Colorful reason to compete at 2012 world masters indoor meet
Forget Bloomington and masters indoor nationals. If you compete at indoor worlds in April 2012, you get to see the magical green sunsets of Jyväskylä! That’s in Finland. The website logo is a clever branding. Who can resist the azure night sky? Anyhoo, if you have the dough, you can take a trip to northern Europe three weeks after nationals. BTW, WMA says: “Remember to register before 12th February 2012.â€
Not sure if this is sunrise or sunset — or just the way the sky glows.
26 Responses
In april days are just a few minutes longer than in my home country, Netherlands. Will that give different colors??
I have not yet decided, but likely I am not going. When some of my US friends plan to visit Holland afterwards, don’t hesitate to come by for a work out with me!
“Azure”? Jade or emerald would have worked.
I’m considering Finland because they have all the outdoor throws, too. Definitely not going to Bloomington.
apparently US participants register via the LOC website – not via USATF. And you can use paypal – and no doubt pay an extra fee for using that. Or a credit card – but remember that most US credit card charge an exchange fee. There are a couple that do not. With the Euro very low vs the dollar – as of yesterday$1.30 for one Euro -compared with the much more expensive Euro for Lahti and Riccione – not a bad time to travel to the euro zone – assuming of course that one has the money for airfare and always expensive hotels in Scandinavia.
It is a 4 lane track so it should be interesting to see how many heats are needed in the ever popular sprints especially for the younger age groups.
I am in full dither mode – and looking at airfare.
We do not register via the LOC site. If you go to the USATF masters indoor calendar (search the calendar) and click on the meet it says entries must be submitted to USATF. They just have not activated the link. In years past they have been slow in doing this for WMA Indoor and then everyone enters at the last minute! I am hoping to be ready for this one if I can stay away from the surgeon!
As for the Jvyaskyla logo, maybe it’s supposed to be the “Northern Lights”!
Jim: I am not so certain about that – I looked at the LOC website – and it appears that US citizens can register via that – but I did not attempt to do so as I am still not certain about going. I guess time will tell – as usual USATF is slow to activate or inform us about registration. Hopefully they will do something before Feb!
I hope you can go – take care so that you do not give the surgeon your business!
I raced the World Masters XC-ski Championships in Rovianiemi, Finland 2007. All I can say: Finland highly recommended, great food, great accomodations, great service and I will be heading back there again to race the World Masters XC-ski Champs which they have been awarded again for 2016. All in all I would say the Finns got it together.
The green glow of the northern lights!!!
They may be nice colours in the morning – however they will be plenty of snow and it will be freezing.
The Finns will put on a fantastic show and everything you need at hand.
Sadly to say Better than the Worlds in Sacramento which i must admit was a little disappointing.
Bring it on JYvaskyla !!!
Lahti was very well-run and no doubt Jyvaskyla will be too. Traveling planning tip: do the last leg of the trip from Helsinki to Jyvaskyla by train. It’s a direct flight for me from NYC to Helsinki on Finnair, but the additional flight from Helsinki to Jyvaskyla seemed disproportionately expensive. The train takes about 3 hours, but is much less expensive.
Anything to do there once the competition is over?
@ Milan -you have guessed it ? Skiing !
@ Karl -your lucky ? i live in the U.K
I have to the choice to get 3 planes to Jyvaskyla or 2 planes then get the train from Helsikni to Jyvaskyla ( that is the one i have chosen for convenience.
I must say however the flights from Helsinki to Jyvaskyla by flybe is reasonable.
Sad to say, at world meets there will always be something to complain about this upcoming meet being no exception. I’m still looking forward to it!
@ old timmer at least Jyvaskyla will have top notch toilets,showers and excellent food hall and a good tannoy system,all above in Sacrameto was a disgrace
What the hell is a Tannoy system? Is that some kind of Finnish thing? I think calling Sacramento a “disgrace” is a bit heavy handed. Lots of folks had a great time. Lighten up, Eric!
@ old timmer -tannoy system is the speaker system to announce the runners to the public.
