Thermenland Open or what is that funny object in my pants?

For those of you unfamiliar with East and Central European orienteering, the Thermenland Open is a three day orienteering event organised every year around the area of thermal springs situated in South Western Hungary/South Eastern Austria/North Eastern Slovenia. This year it was in Austria. The weather was like at Kew Gardens in the tropical plants bit. 30+ Celsius with 80%-90% humidity. Total nightmare for me as I cannot breathe, never mind run in such weather.

Anyway, on the second day I had a bit of a nightmare as the Final Details said nothing about linear parkig, the start was 1500m away, but having arrived late it was about 3000m by the time you took into account running in from the car, then running back for the race number which I forgot, then from about 2oom along the route to the start I realised that the only way I could have a description sheet is if I tear back to the Finish. Why on earth they couldn't put them at the start, who knows? Then when I got to the Start I had to go behind a bush, upshot of this was that a few minutes later I couldn't find my compass. Panic, panic, no luck! Start run without compass - two bloody long and technical legs later my 4 minute woman catches me, which didn't cheer me up one bit. Then I realised that something is tickling me on the bum. Guess what? It was the compass which obviously slid off my thumb as I was pulling my O bottoms up behind the bush and lodged in my pants. It took the time of those two long legs for it to slither down enough for me to feel it. The rest of the run was uneventful, except that I was so exhausted by the stress of it all and the weather that I could hardly run.

As it is nearly July I am getting to the total panic mixed with bouts of depression stage about this damned World Champs. It is a lot of work at the best of times, but when the maps are about a year late and with the exception of my race day one, which is absolutely perfect, all the rest is utter crap, I am beginning to have trouble sleeping. NEVER AGAIN!!! SHOOT ME IF I EVER AGAIN EVEN RECOGNISE THE WORD TRAIL-O!!!

On this happy note I will go upstairs and scan my maps from this weekend for your edification. There was a night sprint on Friday evening, which was tremendous fun. The map had two sides: one was of the town of Furstenfeld at 1:5000, the other a labyrinth they built in the Main Square at 1:500. Needless to say that the height of entertainment was watching competitors doing hilarious headless chicken acts darting from flag to flag looking utterly bewildered. I wish I took some photos, it would be really funny.

Day 2 was the ominous compassless run mentioned above, Day 3 was a chasing start which I had to miss to due to a funny turn in the heat after Day 2. We went home early, which was a shame, but I really didn't feel well.

Now we are back to Ber and hopefully life will be a bit less hectic for a short while.