop! Whoop!

I reserve comment (for now.)

Most orienteering club members, however, have never heard of a mudder...

Are you suggesting that most O-club members live under rocks?

I stand by what I said at least re local club members here in the Bay Area, California.

Only under rocks at least a meter high...

i think this is an awesome article! orienteering is a complicated sport to write about and i think the author did a really good job of using athlete quotes to represent the sport.

I agree - one of the best (most appealing) I've read. Great action shot of Ali helps

Respectfully disagree with T/D's characterizations of BAOC members.

Just curious, how does one find this article without a direct link? (ie Joe Runner browsing the website for stuff to read)

Patrick, I clicked "Trail" on the homepage's top menu bar, and then I spotted it when I scrolled down to the "Trail Racing" section.

I guess George hasn't been to many BAOC Board meetings lately.

Usually when I read an article like this, I think "doh! The writer missed the essence of it, they just don't get it."

But I like this one! Thanks to all that provided interviews for it, that certainly helped!