Possum Trot IV

Eric Buckley report

Once again, a great meet. I’d have to say this was the best Possum Trot yet. It was interesting to try your terrain without the snow for a change. I don’ t really have much in the way of comments aside from “keep up the good work!”

I thought I’d give you a synopsis of my race; do with it what you will. I also posted it (in pieces) to the OK site. I found it really exciting to be involved in such a close finish, even if it was “out of the money,” so to speak.

I was surprised by how fast the pace was from the start. I barely had time to verify that the herd was moving in the right direction, much less navigate. Up to control 3, I just followed he train, steadily losing places. By 5, I had decided to settle into my own pace, and was at the back of the lead group of about 15.

On the way to 6 the lead group finally relented and the thick vegetation separated the runners. I took the trail most of the way so I would have a good attack point at the trail bend. The strategy paid off as I was in and out quickly while many wasted time trying to relocate in the dense woods. Leaving 6, I decided (as did just about everyone) to skip 7 and 8. I would have preferred to keep one in reserve, but the distance saved was too great to pass up.

The route to 9 was also thick so I picked up the trail at the creek crossing and followed to where it turned southwest. I then had only a little more green to push through before hitting the open area that led to the control. I had been by myself for the leg, but coming into the control, I met Gary Thompson.

I ran directly at 10, 11, 12, and 13 and hit them cleanly. Interestingly, Gary (who never uses a compass) was following terrain so we would split leaving each control, but then meet again at the next one.

On the way to 14, I drifted left into the thick stuff and paid dearly for the mistake. By the water stop after 14, Gary was a minute ahead of me. I was surprised to learn I was in sixth place because I hadn’t actually seen myself pass anyone. It must have all happened in the low visibility surrounding 6.

I thought 15 was easy, but apparently it wasn’t since several people made the parallel error of hitting the small pond instead of the quarry. I didn’t realize it at the time, but Gary was one such victim and I passed him here.

I continued running straight at controls. The exception was 17 where I preferred the longer route through the field to 400 meters of carnivorous vegetation. The move also had psychological value: after the mistake to 14 and then two hilly legs to 15 and 16, I had dropped back to my “St. Louis” pace of around 9:30 per kilometer. Running through the field forced me to get back to a speed more appropriate for the open terrain.

Coming up on 20 I made the classic mistake of stopping too early. Convinced that I would be able to see the bag from the reentrant, I ran most of the way down to the lake and then back up before crossing over to search the spur. By the time I found the control, Gary had caught me along with Orlyn Skrien and Dave Frei. This was particularly disappointing because I knew that both Dave and Gary could outrun me and I wasn’t sure I’d get another chance to shake them.

We took the road to 21 and then split as I went straight at 22 while Gary and Dave went back to the road. Orlyn, still recovering from his foot injury, had dropped back on the road run. Coming over the top of the hill I saw Gary coming up the other side and realized that he must have overrun the control. I turned left and got there just after Dave punched. Dave and I went left to take the road around the marsh, but Gary decided to gamble and cut straight across. Although his route was nearly as fast, the difference was enough that Dave and I were clear of him after hitting 23 cleanly.

Dave and I ran together through 24 and 25, with Dave taking a small lead through the field on the way to 26. I decided to go left of the stream and found it quick going. Dave, who followed the other side of the stream system, drifted too far right and I met him coming back as I was leaving the control. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to toss him a taunt as we passed. He responded by sprinting hard enough to catch me before we got to 27.

I led into 28, but misread the vegetation and wound up 50 meters to the north. As I turned around, I saw Dave moving quickly towards me. I asked if he had found it and he tried to look puzzled, but couldn’t contain his laughter. I knew he was on his way out so I ran back to get the control.

Dave had chosen to cut through the thick woods to the field to the west and then have clear running to the finish. I decided that my only chance lay with taking the shorter line through the eastern field and hoping to find a quick route through the medium green vegetation halfway to 29. As I left the field, I lucked out in finding a deer track that offered easy going through the first 50 meters. I then ran down the streambed and with one final push crashed through to the field on the other side.

As I climbed over the east-west fence just before the parking lot, I spotted Dave off to my left. We both tried to pick up the pace knowing that whoever punched 29 first would probably win. I was running too fast to read the map, but I gambled that there would be an opening in the fence. Dave hopped the four-foot fence quickly, but I found the gate and got to the control first. I didn’t even have time to drop the punch before Dave grabbed it out of my hand. I ran back out through the gate while Dave, who hadn’t noticed it, climbed the fence a second time. I knew better than to let up, though, as Dave has an excellent sprint. Indeed, he came within a few steps of catching me.

My fourth place finish was the best I’ve had in four attempts at the Possum Trot. Personally, this performance was one of my best and the first time I’ ve put together two solid runs in one weekend (kudos to Orienteering Kansas for hosting a fun short course meet on Saturday).

I continue to be in awe of people like Mark Everett, Mike Eglinski, and Rich Ruid who can maintain sub 8:00/km for such a long event. The Possum Trot winners list is beginning to look like a “Who’s Who” of US Orienteering. I really get a thrill out of competing against such fine athletes and finding out that they are also such outstanding people. I’m already looking forward to next year.