The U Sports Cross-Country Championships, held this year in Victoria, British Columbia, marks the end of the outdoor track season for the McMaster cross-country team.
The University of Guelph’s men’s cross-country team reclaimed their title after being beaten by Université Laval the year before. The Guelph women were not as successful, falling for the first time in 13 years to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. The women’s race was also the first time the championship has been run as an 8km event, as it was traditionally 6km.
Although McMaster’s men’s team was hoping to medal, they finished just three points behind third-place Laval with an overall score of 90 points. The women’s team came in seventh place, improving from their 2016 eighth-place finish.
“I thought the teams raced really well,” said head coach Paula Schnurr. “This years men’s team is the best cross-country team that McMaster has ever had.”
While only two of the competing women had never been to the U Sports championships, five out of the seven members of the men’s team who attended had never competed at the Canadian university championships, including the 2017 Ontario University Athletics rookie of the year Max Turek and newly named U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian Sergio Raez Villanueva.
“We knew we had a young team at the start so as a coach you’re expecting long term development,” said Schnurr. “But we started to see that this team was better than we anticipated and that really showed at the OUAs.”
With the men consistently ranked between fourth and fifth by U Sports throughout the season, finishing second in the OUA, it started to look like the Marauders had a chance at finishing within the top three. Unfortunately they were ultimately unable to pull through.
“They were disappointed but they all ran as hard as they could,” said Schnurr. “They gave every ounce they had and they delivered as a team. As a coach that’s all I ever ask of them.”
Noting that year-to-year consistency is emblematic of Mac’s program, the women continuing to improve even after losing key runners is something that Schnurr is more than proud of.
Although the team will be losing Jeffery Tweedle, who over the last five years has had a major impact on the McMaster cross-country program, right behind him there are a number of athletes who are ready to fill his running shoes. Raez Villanueva and Turek are just two of the talented athletes the men’s team has to offer.
“We have so much depth on our men’s team and they are constantly improving,” said Schnurr. “That is very exciting for our men’s team’s future.”
For the women's team, Schnurr hopes to create that same level of depth that they have on the men’s side. With a few recruits looking to join Mac’s program, they hope to continue to get stronger and do better over the next few years.
As for the offseason, there essentially is none. Now that the outdoor season is over, the indoor track season begins. With their first race in December, the indoor season spans across January and February. After that, many of the athletes will train with Schnurr in the summer and compete in the six meets Mac plans to host in aims to continually progress and be more successful in the years to come.
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If you have gone through elementary school or high school, chances are you have run cross-country in some way, shape or form, but that does not mean you have the capability to compete at the university level.
That is what Jeff Tweedle, fifth-year civil engineering student and cross-country star, used to think before he took a try at running. Growing up, Tweedle played volleyball throughout high school and loved it, but he also knew that his chances to play at the next level were slim.
It was not until the end of grade 11 that the Cardinal Newman Secondary School student was introduced to local track coach Patti Moore of the Hamilton Olympic Club. He started training with the club more seriously shortly after, and did so throughout the twelfth grade.
“I didn’t have that much of an intention of running when I came to Mac,” said Tweedle. “My track times were okay, but compared to the guys they recruit now I was really slow.”
In his first year, Tweedle struggled with adjusting and balancing to life as a student-athlete and had the worst year of his career. Over the summer after his first year, he had the opportunity to train with head coach Paula Schnurr and from there has seen nothing but constant improvement.
Tweedle believes that they took a chance on him, and that chance has been paying off ever since. The fifth-year runner is the McMaster record holder in the 1,000 metre (2:22:58), 1,500 metre (3:45:80) and mile (4:02.05) distances.
“It was just something that neither of us expected to happen and it was just such a big breakthrough for me,” said Tweedle on his 1,000 metre McMaster record he made two years ago at the Boston University Valentine Invitational.
At the time, Tweedle was suffering from Achilles issues and was not where he wanted to be going into Boston. So winning his heat, finishing third overall and breaking both Mac’s record and his personal best came as a huge surprise.
“I was just in shock,” said Tweedle. “I stepped off the track and looked for my coach Paula and we just hugged it out.”
