Croeso – the Run In

Imagine this – you have struggled up hills, down dales, through streams and bogs, fought with brambles, bracken , fallen trees etc. etc.  And you see – just 100 or so metres to go – all taped for you, from the final control to the finish – this must be the easy bit!

At this point you are in full view of all assembled home and away supporters and this bit and only this bit of the course is the same for all 2,000+ competitors.  (When the results are published you can compare with every other competitor on the day) Some clubs have a run in competition and I have seen competitors lurking near the final control before launching themselves into the final straight towards the finish.

It is at this point when your fellow club members, who have been scanning the approaches, suddenly spot you and all manner of hysteria breaks out.  All sports coaches exhort you to ‘run through the line’ – all well and good if you can still even muster a jog at this stage.

To hear the cheers of one’s fellow club members as you stagger to the best of your ability along the run in is one of encouragement and appreciation of one’s efforts.

Croeso 2012 was no exception.  Each club member was duly cheered in – most acknowledged the cheers with a grin and a wave (??)

An orienteer from another club stated ‘you are only a small club but you sure make a lot of noise’.

It was partly this encouragement that spurred Grace into having a go herself and the smile on her face as she was noisily received on the final metres of her white course said it all.

If this is all too much there is a way to avoid it – make sure you are the first club member to finish your course on the day – now there’s a challenge!

Lynn Branford