Flying Pig 2011 Cincinnati Ohio US

Flying Pig was a debut event for VO2 Orienteering Team and start of my O-season. My trip to Cincinnati began with locked keys in the car and minor problems at the US border. I was waiting for a long time to participate at this event, so I was happy to get out of Toronto city and was enjoying my travelling no matter what.

Day1
I had a great warm-up at model map around Miami University campus. From the start of my first middle course of the year, I had to take a sec to check for the best route to CP1 (left or right). I went right. Running from the top, I saw another CP, which was just 50m higher than mine. The Fool’s Day course had some tricky spots :) I had pretty clean run till CP9, when I took a straight route. I realized the mistake only when compared the splits :( Forest at area CP8-12 was really similar to the map in Ukraine- Stalker. I felt motivated to run harder, which was a main reason I did a mistake at CP14. I should go right closer to the building. The rest of the course was nice running. I finished 5th with 9sec to 4th and 29sec to 3d place. I was really happy with my race because it is my 1st middle course in few years, which I ran without major mistakes.


Day2
Long Classic- US Ultra Long Orienteering Championship

I have raced Long course not Ultra Long. I did not want to race 20k course because I had GRR 30k next weekend. My long course was 10.5k simple course with the road running route choices. It was boring to run for some time, but after mistake at CP12, I realized that this course was about a clean run and test of my concentration. I failed it. Good catch by the course setter. So from CP11, I did not realized that there is a trail under electro lines, I went left and met with horse riders and their dogs- lost some time. Passing the electro line, I was so negligent to the course, so I started to think how the forest in Cincinnati is similar to my home forest in Ukraine and ran into the parallel stream. In 2 min, I realized that I got caught. Oh, well better now than later ;) I finished 2d behind Serghei Zhyk, who is in a good physical condition and should be in the US National team this year.

Day3
Another middle course-> 5.2k-170m-21CP. It was a great day for orienteering with +14 and sun. Same as at long, I came right on my minute before the start. I ran in the pace where I really enjoyed my orienteering. I tried to push few times, but each time, I get stuck at rose bushes. The area was really interesting with lots of horse/bike trails. During the course I stayed focussed and was running clean. I finished 7th, but the feeling and enjoyment of the orienteering was priceless.


It was a great racing weekend for me and for VO2 team. We got 5 people representing the club. In best 2 out 3 races: Serghei Logvin got bronze at M20, me and Andrei Logvin finished 5th at M21 and M40, Eugene Mlynczyk and Galyna Petrenko got 6th at M40 and F21. It was a great start and lots of fun.

"Nothing Comes for free" -Spring 30k Raid

GRR 2011: "Foreigners" Nick Duca and William Hawkins

First of all I would like to say thanks to Mark Adams and GHO (Dontgetlost.com) team for such an adventure on all of the Caledon maps. I did not know that they connect so well :)

Next is the team performance. We finished second overall with only few seconds behind and it is after 3 hours and 15 min of the race. As Nick mentioned, we had a lead (~5min) for all 30k till the last kilometre, but lost it at the last route choice to the last CP.

Lastly about my performance, I started the race with the Nick's words: "Nothing comes for free"- he said them when we were planning our route choices and strategies before the race.


The start was on the line-O, where most of the people was chatting and positioning their teams. After the 1st CP, we started our regular Orienteering course. As long as routes to CP2-3-4 and 5 were really steep and icy, and my choice of shoes was not the best for it, all teams were not far away from each other. CP5 was on the top of the really steep hill. As Nick said "Nothing comes for free", I knew that after that hill we can gain advantage on the flat area and we should not waste it for nothing.

I was really slow on that icy hill, but when I heard that teams started to make jokes (about me being too died after only first 30 min), I knew that it is the moment when they are discouraged and I should push. At the same moment, I heard Nick shouting to me to tell them the "F" word and start pushing. I think I got my wings :) We ran crazy to CP6 and CP7 and got 3 min gains right there.

As I wrote on my last blog note before, my main focus for this year is psychology of the race. I think it is the key for a good orienteer to feel your-self and to know how to react in the particular situation. Our competitors got distracted and we used it.