Over the years, Tweedle has had many good surprises on the track, but he’s had bad ones too — as any athlete does. After having a solid start to the 2017 season, Tweedle was in contention to win at the Ontario University Athletics Cross-Country Championships on Oct. 28. Unfortunately, he ended up falling at the five kilometre mark, which set him back from the lead group.
“I had to do a lot more work to close that gap and collect myself after falling,” said Tweedle. “It hurt me a bit physically, but it was more just the mental shock of hitting the ground, rolling around and trying to pop back up to finish the race.”
Tweedle ended up coming in fifth with a time of 30:46.4, helping the Marauders men’s team place second overall. Sergio Raez Villanueva, Marauder newcomer and sophomore, placed second overall with 30:37.3. First-year Max Turek took home the individual bronze and OUA rookie of the year honours with a time of 30:39.5.
“When I was coming in with 100 metres left and I could see Sergio and Max crossing the line I was just so happy for them,” said Tweedle. “It’s crazy to see these guys early on in their Mac careers doing so well. I may be heading out and it may be the end for me, but to see what these guys are accomplishing is insane.”
The McMaster women’s team also came in at a solid fourth place thanks to Melissa Caruso, who individually placed at 11th with a time of 28:40.7 and Emily Nowak who came in 14th place with 28:57.1.
Both women were named OUA second-team all-stars, while Tweedle, Turek and Raez Villanueva were named OUA first-team all-stars.
As his university career comes to a close at the end of the fall semester, Tweedle hopes that it is not the end of his running career.
“I’m not too sure what I want to do after I graduate,” said Tweedle. “I’m leaving it pretty open so over the next year I can take a crack at running and see how far I can take it.”
Working out a deal with bigger track clubs or a running shoe and apparel sponsor would be the next step for Tweedle to become a professional runner. Although once he hangs up his cleats, Tweedle hopes to work in municipal engineering.
But for now, he still has one more race to try to win as a Marauder. His sights are set on the U Sports championships, where both the men’s and women’s teams will be competing.
“[The OUA Championships] wasn’t quite what I hoped for as I was hoping to get a medal and it didn’t quite go that way,” Tweedle said. “But it’s nice to have the U Sports in two weeks. We were ready for the OUA’s, but we’re gonna be even better in two weeks.”
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Liz Chamberlain will be running the New York City Marathon in two weeks, but the journey to the start line was anything but easy. Despite battling an invisible illness after a head injury, she found strength in art and running, and is now inspiring others along the way to the finish line.
Chamberlain is a McMaster alumna, and is working as an x-ray and mammography technologist at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga. The mother of two is also a talented painter and avid marathon runner, two things she didn’t expect to be while studying at McMaster.
In March of 2013, Chamberlain suffered an head injury during a night shift that left her severely overwhelmed by multiple stimuli, including bright lights, background sounds and moving objects. The injury also impaired her ability to read easily and organize and prioritize her thoughts.
By the end of the summer, Chamberlain found herself severely depressed and frustrated from the lack of recovery. She was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and she completed a ten-week Intensive Outpatient Program where she learned the importance of self-care.
"Every move isn't going to be pretty and enjoyable, but in the end, you have to be able to work through it and trust the journey."
Liz Chamberlain
“That program gave me permission to take care of myself, because up until that point in time, I was always a caregiver, I give to other people, I didn’t take time for myself, I didn’t have a hobby,” explained Chamberlain.
Through the program, Chamberlain was encouraged to set goals and take the time to take care of herself. She started listening to audiobooks and do online workshops like Kelly Rae Roberts’ Hello Soul, Hello Mixed Media Mantras.
Chamberlain was also inspired by Brené Brown’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection, to start art journaling, which she found therapeutic.
“That’s when I started out with Cocktails n’ Canvas, which is a local social paint night. I went to one of those with my friend. I was really overwhelmed by the crowds and had some trouble but once I got into it, I found out that I loved to paint… I didn’t expect to have something at the end of the night that I thought I liked,” explained Chamberlain.
It was the first time she had painted since elementary school, but the very next day Chamberlain bought paints and canvases and started making art. She learned self-care and letting go of perfectionism through painting. Now, she’s part of the Cocktails n’ Canvas team and has lead her own workshops.
