I took a look at the start list for 7-manna. It's going to be a good bit tougher than last year, when IKHP had 3 teams in the first 11 places. Especially the Turkish team looks tough. (Whoever heard of Turkey in the context of orienteering before???)

Blekinge was the home stomping ground of one of the best orienteers ever, Kent Olsson. There are a lot of areas in eastern Massachusetts that are quite similar to typical Blekinge terrain, and Harold Parker St. Park is nearly a perfect fit. The forest is quite diffeent though. One neat thing is that places in Blekinge terrain can be incredibly stony. Fortunately these areas tend to be in limited bands, rather comprising an entire huge area.

It doesn't look like there's going to be any live coverage of 7-manna though, which is too bad.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 11, 2001

Answers

Time to speculate!

Looking at the Sju-manna start list, I see a lot of clubs from the south of Sweden with low start numbers. The start numbers usually are based on the results from the prior year (e.g. IKHP is number 1). But, with the Turkish National Team with a start number 25, I'm thinking I may be mistaken.

Looking through the start lists, I see a couple of strong teams (only some of them have the actual runners listed). Leksand looks great. Farum Tilsvide is a good club (no runner's names are listed). I don't see IF Thor. IFK Goteborg has a team. I think James Scarborough is in Sweden and usually hangs with IFK-G'borg. But, they've only got one team entered and I doubt James would place in the first team.

IFK Lidingo has a team entered. They've got so many good runners that they're a threat in any race. But, I know Sju-manna is not a high priority races for the club this year. The runners from Lidingo will also have their minds on the Elite-series races on the weekend. So, I'm not picking Lidingo to win.

I'll have to go with IKHP. Of course, who knows what to expect from the Turkish National Team.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), April 11, 2001.

I seem to remember the start field in 7-manna last year wasn't that big, plus if a club ran last year but isn't running this year, then there bib number (= finishing place from last year) would be open. All this by way of explaining how the Turkish Team could end up with bib number 25.

I'd like to see the complete team lists before speculating about hwo might win, but it is interesting to me to see that IKHP has slotted Matti Envall as the anchor. Matti anchored the last IKHP win in Tio- Mila, stepping forward to take on the responsibility when other of the runners were a little reluctant to do so (there can be a lot of pressure!) Matti has had injury problems off and on over the past few years, but when he's healthy and well trained, he's a thoroughly dangerous runner.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 11, 2001.

I'd like to see the complete team lists before speculating

It is never too early to speculate! But, I agree that it would be best to wait until we know who will run. I poked around the IFK Lidingo home page trying to find any information about who would run Sju-manna. I didn't find the info. I discovered, however, that it is not a very high prioirty race for them.

Did you get the IKHP line up from the IKHP home page? Or do you have a secret connection?

One thing that will be interesting to see is how the teams handle the night orienteering. I think the first three legs are night legs. So, night orienteering will be important (but not as important as at Tio-Mila). Since it has 7 legs (7="sju") Sju-manna results could be useful to look at when we speculate about Jukola in June.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

It is now about 1 p.m. in Kansas City. The first legs will begin in one hour 9 p.m. in Sweden. After the first three legs, the race stops for the night and then re-starts (using a chase) at 8:45 a.m. Sweidish time.

Looks like the might be some on-line coverage via OK Orion. The guestbook looks like one possibility. Go to OK Orion and click on "gastbok."

http://www.okorion.com/

And the event page might be a source (there is a report that was posted about 15 minutes ago). Check out:

http://www.okorion.com/pask/

The event page will probably be all Swedish (so Swampfox and I might have to help out with translation). The guestbook is probably mostly Swedish -- but I bet if someone asked them to post a couple of english updates, someone in Sweden will.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

As of 2:40 HDT, on-line coverage is underway!

http://www.okorion.com/pask/natten.html

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

3 HDT. It is the middle of the first leg.

In the women's relay, IK HP (Karin Hellman),OK Vivill and Ulricehmans OK are in the lead.

For the men, Ronneby OK 1 (Jon Engqvist), OK Dacke (Putte Wilhelmsson) are in the lead and OK Hällen is 15 seconds back. IKHP 1 is 2.5 behind and there is no note about Lidingo (after Lidingo lead at the first radio control).

The rain has begun to fall.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

I heard from Goran O. earlier today. He said that the 7-manna field is indeed much stronger this year and that the reason was because of the Elite Series following on this weekend.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

2 very strong teams--Malung 1 and Orion 1--got off to abysmal starts on the first leg, both well more than 10 minutes off the pace. Ugh...

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Wal-Mart warned of weaker sales during March. Oops! I guess that doesn't have much to do with 7-manna!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

The on-line reporting has run into a formidable problem--the reporter providing the feeds to the internet poster had to go home to take care of their children! This unanticipated disaster could prove to be catastrophic but the organizers are struggling to deal with the crushing blow thusly delivered and are endeavoring to locate new troops for the task.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Who is Putte Wilhelmsson? Could he be the next Jörgen M&arng;rtensson?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

The source for the on-line coverage updates has gone home for the night! This is a disaster. But, the person doing the web page is hoping to find a new source. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

I think (but I could be wrong) that Putte Whilhelmsson might have been (and for all I know might still be) romantically involved with Gunilla Karlsson (who ran for OK back around 1988-89). I think Gunilla runs for Vaxjo now.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

My sources say that Putte and Gunilla were seen sharing a furtive romantic moment right before the start of the relay. Perhaps that is Putte's secret?

