If you're doing LDWA events don't treat them as races, especially in the way you finish!
A mistake I made in my first challenge event. Fiddling around taking my shoes off before entering the event HQ, the clock still ticking, and finally running into the hall in my socks, hands outstretched, as you do. I was pretty certain I was the first back.
To be met by three very dour individuals behind a trestle table not at all impressed about my manner of entry, nor bothering about looking at their watches. They first wanted to see what event I had done, the 32, 20, or 11. Why ask me? You can see my card's orange - that means the 32! STOP YOUR WATCH!! They checked me against the entry list, looked at my card to check I had visited all the checkpoints, before one of them finally looked at his watch, saying, "Hmmm ... we'll call that ...".
I'd been leaning over their table for ages by this point, sweat dripping onto their paperwork.
I was also asking whether anyone else had come in before me. A question they refused to answer. A question clearly in very poor taste. "Tea and cake at the hatch". Tea? Cake??! I'm used to a bottle of water thrust into my hand and a goody bag. Not cups and saucers, slices of angel cake, and polite conversation. Man, I haven't even cooled down yet.
I've learned a lot. Now I'm fairly nonchalant when I finish an event, even if I know I've come in "first". Position is not relevant (although I'm secretly pleased if I've managed to do well).
By all means sprint to the finish, but act casual as you enter the HQ.