“There are no mistakes, there are only happy accidents. One move leads to the next move, and even if you don’t like that move, it will lead you to something you will enjoy in the end,” explained Chamberlain.
“You have to work through the mess, work through the ugly stage, and it was one of those lightbulb moments, where I’m like ‘that’s exactly like life’. Every move isn’t going to be pretty and enjoyable, but in the end, you have to be able to work through it and trust the journey.”
Chamberlain’s mood had been improving, but she still was struggling with energy. That’s when she started attending classes at the Stoney Creek Running Room. She not only found an accepting and supportive community, but her fellow runners became like family she can rely on.
“I participated in Relay Race Around the Bay this past spring, I ran 15 km and passed off to another lady, and took a bus back to the finish line to cheer people on. This feeling of family and the excitement that I had and felt from everybody else when the ladies came in, it was amazing. I felt like I belonged,” she said.
Running introduced Chamberlain to new friends and opportunities to expand her art. Chamberlain attended a talk by Darcy Patrick, author of Why I Run, while she was at another low spot in her life. She was encouraged by his book to start using mantras to motivate her while running.
“When things start to get hard then I tell myself that I am strong, I am confident, I am fearless, I am courageous and I am powerful. All of these affirmations help me to get through the hard times in the run,” said Chamberlain.
Patrick was impressed by Chamberlain’s resilience and one day asked her to paint him a piece for the anniversary of his book. He was so impressed by her talent that he decided to make the painting the cover of his upcoming book.
It was a challenge for Chamberlain to start running, she was never an athlete and had struggled with her weight, but with rigorous training and determination, she went from alternating between a running and walking routine, to running 5k, 10k and three half-marathons.
She also wants others battling invisible illness and disabilities to know that they aren't alone. she wants to encourage others to talk about their struggles and relate to one another.
Chamberlain is now training for the New York City Marathon and had been selected as a team member for 261 Fearless, a non-profit that empowers and unites women through running. The historic 42.1 km marathon goes through all five boroughs of the city, with supporters cheering on runners at every corner.
Chamberlain will be running the race with 14 other women, including Kathrine Switzer, the woman behind 261 Fearless and the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967.
“Being somebody who wasn’t an athlete all their life, and being overweight, I feel like I’m really showing people that you don’t have to be in perfect form to do amazing things. Just go out and try it and if you do the training properly, you can do it just the way you are,” said Chamberlain.
Chamberlain’s message is loud and clear; don’t be afraid to follow your heart, just go out there and do it, and trust that journey will lead you to your intended or even better outcome.
Just like how so many people have inspired her, Chamberlain hopes that by sharing her story she will be able to connect with people and encourage others to follow their dreams and inspirations.
She also wants others battling invisible illnesses and disabilities to know that they aren’t alone. She wants to encourage others to talk about their struggles and relate to one another.
“The power of that ‘me too’ is phenomenal. One of the things that Brené Brown says is that shame can’t survive being shared, so if you talk about your shame or what’s making you feel bad, then it actually lessens the impact of it. I think it’s really important,” said Chamberlain.
Chamberlain’s journey doesn’t end at the finish line. She will continue to push her limits, overcome her struggles and be ready for the next challenge, while sharing her story every step of the way through her art and writing on her blog; Embrace Your Inspiration.
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On Oct. 13, the McMaster University Cross Country team hosted their first annual Marauder Bayfront Open. The 7 km invitational was an overall team success, as the men's team came in first overall with a score of 24 points, and the women's team came in third overall with a total of 60 points.
Going into the meet, both the men's and the women's team were ranked within the U Sports Top 10. The men's team ranking fourth in the nation while the women's team sat in tenth.
The Bayfront Open was the first time the Marauders had the opportunity to race on their own stomping grounds. Supported by family, friends and the Hamilton cross country community, the team was more than pleased with the way the event turned out.
"It's always nice to be able to host, especially because the athletes can run in front of their family and friends," said head coach Paula Schnurr. "They raced on a course that we've been able to train on, so the end result was very successful and I think all of that plays a big part in their individual success and their success as a team".
One of the Marauders who really took the opportunity to succeed was fifth-year veteran Jeff Tweedle who placed first in the men's title with a time of 20 minutes and 45 seconds.