After CP7, we had Line-O again- that’s where I started to look at the map. I want to be honest; I did not have good winter trainings and not fit yet to such 3+hour of adventure. Most of navigation was done by feet and Nick (who as a local knew few spots). Next part was Score-O and Matrix, after which we had the long run on road to the last map. I ran out of my water- the reason that I read that we will pass water station several times; I thought it will more than twice. My lesson here is to take the water when you can, but not when you ran out of it ;)


Last map- I have a good feeling that not only I was in my team, who thought that we were done, so we did not push and walked on the hills to CP17. Plus, we were slow on route choice to CP 18 and even started to chat to other half-raid teams. "Nothing comes for free" comes against us now. After running around the lake, Nick saw another team catching us, so panic started (at least for me). Before that point, I was hoping not to do any fast moves to avoid cramps b/c I was running for 5k without the water already.


"Click" moment: in a sec, our team started to rush, lost its confidence and focus on the course. At that point (in my opinion), our team was about placing not about clean navigation. We agreed before that we will run to CP 20 on left route to trail, around the lake and trail again- done. But as feet said, at that moment he could not remember about that route choice, so we ran to the right. I was struggling behind my teammates, and even though I knew we are doing a mistake, I could not do anything, but just moving one leg in front of another :( We punched last CP20 only 1 sec after competitors. We got still a chance to win, but I think misunderstanding in the way to the finish killed our chances (we were too disorganized). But really, coming strong from behind is more motivating than trying to run away after thinking you have already finished the course.

So, even thought I saw better prizes from GRR and Hammer raids in the past, I still want to thank for the lesson that "Nothing comes for free!"

I am back to blogging ;)

It is a long time since I have reported my orienteering adventure on this blog. After my injury last September, I took some time to think about my goals for short- and long- terms. I have decided to take navigation and physical out of my main focus for 2011. There are several psychological/mental barriers that stopped me from performing even better in 2010. As many professional orienteers comment that it is about a mental focus on a course, I have decided to spend some time to deal with such issues. I will focus more on mental preparation before/during/after the race rather than on technical and physical conditions.

I believe I should comment about the change of my blog. On December 2010 few great Ontario orienteers gathered together and decided to create a new orienteering club in Central Ontario based on Toronto, Aurora, Newmarket cities. We named it “VO2 Orienteering” with a slogan “Run to the Max.”




VO2 max is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual. The name is derived from V - volume per time, O2 - oxygen, max - maximum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VO2_max

After five out of six Winter Thomass series races, VO2 team was leading at club ranking, and even though VO2 finished second with a few points behind the club, which won it 4 years straight, our team did a great job with only few members. VO2 cooperated with Ukrainian Orienteering Club, which raised its membership to ~40 members. I will expect to see more members coming as soon as the real spring comes and orienteering season starts.

In the end, it will be interesting to see how my new focus will cooperate with a developing of a new VO2 team.
See you in the woods ;)

The toughest "Raid the Hammer" so far

Map#1:
The event started with 3 mass-starts 2min in between and only one runner from the team. I started first because I had to go to the farther CPs (B and E). There was a small delay on busses, so I did not have time to warm up, but still managed to punch both CPs first. On CP#1 (meeting CP) I was waiting for Nikolay Rybkov (6th place in Toronto Marathon 2010 - 2.37.28), who came 1-2 min after me, and Nick Duca (Canadian Orienteering National Team member) came little bit behind after his mistake at CP (A). So, we left CP#1 on 16th place and 6 min behind a leader. In the next 20min, we caught back all teams except leading team.

Map#2: Nick missed info about CP#2, which was moved from original place to exchange maps point; plus, it took some time to relocate too (we had only one map, so I could not lead). We got passed by another team, and we were third at that time. But after CP (A), Nick picked up the pace and we started to move faster. We got lucky to pass the railway just before the train, so we did not lose time on waiting.

Map#3A:
This part of the course was really hilly, rocky and slippery. We had to cross the river several times and the water there was really cold. My muscles felt exhausted from that climbing; so, I got my power gel. The only good news was that we dropped a minute to a leader (we did not know that both teams were running together).