Being an athlete that its important to hear what is going on,the only time i could hear it was when i was sitting underneath the speakers in the stand.
Found it hard to believe that they were no lockers,showers or decent toilets for the public.
As i said no food halls unlike other venues that i have been at where there has been great catering service.
Yes despite all that i did enjoy my time in Sacramento and the lads and lasses in the call room did an excellent job.
And i am not Finnish and am English -thank you.
Cheers,Eric u.k sprinter.
@Eric – Locker? Shower? I’ve been to many world meets and the only locker and shower I’ve ever experienced is the one in my hotel room.
However, I wouldn’t chara cterize the Sacramento meet as a “disgrace”. It was a good meet although a little underwhelming with the amount of athletes and attendees. I attribute this to the economy and high cost of traveling from Europe to USA.
I think the WMA should look at defining some minimum standards as far as what the LOC should deliver as hosts to a world meet. By far, the best World Championships meet I’ve attended was the San Sebastian outdoor world championships in 2005(?). Again, the LOC found the best venue (two stadiums side-by-side, events held day AND night, large athlete attendance, etc). BUT, the most memorable, for me, was the indoor world meet in Austria. Why? I was able to watch my race on TELEVISION. When’s the last time you’ve heard of a Masters meet being televised. Again, thanks to the LOC.
In short, don’t disparage the Sacramento meet too much. I’m sure the LOC did the best they could. I think this is a reflection of USATF overall. Ask yourself – When’s the last time USA has hosted an international competition of any significance?
@ Dexter -o,k i will take my hards words back instead of saying disgrace i will say very disppointing then -how about that.
Thanks for your comments about your experience at World Master Championships.
Myself i have only been to 4 World outdoors,3 Europeans,1 outdoors,2,indoors.
I agree with you that the WMA should look at defining some minimum standards as far as what the LOC should deliver as a World meet.
For me the best Championships for great facilities was at Helsinki at the Europeans Indoors Championships 2007.
Hope to see you in Jyvaskyla 2012.
4 lane track, How many go to finals in 400/800?
anyone know who to ask?
I am going to US Indoor. Then see whats left in bank acc.
@ Tony Plaster -the 800m will be as normal -heats,semi,final or just heats & final.
I would guess 8 to the 800m final.
However the 400m will be differant depending on your age group,for example might be 10 or 8 heats of the 400,( depends how many turn up )
maybe 5 semis of the 400m with 4 to the final.
I am only guessing this,i am not an offical just an athlete competing with experience.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,Tony -Eric G,B 200m sprinter.
I agree with Dexter (go Noles, he will understand)..The San Sebastian meet was the best ever outdoors and the Linz meet was the best indoors! They were organized and wow…. the race videos at Linz were done from an overhead camera and you could see every part of your race and the camera moved down the track with you..it wasn’t a static shot. I have never been to a meet I did not like though! Just to be out there competing is what floats my boat! They can’t all be perfect, but the fact that we all have venues to race at and enjoy the fellowship of fellow geezer-jocks..what a trip!I might even ski again after Jyvaskyla now that the bone grafts have taken in my neck!
@Eric; Skiing is good, but is there any mushing that time of the year?
@ Milan -really not sure if there is Sled Dog Racing ??? !!!
Ask Mikko the Jyvaskyla secretary.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,Eric from the U.K
@Jim
@Dexter
Good to see some fellow Noles onboard. Wold love to make the trip to Jyvaskyla – unfortunately, I do not believe that my bank account or work schedule will allow that to happen. Hey maybe a Powerball jackpot is in store in my near future…..
@ Mary H. (posts 3 and 6)
@ Jim B. (post 4)
I went to the USATF Web site but was unable to link to any entry information for Finnish worlds. With the deadline for entry not all that far away (Feb 12), one would think the site would have been updated. Or am I just technologically backward?
Also looked at the USATF Web site to review the results of the 60 dash for Albuquerque nationals, an event held on March 5, 2011. According to the USATF Web site: “All 60m races are currently under review.” Oh, well, I guess USATF is taking its time.
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