"I feel really happy with my performance, it was basically perfectly executed to what I wanted today," said Tweedle. "Overall, our team ran really well too and we saw some great performance today. I am really excited for our team moving forward into the Ontario University Athletics championships".
The men's team’s top five all placed within the first 10 runners. Among the five was newcomer Max Turek, who placed fifth overall and was the third Marauder to cross the finish line for his team.
Although he is a lot younger than most of the top male athletes, the first-year engineering student has been adjusting to cross country at the university level just fine.
"It's a lot harder and a lot faster but I really enjoy the competition," said Turek. "I like to push myself especially with the older guys and run up with them, and so far I've been able to keep up and race really well."
Leading the Marauders’ women's team was Melissa Caruso, a former member of the University of Western Ontario's cross country team, who came in fifth with a time of 24:48. The OUA championship is up next for the Marauders and the former Mustang is confident in the ability of her new teammates.
"I think that a lot of our girls will run well over the long distance and I'm excited to see what we do," said Caruso.
"I think at the OUA championships, the extra kilometre will do our girls well because we are more on the distance side," added veteran Emily Nowak, who placed eighth overall with a time of 25:03. "I think that we can potentially place third, so we'll be trying our best to medal"
Though several Marauders ran extremely well, the tough task of choosing which seven of both men and women will represent Mac at the championships is left in the hands of the coaches. Thankfully, based off the good season so far and the results from the Bayfront Open, they know that whoever they will pick will be putting their best foot forward.
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By: Jennifer La Grassa
“Stand up. Stretch. Take a walk. Go to the airport. Get on a plane. Never return.” This is one of the more popular memes about studying to pop up in everyone’s least favourite month, November. I dare you try to escape the flood of study memes during this year’s exam season. In that sleep-deprived, “what is life?” state, study memes are the university student’s main form of solace. During fall finals the urge to just hop on a plane is almost unbearable. As temperatures plummet into the negatives and the amount of sunlight continues to decline, the darkness of exams is a repelling force that is enough to push anyone onto a plane headed for a warm destination. Thankfully, the force of “you will fail life” tends to be stronger, and usually acts to keep those within the university population firmly rooted.
Believe it or not, as unhelpful as the above tip may seem, there lies within it a noteworthy statement: “take a walk.” Whether you regularly exercise or not, a mere five minutes of moderate exercise is all it takes to enhance your overall mood. Just think of all that this insinuates; actually don’t think, rest your academically distraught brain and let me delve into the realm of possibilities that this statement holds.
All those times that you end up walking during exam season (be it to the library or grocery store) and feel that your chosen method of transportation is wasting precious study time, think of Jim Carrey’s Grinch waving his hairy green finger while saying “wrong-o.” You may just be doing more good than harm to your studying. That stroll you are engaging in is considered to be light physical activity, which not only counteracts many detrimental health risks posed by long periods of sitting, but also boosts your mood and creative potential. Endorphins, which are one of the countless “feel good” substances within the brain, are released during exercise and are active in reward systems to create a sense of pleasure. Numerous studies claim that being in good spirits can enhance your productivity — mix this with coffee and your studying efficacy may just reach an all-time high.
A properly timed workout session of moderate exercise is known to show a more pronounced effect. Regular exercise promotes brain growth within the hippocampal region (a part of the brain dedicated to memory formation) and prevents brain deterioration. Committed exercisers may also find a stronger sense of satisfaction at the end of a workout. Regardless of how much exercise you normally engage in, just know that even small amounts can help. Amidst the countless hours of studying you will undertake during this year’s upcoming finals, do not feel guilty for the many walks you may take to the fridge for another snack. Instead, consider extending this journey into a light stroll around the house before reaching your food destination. The benefits of that walk could be doing more for your studying than the snack you will grab.
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Men's
Blair Morgan
Coming off a strong summer season setting four personal bests on the track, Morgan is in the best position he has been in his McMaster career. The engineer is also in his third season as the Men’s team captain and hopes to lead the team to a CIS medal.
Connor Darlington
Though he is a 1500m specialist on the track, Darlington’s strength over the longer distances is clear. This year’s OUA Championships saw him as an All-Star for the third time, and will be an integral part of the Men’s team in their hopes for a CIS podium finish.