Map#3B:
That map was flat. It was perfect timing because I got tired of climbing, and I was really happy to use my long legs on those trails. Really fast, we got team2 and tried to leave them behind, but lost ~1min on CP#11 (I still believe it was in a wrong re-entrant). We finally got team2 on CP#12A and ran away on a different route choice to CP#13. We did not stop on CP #13, which was food/water station, with only one reason- to lose team2 from our tail. It was funny to see Nick and Nikolay running non-stop through that station full of all people, when I could not find/see CP flag to punch it. We did lose the tail thanks to rough vegetation to CP (C), where I broke my brand new Adidas pants. Running to CP#14, I thought that this race is over, but in the same second I saw leading team1 on the top of the hill. I got really motivated; I ran that hill like I did not race for 2 hours before. I saw team1 crossing the road, so it was only a minute difference. We got the team1 on the Map#4.

Map#4:
I got really tired and exhausted when we got to map4. I wanted to take it easy for few CPs and then run away in a way back to map3B. But Nick’s experience told him not to give any chances to other team. He punched CP#15 and started to run to Cp#16 so fast that I barely keep up with him. On CP#16, we could not see team1, so we took time to recharge/rest. I realized that I broke my compass, but still wanted to lead in my pace. We did ok on CP17 and 18, but I got frustrated close to CP#19, where were a huge path, which was not marked on the map. I did a small extra loop, and team1 caught us back. In our way to CP#20, Nick and Nikolay ran forward and I got behind, when I got caught by Robbie Anderson, who passed me and started to slow me down. I got really “pissed off,” so I got my second push and ran like crazy for whole way back to map3B (that trail between maps is ~3km). My team got the best split there with around 3 min lead.

Map#3B (Finish):
On the way from Cp#21 to our last matrix Cp (A), we saw team1 coming down to CP. I knew that it was around 3 min lead already. It was funny to see my teammates stopped on CP#22 for food and water, for short talk to volunteers and other teams. I was happy to see them so relaxed after 3.5 hours of a tough chase. We jogged down to finish (even though I checked our back few times- just to make sure). So, our team “Foreigners” won with little under 5 min lead - 3.44.28. According to GPS, we ran 30k; there are only two teams, who ran it under 4 hours. It was a great experience and good lesson from Nick – NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Results: http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=93

Organize is fun, get injured is not!

The last few weeks were quit a ride for me. After Canadian Orienteering Championship, I was really busy with organizing two last TOC Wednesday Night trainings. My first WNT was in Earl Bales Park (right map) where I set the same course as I had on Summer Training Camp http://vimeo.com/15346460 There were lots of positive feedback and few families came back next week again!

My second and last 2010 TOC WNT was in Taylor Creek East. I presented a new updated map, which included some new parts that were never used for orienteering before. The main course included middle (left) and sprint (2d map). On both trainings I had 35+ participants. After the training, TOC had a pizza party, and I was happy to see more than 10 juniors there. Some of them represented TOC at Ontario Orienteering Championship in Hamilton.

All my next week I spent for organizing Turkey Trot event.
Review of this event by Robbie Anderson (a winner of $100 main prize): http://teamcanadaorienteering.blogspot.com/2010/10/turkey-trot-2010.html I, personally, did not have a chance to control this event on Sunday because I got injured day before during course setting. I had spent 2 hours in hospital, where I got 5 stitches on my left low leg (little bit under the knee).

I did not run for a week. On eight day, I went for 20 min run and felt very sore next day. After one more practice, I felt discomfort; so, I took stitches out by myself.

And in a day, I was racing Ontario Orienteering Championship in Hamilton. My first race was World Ranking Event- Sprint. I did my best and finished 6th. Such a result could be a lack of energy or even a fear to get injured again, but I can say for sure there was lots of climbing.

