Blog: Riga Spring Rogaining through the eyes of Riga Adventure Team-Isostar

Original publication date: 13.04.2016

Last weekend I opened my 2016 competition season in Riga Spring Rogaining. If I had to describe the race in 2 words, I would say: “beidzot pavasaris”. If in 3 words, then: “ļoti garšīga zupa”. If in 1500 words, then…

Since my xRace team Jānis and Sindija wanted to start in the four-hour distance, but I have to run in the Paris marathon in a week, I am looking for another candidate for the two-hour rogaining. Endomondo couldn't help but notice that Nellie just flies during training, so without a moment's hesitation, I approached her first and she agreed.

Although I considered the competition as a good long training, a few days before the start there was also a little stress, because all the knives will already start in the big groups, so it might happen that the training speed will be enough for two hours.

Nellie had prepared properly and this was the first rogaining where I planned the distance as a professional should - with a frame, clips and threads. We immediately abandoned the forest and gardens - we will be able to run around the city enough. We marked three potential variants with an air line of about 20 kilometers and the possibility to cook a little with the last points in the final part, and we chose the one with the most points - a total of around 60.

We go to the start corridor, where a queue has already formed, because quite a lot of participants have applied this time. Everything is going smoothly and a few minutes before the start we are ready for battle. Vēl Jānis says a few sentences to everyone and my 2016 racing season will start right away.

3..2..1..start.

Clause 22 – MySport. Since I used to work in Purvciem for 4 years, I knew the location of the point without orientation. I had expected that there would be a lot of traffic, as usual, when running on it, but the vast majority had chosen a different plan and we ran together with only 4 other teams - the rest were their own fault. We were able to check in without fuss and move on. On the way to the point, the first kilometer comes after 5:15 - I ask Nellie if it is too fast, but she laughs that everything is fine and we can continue.

Clause 52 – parcel in Plăvnieki. According to the theory, it's simple - straight to the intersection, to the right, to the far intersection, over to the left and the point will be in the middle of the park. It was just so uninteresting and simple in reality. The second kilometer also reached the point - again something around 5:20. I asked Nellie again about the speed, but she said that I should run as fast as I want at the beginning and then let's see how she feels at the end. Said done.

Point 64 – clearing near the construction pit in Pļavnieki. Everything goes smoothly until, running on the easiest path, 100 meters to the point, a farm that I had not noticed on the map blocks our way. Nothing to do - you have to make a detour around the fence. At the point itself, I didn't immediately know which of the piles of gravel is where the point is, so Nellie has to correct me. Here was a commitment to run everything without mistakes.

Clause 44 – nine-storey courtyard in Płavnieki. In the bushes right after the previous point, we met the most colorful fans of the competition. The three “brīvmāksliniekus” who had lit a fire right there in the middle of the path and were enjoying the sudden attention from the map-wielding weirdos running by. We didn't want to sit down yet, so we quickly passed by and continued to look for the next point.

Point 25 – Lubančika McDonalds. Without unnecessary adventures - fast and straight.

Point 23 – something industrial. It's a long and monotonous run to this point, so we have an opportunity to discuss the progress. We understand that everything is fine so far. We are going a little below plan, we feel good, so we decide to continue in the same spirit.

Point 62 – pedestrian bridge near Škirotava. Again a long and easy over run. We don't see other teams on the way, but at least I don't worry at any moment that we have planned something wrong. On the map, the dot is in the middle of the bridge, but Nellie says the legend is the clump of trees under the bridge. It confuses me a little, but at the bridge itself, we ask a team running towards us about sausages, and they enlighten us that we can go down under the bridge in the middle. At the point we are met by a security guard, who is a little worried and explains to someone on the phone that some kind of competition is taking place near him, and tells us to climb back up the same stairs. We have run 10.5 kilometers and are ~3 minutes behind the plan.



Point 28 – Sorting station. There are more people, everyone is so relaxed, some even take selfies. We only had a sense of work - it was training and entertainment. Gambling has prevailed again. At the point, Nellie admits that it's getting a little harder, but I reassure her that she only has 50 minutes left to run. Motivation works.

Item 67 – bushes on the waterfront. We are quickly at Moskavas Street. We run over it and together with one team of guys we find a point - I even see small pairs and I am confused, do we really have to get the new sneakers dirty? Anxiety is misplaced and we get through with dry feet.

Point 29 – yard in Ħengarag #1. Swish, swish and dot in hand. Let's move on.

Point 31 – a pond near the Daugava promenade. We have already run a little over 15 kilometers and we have about 35 minutes left. The new sneakers are starting to rub the toes a little, but the closeness of the finish does not make you worry about it too much.

Point 26 – yard in Ħengarag #2. Nellie at the point for the first time offers to pass a little while the jelly is eaten. We use the walk to discuss the final part. We decide that if we reach the 41st point 20 minutes before the end of the time limit, then we will run after the valuable 60th point - if not, then we will not run.

Point 61 – The most famous bushes of Ħengarag. The straightest path again leads past the construction site, so this time I am doubly careful and immediately choose a slightly longer, but completely safe route - it pays off, because “šortkatam” is in front of me again.

Point 41 – nowhere between Krasta Street and Daugava. The run to the point is getting very long. Time passes and we understand that the valuable point will have to be cut off without options. Mierinu Nelliju that it is also difficult for me and at the same time I thought that in this shape I have nothing to do in the marathon, but that is only in a week - until then I will have time to rest and take it “uz svaigumiņu”.

Point 21 – the beginning of the South Bridge. Nellie admits that her legs have remained very heavy. My motivation doesn't help much anymore, but it seems that the time limit is sufficient, so I don't worry about it.

Finish. This is where the fun part begins - the closer you get to the finish line, the less time you have left. Getting to Azur is also tricky. On the way there are all kinds of barriers, stairs up and down. From the top of the bridge I see that the last minute is starting. Janka is already supporting Nellie from downstairs. Barriers down again. As we cross, the commentator announces that there are 30 seconds left. We run to the finish line…20 seconds…run faster…10 seconds…sprint…5…4…3…2…1…run the last barrier and clock in at 3 seconds after the time limit, which means one penalty point. Nellie is worried about it, but I have a gut feeling it's going to be okay.



We finish with the 6th result in the 2-hour overall and the 1st result in the mixed group, which was a pleasant surprise for me. Saulītei had to announce the sad news that the trip to Talsi had to be postponed for an hour, because the award had to be waited for. First world problems…



 

In general, I'm glad that it was a pleasant start with Nellie: there were no mutual arguments, unnecessary stress and other miracles. If such an opportunity arises, I will gladly start with him one more time.

Next, the Paris Marathon, xRace and other adventures, but about all that when the right moment comes.

Reprinted from: https://ozzolins.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/rigas-pavasara-rogainings-2016/