Taylor Forbes
Taylor Forbes spent a busy summer training and competing in triathlon, including racing in the European professional circuit. He finished third at the Canadian National Triathlon Championships and 17th at the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Chicago.
Austen Forbes
The other half of the Forbes’ twins, Austen Forbes also spent the summer competing in triathlon. Some of his summer highlights include a top ten finish in the ETU Triathlon European Cup in Holten, Netherlands, and a silver medal at the Triathlon Ontario Provincial Championships.
Gabriel Ghiglione
Ghiglione took a different approach to summer training, which included running around Toronto pulling a rickshaw and an 83-kilometer trail run through Killarney National Park. He is in his fourth year of a degree in Anthropology, a team representative with McMaster Athletes Care and the President of the McMaster ALS Society.
Derek Van Schepen
Van Schepen’s hard work and high mileage has been key in helping him crack the top seven this year. This is especially impressive given the fourth-year Geography & Environmental Studies student spent most of the summer training with an injured foot.
Luke Charbonneau
Charbonneau had a fantastic run at last year’s CIS Championships in challenging conditions in Newfoundland to finish as the top Marauder. He is managing to balance his Cross Country training around working at an internship as a Financial Analyst in Oakville.
Women's
Maddy McDonald
Acting as this year’s Women’s captain, McDonald has shown her strength as this year’s low-stick. An avid volunteer at McMaster and in the community, she is in her final year of Kinesiology.
Chelsea Mackinnon
This is Mackinnon’s fifth time racing at the Cross Country CIS Championships and plans to make it her best. She is currently working on a thesis project in Anatomy while managing the DBAC Pool and working as a Lifeguard.
Gabrielle Foran
Foran is a PhD candidate in Chemistry, and had an impressive summer achieving four World Records in Joggling (juggling and running) ranging from the 400m to the 5-kilometer events. She also won four Gold Medals at the National Joggling Championships.
Emily Nowak
After spending last year’s Cross Country season in a boot cast, Nowak has reclaimed her place in the top seven. She is enjoying her transition into the new Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program while volunteering with McMaster Athletes Care and the Right to Play Club.
Maddie Benjamin
Benjamin had a successful outdoor track season seeing her set a personal best in the 1500m and is carrying this momentum onto the trails. She is in her final year of completing a double-major degree in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour and Economics, while finding the time to act as a mentor for fellow Varsity Athletes.
Soren Meeuwisse
Meeuwisse is coming to Cross Country from a background in Mountain Biking, competing this past summer in Europe at the 2015 UCI Mountain Biking World Championships. She is completing her first year in Kinesiology and making her impressive CIS debut early in her Marauder career.
Lauren Locco
This second-year local triathlete had a breakthrough season this year to earn her spot in the top seven. Her multisport strength played a part with her successes, despite a hectic schedule as a Nursing student.
Photo Credit: Maxine Gravina
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Blair Morgan has just come off of the most exciting and surprising cross country season of his career, and his success is not stopping anytime soon.
Morgan, a fourth-year biochemical engineering major, finished fourth overall at the Western Invitational meet, and was the first Marauder to cross the finish line.
The final result was close to his initial goal, which was to finish first overall.
“My personal goal was to try and win, so I figured I’d just go with the lead pack and just race from there,” said Morgan.
At the beginning of the race, former training partner and Queen’s Gael runner Jeff Archer took the lead pack out hard, and Morgan tried to hold on to the grueling pace.
Marauder runner Austen Forbes also went out with Archer, so Morgan tried to stick with Forbes for the majority of the race.
In the final kilometre, Morgan was passed by two Lakehead Thunderwolves runners, along with Archer who led the race the entire way.
“It was still a pretty good first race,” said Morgan.
Comparing Morgan’s fourth place finish to his 17th place finish at the same meet last year, his first race of the season was more than pretty good. It was phenomenal.
Last season, Morgan’s breakthrough race did not come until OUA’s, where he shocked coaches and runners alike when he finished sixth overall.
Although he was making huge progress throughout the season, his sixth place finish compared with his 36th place finish at OUA’s in 2012 was both impressive and unexpected.
