The Tucson Orienteering Club had a really fun meet today, 7/15/07. The event was held at Greasewood Park in Tucson's west side. The race had us running on trail, off trail, up hill, and downhill. There is no better way to spend your Sunday morning than with your adventure racing teamate, a map in one hand, and a control card pinned to your shirt.
The "O" course today was in a format in which 25 controls could be retrieved in any order. Ranking depends on whether 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 total controls are retrieved. This format is great since runners have to choose their route carefully to maximize the time it takes to retrieve controls. We had a great time running around the park and picking off controls. A job well done to the course setter, Ludwig Hill. Also, thanks to Brad and Yvonne Poe, local Adventure Racers, for directing this meet. We appreciate you both taking the time to make this meet happen.
To top it off, we had an interesting wilderness experience in an urban park! As we sped down a slope of loose rock on our approach to control #5, we noticed a scattering of animal bones that were picked clean. Not an uncommon site even in an urban park setting. As we moved in to punch our control card, we noticed an interesting animal hide laying on the ground. Our first reaction was a simple "What is that?" Upon closer examination, we noticed the large un-mistakable claws of....a bear. Sadly it was a bear cub that probably lost its way from the mountain ranges (Rincons, Catalinas, or maybe even the Rita's) that surround us and became the victim of coyotes one night. Although we hate to see local wildlife this way, it was an experience we won't soon forget.
For everyone out there that is interested in Adventure Racing but aren't familiar with navigation, joining the local orienteering club is a NO BRAINER! For Tucson's club visit http://www.tucsonorienteering.org/. See you at the next meet!
Train Hard, Race Even Harder
Rick M.