Since three of us on the 4-point relay team have already taken the initiative to write up a description of our runs, but one of us hasn't, I thought it was time to close the circle with a little "what if" question...

What if Snorkel wrote in to the OK Forum describing his lead-off leg? What might he say?

I have absolutely no idea what the first (orange) course of the relays was like. That means one ought not expect any description I give of the course to reflect reality. However, I am familiar with Snorkel and his various snorkelisms. I think I can do a fairly good job of describing what was going on in his mind and body during the race. I'll give it a shot anyway.

Snorkel writes:

The gun went off and I saw that OK had drawn a poor start. As number 13, we were farther from the first control than most teams. I hope this extra distance wouldn't decide the day! We ran up the grassy hill towards the west or northwest. Our first control was in a clearing on the other side of a large downhill section of forest. These other guys were really running fast!

As soon as we entered the woods, my back suddenly stiffened up. Ouch! I couldn't breathe or run very well. Uh oh! How's my ankle doing? Ankle seems fine... How ironic it should be that my back, not my ankle, gives us such trouble! The leaders are moving fast and I let them take a lead into the forest. Some of them are going the wrong way! Some have stopped entirely and are now turning their heads about. Are they wondering where they are or are they thinking 'how can I be ahead of OK'? I'm back just a bit as we near the first control. Suddenly Gene flies past me and heads straight for where I think the control is. He spikes the control and is moving quickly to number 2. I'm just trying to keep up with Pam James now.

Number 2 is along a stream and we find it easily. I'm trying to push myself even though my back hurts. Gene is here "reserving" a punch for me at this crowded control. Others are a bit peeved at this procedure and try to grab the punch from Gene, but he won't let them have it. I sail into the control and punch quickly. When I'm done with the punch I clamp it down on the control's material itself and utter a snide comment to the HVO guy standing next to me. I hope OK won't be coming back to this control again! The third control is more trivial, a single tree in a large clearing. We punch there and there's a bit of a struggle for the two punches. The next control will have only one punch. I try to get ahead of some people to reach the punch fast. There's a bit of pushing and shoving at number 4, it's good I wore my spikes today! The guys at the radio call out 113 and little do I know that I've been announced as the second American through this control! In reality I'm probably running around 10th or so.

Number 5 is the long leg. It's basically a route choice between the woods or a longer run around a trail. I go straight through the woods and I think I picked up a little time on the field here. Some clubs have picked a very fast lead-off runners who wouldn't know one side of the map from another. The only way they'll get a good time is by sticking to the trails or following.

We are back out in the fields for number 6, which is trivial. I'm pushing now but not making much progress on the field. There aren't that many people around me anymore. I will have to count on my teammates to carry this day. Hopefully Mook won't blow it again! Some of these guys on the orange course are running 3 minute kilometers and I just can't hope to match that.

Finally we are headed towards the last control. I'm with Pam again and we're pushing a pretty hard pace. Suddenly there's the crowd. My teammates are yelling! I'm going flat out towards the finish. I tag Peggy and she's off in a flash. I was just a few minutes behind the lead. I had an efficient run, it was just slower paced than the leaders. I will have to run some road races soon to improve my speed. Next year or bust!

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 24, 2000

Answers

The gun went off and I saw that OK had drawn a poor start. As number 13, we were farther from the first control than most teams.

I saw this as a good omen...13 was Wilt's number. OK would be running with the spirit of "the big dipper."

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), April 24, 2000.