Comments on: Route To O-Season 2020: Day 10

By: Terje Wiig Mathisen

Terje Wiig Mathisen — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:36:28 +0000

I think Knut’s explanation must be correct, just like him I really expected the right-hand alternative to be the fastest, but just a little bit faster than left, with straight as the worst. There is actually one more possibility and that is related to the starting time of the fastest ladies: If they started relatively late, then there might have been some partial “elephant trails” through one or more of the green patches. I know that I was also surprised last year when people on my own course had run a route along a green & wet valley, without losing any time.

By: Jan Kocbach

Jan Kocbach — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:58:24 +0000

Thanks a lot, Knut – very nice to hear your thoughts about the leg!

By: Knut Wiig Mathisen

Knut Wiig Mathisen — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:02:38 +0000

Thanks for including this interesting leg, I was technical delegate for the course in this event, supporting course setter Ole P. Aasrum from organizer Larvik OK. It was surprising to me that straight was best, but although the running speed of the competitors in women elite in this event vary quite a bit, and many were running in groups at this final part of the chase start event, I do think now that the conclusion is correct. The reason is probably, as usual, a combination of length and climb. Running left f.ex. gives you some 10-20 meter more climb than going straight as Elena Roos, the road section is actually quite hilly! And the entry to the control from left is uphill in tough and slow terrain. Going right only saves you little bit of climb 5-15 meter, and it is longer than it looks due to the Z-swing you have to take when passing the powerline. Moreover, the entry to the control is either green, hilly or long depending on how you decide to approach the control in the end of leg on this right route-choice. In conclusion, even though it is for sure possible to run the right route-choice with a good leg-time, here you should stick to the old route-choice recommendation: “If you are in doubt about running left or right, go straight!”