The
unspoken rule of writing stories after big o-relays says that if you were
running in the team which narrowly escaped morning mass-start and even further
than that, was disqualified, don’t be in hurry, take your time,
let first the podium teams reveal all of their joy and glory and only then
bring all the ugly details of your well-predictable defeat)
Since my first
Tiomila in 2001 I’d gone through many occasions on different legs which are
worth to remember. Probably the strongest memories of all are still kept from
2010, then after great runs made by my teammates from Tampereen Pyrintö I
started out on 9th leg in the lead, with Kalevan Rasti and SK Halden
at my back. That year we ended up 4th.
But
currently (or finally?)in 2014 I’m not hunting for any relay glory and just
helping my modest club to do their best. For the first time in my life I was
running 10-Mila in a team which consisted of 2 different clubs: Rasti-Kurikka and
Ylistaron Kilpa-Veljet, 50/50. Our try a week earlier in FinnSpring-relay with
Tapio run 1st leg and me 2nd had proved reasonable and
was welcomed again.
According
to 10-mila leaflet 2nd leg this year almost completely belonged to daytime and
required no extra-light. But while warming-up I had noticed that barely
everyone in the area had headlamp! “Wow,really?! Maybe they know something I
don’t?” In quite a hurry I had found our coaches and after brief discussion put
a small light on my head. Felling of security is still prevailing in our sport!
Tapio run a
cool race and arrived to exchange gates right on schedule. This time that
meant +4.51 and position 125.