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

OK Orion is back on-line! Ronneby is in the lead and three minutes back is a pack that includes IKHP and Lidingo.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

My sources say Putte is ranked 152 while the next best OK Dacke runner is 348... it is looking like OK Dacke may have played their trump card early. Look for them to fall back soon.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

At the end of the night legs for the women (the women have 2 night legs and two day legs), IKHP has the top two places!

Meanwhile, everyone is wondering about the Turkish National Team. So, far we haven't seen any news.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

It looks like the Turks were dead last after the first leg...77th. I'm beginning to wonder what all the hype was about.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

Typical Turkish strategy is to lull their opponents, and then when the troop offload their horses and such and are ambling around the beach, next thing you know there's a Gallipoli-like massacre underway and another Churchillian career is shattered. So don't write off the Turks yet--just wait till daylight!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

After a year of laying low because of taking time for another round of child-birthing, the IKHP women have got off to a super strong start in 2001, and you can wonder if they might not be able to fight for a win in Tio-Mila! It would be a first for IKHP's women.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Niklas Bratt, the guy running the on-line coverage, has just announced that his help at the meet site has left for the night. He has to give up the on-line coverage.

The on-line coverage was appreciated. We'll look for stronger coverage next year, though!

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

Oh no! Now the on-line reporting is going to give up entirely. Rats! Rats! Rats! (But there won't be any rats in the official Swampfox headquarters in Watertown in a month.)

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

I read somewhere that the "pain" of childbirth makes women tougher. A lot of women suddenly improve once they have a kid.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

Preliminary results from the first leg:

http://hem.passagen.se/fkvittus/7manna.html

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

A lot of women used to die during child-birth, which would make it a pretty extreme method of "toughening". Of course, today the same sort of thing happens, though the process is much more drawn out and takes place over 18 years or so, and it's called parenthood and applies to both sexes.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Spike and I must be following different 4-damer because the one I'm reading about only seems to have 1 night leg, which is what I also remember from being ther last year. According to the results, Stora Tuna is leading (by a few seconds) after the 1 night leg, with IKHP in 2nd and 3rd. But IKHP 3 is right up there also, just a few seconds behind IKHP 1 and 2!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

When I saw those pictures of the Turkish women giving foot washes in the team tent, I thought about all the opportunities that women in some third world countries miss. It is a shame.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

After 2 legs, IKHP 1 and 2 (Men) were in 3rd and 4th place and IKHP 3 was in 14th. Ronneby 2 leads by 2 1/2 minutes, and then there is a string of about 10 teams very close to each other. Meanwhile, back in Laramie, the weather Gods have decided yesterday's blizzard here wasn't enough (even though all the highways were closed) and now it has just started snowing again. Probably better here than Karlskrona.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Now IKHP has Fridolf Eskilsson running on #1, Mats Granstedt on #2, and Jon Pettersson on #3. Jon is a junior (or maybe M20 now) and became infamous last year by collapsing less than 1 km from the Finish in the Swedish Long Champs even though he was with the lead group when he collapsed, and he was ultimately unable to even finish! Mats is famous (within IKHP circles) for being able to get into top racing shape after perhaps 2-3 runs and a little chatting in the locker room. Nobody is able to fanthom his secret but the Granstedts obviously have the right genes. (Mats' older brother Jan was always just a hair away from being on the Swedish team and his other older brother Bo has also been a very steady and competent orienteer, though not quite as good as Jan.) Fridolf runs like a moose with an enourmous stride and as long as he's not hurt then he can make other runners feel pain. He's been perpetually ranked in the 30's or so on the ranking list.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Spike and I must be following different 4-damer because the one I'm reading about only seems to have 1 night leg, which is what I also remember from being ther last year

My mistake. I looked at the meet info, but didn't look closely enough. It is just one night leg.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 12, 2001.

Swampfox, are you referring to the legs run tomorrow? Are there 4 day legs? Who is anchoring the IKHP team?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

Goran says he will be getting some telephone reports from the rest of the night.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

The women have 3 day legs and the men have 4. Matti Envall is supposed to be anchoring the #1 team, though there are often last minute changes you wouldn't here about unless you were actually at the race.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Could this simply be a ploy by IKHP? Maybe they put Matti there to lull everyone else into a false sense of security, then they will unveil the Devil Runner at the last moment?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

Well, this is interesting! I've just heard that apparently the second Turkish runner got too close to a moose and was attacked in the forest! He wasn't badly damaged (the moose, I mean, because you knw the Turks are awfully good at wrestling and are terrific weight- lifters) but the incident thoroughly confused the Turkish runner who has now been back to the Finish area 3 different times to get re- oriented.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Even though I'm not there, I can tell you what is going on in the IKHP tent. People are huddled around trying to keep warm in the night, and some are drinking hot things like coffee. There is a lot of ankle taping debris off to the sides of the tent (actually there are probably 2 tents). There could be banana peels on the ground, too, and if there aren't any yet, there will be tomorrow because that is one of the assigned duties of Andreas Rangert. The Devil Runner is making not so cryptic comments that they are very lucky that the Swampfox is not running a night leg for any of the teams.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Sources close to the situation are now hinting that today the okansas blog will be tackling the TWAR issue head-on. If this is in fact true, it is not something to be missed!

