As August comes to a close and temperatures begin to drop I get the sense that there will be a lot of nervous energy and excitement in the OK homeland this year! It is still a bit early for really serious discussion over the big winter events (e.g., speculating on whether the Wallenborgs will make an appearance at Late Night), but just the time to start planning and anticipating the big fall lineup...

While the Possum Trot is, technically speaking, a PTOC meet, when all is said and done it has always been the case that OK dominates the final standings. Do people really think we can continue on like this year after year without so much as a "peep" from our neighbors to the east? Will they ever just say "enough is enough", the Possum Trot is closed to further entries? I've heard nothing like this, mind you, and far be it for me to start such a rumor! Perhaps PTOC has some surprises in store... what if they have some kind of "dark horse" entry (say someone who is a really good sprinter who can pick a favorite OKer to follow around the course only to sprint past him for the victory?) Maybe PTOC has a secret development program that they have been running right under our very noses, and plan to unveil such a program at the Possum Trot III? (remember the chinese women distance runners). Are we really prepared for such an eventuality? Think of the embarrassment that would ensue from such an attack! Then there's some ever darker possibilities. What if PTOC arranged for an accident on the eve of Dan's Possum Trot debut?

What can OK do to prepare for the Possum Trot and attract a large contingent of OKers this Fall? What do we know about PTOC's own preparation for this event, and how can we ensure that OK continues to dominate? How does one go about preparing for a goat?

-- mook (everett@psi.edu), August 23, 1999

Answers

I expect that OK will have another strong showing at the Possum Trot. But, as the event grows it will become tougher and tougher to dominate the results.

It would not surprise me is SLOC has a strong contingent. Rich Ruid is a very strong runner (check out his results at the Hardrock 100- miler if you have any doubt). Rich can also read a map. He will be tough. SLOC also has some lesser known runners who can put in strong runs. In fact, a strategy that just might work would be for a group of SLOCers to run the Possum Trot like a "team time trial."

We should also assume that some big-names from beyond the mid-west will be there (don't forget the Possum Trot has always had at least one runner from the New England O' Club). Who might that big-name runner be? Platt? Bone? Scarborough?

The last thing Mook asked was how to go about preparing for a "Goat." I think you need to put in a couple of runs of more than 90 minutes in the 4-6 weeks before the event. It is best if these runs are in tough terrain (some hills and some rough footing). As with any O' event, it helps to do some intense armchair map reading in the weeks before the race. Finally, the Possum Trot rewards detailed planning of the most mundane details. For example, before the race you should have thought about things like: what sport drink you'll have before, during and after the race; and how you'll carry your spare compass.

Maybe OK will organize a pre-Possum-Trot-long-distance-training- session in the weeks before the Possum Trot?

-- Michael Eglinski (meglin@juno.com), August 23, 1999.

Ah yes, SLOC... we should probably keep an eye on SLOC. While not exactly known to travel across the country to o-meets in droves, the Possum Trot might just be their meal ticket (or stepping stone) to the big-time! A good showing against OK (ie. staying within, say, 30% of the winning time) could launch the career of more than one SLOCer from near obscurity to one of the all-time great goats. I think SLOC could pose a significant threat if they choose to treat the 'Trot seriously and send a strong contingent. Also, they could be smarting on Sunday after getting blown out at the state chumps. Does OK need any more reason to prepare carefully?

I was intrigued by Spike's assertion that to prepare for a goat one must take all the small details into account (what sports drink to use, before or after...after?) Spike apparently takes a spare compass on the course too. I've never done that before, but possibly for a goat it would be useful, with all that pushing and shoving that goes on in a mass start. Has any OKer broken a compass before?

Since my own goat debut is pending, I'll have to do some goat preparations. I'm always looking for good suggestions. Perhaps the US long chumps is a good preparation. I also found a web page devoted to this type of event, aptly named Billygoat, but it doesn't have a great deal of information, atleast yet.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), September 08, 1999.