“It would be nice to have an amazing race at OU’s again, but I think it’s going to be more steady. I think I’ll be up at the front pack from the beginning this year,” said Morgan.
And Morgan won’t be the only Marauder that will be leading out in front.
If the results from the Western Invitational are any indication, the Marauders will have several athletes running at the front of the pack.
At the meet, the top five Marauders that counted towards scoring finished within the top 15.
Following Morgan in 4th, Austen Forbes finished 7th, Gabe Ghiglione finished 9th, Paul Rochus finished 10th and Paul Kolb finished 14th overall.
This adds up to 44 points, which was 31 points ahead of the second place Lakehead Thunderwolves.
This was all done without two of the top three runners on the team, Connor Darlington and Taylor Forbes, both of whom are more than capable of finishing within the top 5 at the meet.
These two runners are planning to race at the Queen’s Invitational meet on Oct. 11.
With this group on the line, winning a CIS medal is more than a goal—it’s an expectation.
“If everyone is healthy and on the line, we’ll have a medal,” said Morgan.
The women’s team also performed very well at the meet, finishing third overall.
Maddy McDonald was the leader for the Maroon and Grey, finishing in fourth place, a feat that got her named the McMaster Pita Pit Athlete of the Week.
Not too far behind McDonald were Kierstin Myers in 24th, Maddie Benjamin in 25th, rookie Erin Mawhinney in 28th, and Gabrielle Foran in 30th.
The Marauders will take the week to prepare for the Windsor Invitational on Sept. 27, where they will hope to keep up with the lead pack and race hard to the finish line.
Photo credit: Clive Morgan
Aurora Coltman
Silhouette Intern
If I say the word “orienteering” what do you think of first? Adventurous exploration? Courageous expeditions? Getting lost? The sport? If you thought of the sport, congrats – pass go and collect $200. Because that is what orienteering is – a sport.
It’s a sport that requires participants to cross checkpoints scattered across rough countryside with nothing but an old-fashioned paper landmark map, a compass, a whistle, a finger chip (that keeps track of time) and a sheet of paper with archaic symbols mostly comparable to Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Useful… if you know what they read as.
It’s one of the toughest sports out there. It’s physical prowess, a whole lot of tactics and a starting strategy — Plus a whole lot of knowing what you’re doing. On Oct. 11-13, this year’s National Orienteering Championships were held here in Hamilton. It was one race a day – the first race, the sprint, was here at McMaster; the other two (the middle- and long-distance race) were out in Ancaster. Races were anywhere from one kilometre for the younger people to ten and up for elites.
Now, why is orienteering such a formidable sport? Because it takes brains. Not that other sports don’t. It’s only that, you can often have someone else do the strategic thinking for you, if not the last-minute, on-the-fly tactics. In the words of a fellow orienteer, “You can’t run faster than your brain.”
The first thing that happens when you flip your map over is you orient yourself. North equals north, the black lines equal north, check your compass – you’re oriented. You’re at the start triangle. Checkpoint 1 is at one towards the east. GO.
Are you still following the thought process? If so, congrats again. You now know where you’re going. But not how you’re going to get there.
Check out the terrain between the start triangle and the first checkpoint. If you know you’ll get lost going in a straight line – like me – it’s simple: don’t go straight. Look at the terrain – can you follow trails, or streams, or that convenient ledge of earth? Follow your trail to where it turns sharply and meets up with a bridge. Before crossing the bridge, you turn right and go straight. Checkpoint seen. Now, you book it to that checkpoint. And guess what? It’s not yours! Don’t pass go, and don’t collect your gold [medal].
Now you’ve got some perspective on the sport. It can be mentally taxing – the stress of getting lost, wandering off the map, arriving late, being last, the frustration of being totally unable to find a checkpoint. When running these races, you don’t see other people, as they happen mostly around large objects – trees, or buildings.
If you deal with that, you’ve still got the physical tax: running in circles, climbing hills, cliffs, losing shoes to boggy mud, fighting burrs and thistles and blackberry bushes. Plunging through icy water. There are all sorts of trials. Some races can be five kilometers and take two hours.
Orienteering is most definitely among the toughest sports out there, so if you’re up to the challenge… GO. Win yourself some medals, and enjoy the races.