I skipped Middle course and ran Long on Sunday. I finished 6th again with few minutes behind third place or 1st Ontario. After the race, I saw that I lost 3 min on the first CP, which was a long leg. I lost on speed and small mistake in the middle of the leg. The rest of the course was really clean. Results and maps are here:
http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=221&Itemid=263
In the end of the day, my coach and I are happy with my results. Hamilton area is phenomenal orienteering terrain and with this year new map, it is truly a gold reservoir for Canadian Orienteering. I am sure that we will see lots of great juniors and elites coming out from Hamilton (GHO club) in a few years.

PS: I got great news that my comments for COC long were posted on North America Orienteering newspaper :) Super happy!

Athlete is nothing without coaching/training

I realized that I was writing about my-self and did not mention about my coach. I am a lucky athlete, who does have a real coach, who can listen, analyze and provide valuable feedback. I have a huge personal respect and trust to this person.

When I compete, I try not to put down, first of all, my coach and only than my-self. For the last 1, 5 year, my orienteering and running shapes have been improved in my-own eyes and I start having fun in the forest. I wrote it before- “More fun you have, better your results are!”

My coach is Andrei Logvin. I believe he is THE BEST and most knowledgeable Orienteering coach in Canada or even North America. This year his athletes got 3 medals in the most competitive groups at Canadian Orienteering Championship in Ottawa. Serghei Logvin got Silver at Sprint M18 and both of my medals (Silver at Sprint and Bronze at Long M Elite) are his achievements too. He does spent lots of time to coach Serghei and me; and his price for that is personal performance. I promise that next year will be much easier for Andrei to deal with us (b/c we are better with every training), so he can fully compete at COC11 in Yukon. But so far, Thank You very much for your time, energy and trust!!!

My next post will be about positive and negative sides of organizing O-events.

Second in Canada or 50/50 Sprint

It is almost a month after COC10 is over, but there is no even a day for me not thinking about that Sprint race. I spent lots of time to analyze what happen and why I get so far behind a leader. I asked myself what could be done differently and why I did not do so. There is only the part of my analysis:

As soon as I get to the sprint area, I realized that there are lots of buildings and most of the choices will be 50/50. I knew I should not stop even for a sec. I was starting the last, so I tried to avoid the finish area because there were announcements about present winner time. I changed and warm-up perfectly as I planned. I did not feel any pressure; it felt like it was training. I had some empty feeling though.

I started behind the building across the finish area. As fast as I turned around the building, people started to scream. I ran straight and was hoping to run so in the woods, but they were too green and I followed the path on semi-open area till road and to CP#1. CP#2 was easy to come back to field and run downhill with fence corner as an attack point. CP#3 was the most surprising for me. I lost on it ~15sec to a leader. I ran hard till the trail and uphill till the flat, than right on the boulder. I probably should go straight as a leader did, but I remember it was a rocky area, I still do not understand, how? CP#4 was easy. CP#5 too, but on a way I checked 16 and 17. From CP#7 I could go right or left. I went in the way I should not stop (left), plus I should not stop on CP9 after. It was a smooth run. I lost to a leader ~ 1-2 sec there on speed. CP#11 was my only mistake at this race. I should not cross the line. On CP#14, I checked the legends and I knew that the flag is in the bottom, so I stayed low and picked it up with no lost. CP15-16-17 was same routes as I ran before. Coming to last CP, I saw many people were cheering for me, so I pushed hard (5 sec to a leader :).

I punched last CP and started to finish, but I realized I did not see a light flash (b/c people was taking photos) and I did not hear a noise (b/c of announces that I am running for the top place). I was so focused on punching all CPs clear that I even did not realized how, but I turned and punched it again. I lost few sec there, but it was not close anymore.
I lost around half a minute on a 2.8k course. It is a lot. I was losing 1-2 sec at almost each split. I could not run faster- b/c of sickness I had few days before or not training harder. I had cleanest Sprint race of my life at NAOC (9th place overall or 5th North American with 2 sec lost to 3d), Sprint Chase was phenomenal race (I won it with 15 people running in 1 min chase), and COC Sprint was another perfect race, but just not my day.

It is a right time to go through it and move forward for Ontario Champs by GHO (Long and WRE Sprint), US Classic Champs (total of 2 long courses) and Hammer Raid 25k in Hamilton, as the last race of the year.