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

All right, I'm here. Quit scolding.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), April 12, 2001.

Does anyone know anything about the forking situation used in the 7-manna? Is there one leg that is unforked or anything unusual like that?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

All the legs are forked.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

I have heard that now ticks are being blamed for the orienteering deaths in Sweden some years back. Very convient and one wonders why Clinton never thought about that. Just blame the pardons on ticks! After all, they can't talk back to defend themselves!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Some 3rd leg results are getting posted. It is Lidingo in the lead!

IKHP hangs in the 3 and 4 spots, with the #2 team getting the upper hand.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

Lidingo has a 5 minute lead over IKHP 1. That is going to be very tough to overcome!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

The first Turk didn't do too badly. Yes, he was last, but up against Scandiavian elites didn't double the leading time. Perhaps around the time I would have taken, and at night, to boot. Better than you might expect from somebody who you thought might be clueless.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), April 12, 2001.

Hey Swampfox, are you going to get rid of that snow by Memorial Day? We're just about melted out here now -- it's finally possible to run in the woods.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), April 12, 2001.

I guess that a lot of the best Turks are living in Scandinavia these days, training with local clubs. I'm a bit surprised they couldn't come up just a little bit closer. I didn't really expect they would live up to their 25 startnumber, but you never know.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

And as for Blekinge being like Harold Parker, I'll just note that Harold Parker ain't what it used to be. NEOC held its club champs there last fall, and it was pretty disappointing the state that forest has fallen into.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), April 12, 2001.

Boy, who knows about the snow! Last night Wal-Mart stayed open an extra hour just to accomodate a late season rush on things like snow shovels, salt, cat litter (for spreading on ice), and Voodoo Chiles. Nobody is sure what the relevance of the Voodoo Chiles were to the blizzard, but they were selling well all the same.

As for a melting date, it's all a gues at this point. I mean, for sure it will all be gone by the next solstice, but otherwise it's tough to say. We've had the longest and snowiest winter in many years here, and no heatwaves are in the offing to lift the siege for good!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Now I am headed outside to go running. I sure hope huge, lanky Arctic wolves haven't stolen down behind the blizzard, hungry and waiting to pounce on sluggishly moving human running forms!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 12, 2001.

Have fun. I'm going to wait until tomorrow, as the slate-gray rain is just too depressing to run in.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), April 12, 2001.

Looks like shorts and singlet weather here. The palm trees outside my window are swaying a bit in the breeze, so it should be a comfortable evening for some intervals along the Rillito.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), April 12, 2001.

A little more on forking at 7-manna. For the girls, the first (night) leg is unforked, but the 3 day legs are forked with each other. For the guys, the first 3 legs (night) are forked with each other, and then the 4 day legs are also forked with each other.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 13, 2001.

After 3 legs, it looks like the IKHP women are going to win, since they have a 5 minute margin.

The IKHP men are only 1 1/2 minutes down after 5 legs, to Ronneby. Ronneby is very good though and that (Blekinge) is their home turf. The Devil Runner had a brilliant run on leg 5 and won the leg against some top names like Tomas Asp and Chris Terkelsson.

He probably ate some bananas recently and even some Mexican food of some sort to get a result like that.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 13, 2001.

IKHP 1 for the women has won handily, and IKHP 2 was 4th, just a tiny bit after the 2nd and 3rd place teams. Quite a good result!

And after 6 legs, IKHP 1 for the men has gone into first, with a massive 1 second lead over Ronneby. I wouldn't say the lead is unassailable however, since those Turks are still out there somewhere even after the moose incident and multiple mis-punchings. You can probably never count out a team from the Middle East.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 13, 2001.

Just like the Devil Runner, Matthias Karlsson won his leg by a clear margin.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 13, 2001.

The last leg runner have been out for over 36 minutes now, and they probably aren't going to take much over an hour, if that. The Devil Runner on anequivalent leg was just under an hour.

So soon we should be able to see if it becomes a double win for Hakarpspojkarna, or if Ronneby can snatch away the spoils of victory. It's all in Matti Envall's hands now. I think he is running against a Russian import.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 13, 2001.

Oh no! The Russian was too good, and got Matti by a minute. Still, 2nd ain't all bad, especially considering 2 of the runners at night didn't go very well. Beginning to look like the club may have to adopt the new proposed name of Hakarpsflickorna!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), April 13, 2001.

Swampfox -- glad to see you woke up early and posted race updates. Thanks.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), April 13, 2001.