Otley Urban Race

[awk]

Yes - but how much better she would have looked in a well fitting top and pair of below the knee (non-shiny) lycras

Fashion above function obviously rules in the RJ and H households! This obsession with the image to promote the sport forgets that pretty much every other running sport puts function above fashion (just been looking at pictures of the Great North Run and, guess what? Most people are wearing shorts with running vest or T-shirt). On a warm day (which it was), the thought of a 'well fitting' top and even closer fitting long lycras is not especially attractive. Which is why the yoof that RJ was going on about were generally wearing T-shirts and shorts.

[epocian]

Winner of W40+ at Otley yesterday ran in a skirt - and very fetching it looked too!

[Mrs H]

AWK - you are missing the point which I made in that Carlisle article and which sets urban racing apart from other running sports.

If you go to watch the Great North Run or almost any other running event - you have elected to do so and know what to expect - it is also unlikely that you will be mingling within "touching" distance of the runners.

If you have gone to the shopping centre on a Saturday morning you have not elected to go to a running event - you may not expected to have your senses assaulted in a variety of ways - and while young people in shorts and running tops are almost always attractive and worth a second look - middle age + needs to be a little more careful - BUT - if they do present an attractive/sporty/modern image (as opposed to weird/eccentric/unappealing/I wouldn't be seen dead looking like that in public) then it is a valuable marketing opportunity well used. It is not a very big ask - especially with the amount of great new kit about these days - it's not necessary to put fashion before function.

Why do you interpret "well fitted" as "tight" - it means not baggy and not tight but the right size Or is this just part of the "I don't give a damn what I look like/what people think" mentality which has consigned the sport to the lunatic fringe in the public eye for so long.

[RJ]

And also, possibly......

".......These are the 'garb' that I orienteer in, and I haven't got anything else. Granted I do most of my orienteering in the forest, where I fight with brashings and spiky trees, it is just that I haven't yet come to terms with the fact that I am actually running in town centres with the public at my shoulder!!......"

No wonder that the public have a poor image of the sport when we don't even try ourselves..... and continue to reinforce the stereotype of what quite a few of the photos tell!! OK, so it is unpalatable to address the problem, but just step back and look with a more critical eye. Buy some new kit.

[Mrs H]

Sorry PG only just spotted you comment on the other page - no it is not my mission to get everyone in to lycra - although I do think those trousers are very flattering for ladies of a certain age as they show to advantage what is usually a well shaped calf while minimising other more problematic areas when teamed with a nice new style club top (which of course has the added value of giving a partial point of contact on it) or something else similar.

Shorts - as long as they are respectable and not those flimsy split up the side seams favoured by track athletes in the 1970s and 80s are acceptable and possibly even desirable among those with obvious athletic credentials - to give out the "hard core" message where appropriate.

May I just point out - it is a very rare occasion when RJ and I actually agree about anything perhaps it's worth giving it some consideration when we do. As I said in my Carlisle article - I know lots of you say you don't care what "other people" think - but as far as urban racing is concerned you are on "other people's" territory and unless you want to harm the sport - not caring is not an option.

[geomorph]

Currently working with 2 fashion retailers (demographic = young/young at heart, affordable).

Staff I work with all wear t-shirts and jeans (official policy is smart casual ) definitely not part of the range; they are in their 20's and 30's, and these are the designers, merchandisers, buyers etc.

What is this obsession with 'appropriate' clothing style whilst exercising.
we all have different preferences.
the appropriateness should be about comfort, performance enhancement, and utility.

aged adults trying to impress kids by their clothing style is a number 1 loser. Adults wear what adults wear is what my kids say with a Gallic shrug; 'totally embarrassed' (by what you're wearing) is an urban myth put about by US films and soaps and taken up as a rebellion statement.

we don't want to attract kids based on fashion; customer retention is sooooo costly.

Urban racing will attract kids because it offers the right sort of excitement and pre/post social mixing.

[Mrs H]

What are you rambling on about? No one in their right mind is suggesting that older runners are going to attract youngsters into the sport no matter what they wear

But if they present themselves attractively - and can I just stress that appropriate also means in terms of comfort and performance - and God knows there is enough out there to choose from - then they might attract other runners in a similar demographic - ie other older people am I making myself clear?

[Tatty]

To get back to the real thing - the race. Fantastic planning - the best Urban race I've run in this year. Ian made really good use of the very complex town centre and the long legs on the A & B courses were really challenging. There was a lot of interest from the locals and AIRE officals were doing a very good PR job in the Market Square and at the timed road crossings.
The races are for those who already orienteer, not to try and get newcomers. Several people seem to forget this (BOF amongst others?). Those of us who do compete would like some recognition, and not always have "we must attract newcomers to the sport"

[Mrs H]

Fair enough - but that doesn't preclude a "first do no harm" principle to the image of the sport does it?

[Tatty]

No

[RJ]

.....The races are for those who already orienteer, not to try and get newcomers......

I don't agree. Urban races are the ultimate opportunity to put the sport in front of the general public. Let's not waste that opportunity. The Urban races started life with a high preponderance of the M/W21 group, largely prepared and staged by that group.

However, "those who already orienteer" are of course more than welcome to take part. Just step back a bit and be a little more critical of the image we display. Think about it, rather than "I couldn't care less what the public think..... this is my sport.... and I'll do it as I see fit!"

I do hope that in five years time we will look back at a fast growing sport and say that it was the Urban initiative that started the recovery!!

[EddieH]

I more often than not agree with Mrs H and even occasionally with RJ, and you both may have a point.

However your agreessive prescription in what I must wear is only likely to make me do the opposite. As it happens I care so little that I'll just carry on as before.

I hate everything that fashion stands for. You are both people who pronounce about the earth's resourses and yet you happily seem to fall into the fashion mould with it's notion of throw away any garment that is no longer hip despite the fact that it has years of potential wear left in it.

[Gross]

Bring on BIll Gauld

[SeanC]

Just flicked through the pictures. I think only my sports editor friend would think that this is not a serious sport. The new style club O tops look particularly good... maybe there are a few clubs that don't have them yet who could maybe make some progress on that front? These have benefits beyond fashion ... club spirit, helping new members recognise other members and visa versa.

[seabird]

Our next catwalk event will be on ...... Halloween! Vampire O. Real fancy dress.