Sprint image

[Spookster]

I'm not at all surprised. I reckon:
(a) older people find the Sprint format less exciting than younger people do, and
(b) older people find orienteering for 5 successive days harder, and if you're going to have a rest day, this is the day to drop.

Of course those are generalisations, but that's what the stats are showing.

The hassles of getting to central London on a Bank holiday Monday apply to everyone, but it won't stop you if you're keen enough. See you there...

[David May]

I wonder how many senior orienteers who say they don't enjoy Sprint orienteering have actually tried it ...

Re travel to Battersea: there are two British Rail stations within 300 metres, and it's 15 minutes walk from a tube station too. It's about 1 hour by car from Guildford, i.e. no longer than regular orienteers take to get to many Sunday events. I think that difficulty of travel is far more a matter of perception than of reality.

David

[awk]

That's the whole point David - it's about perceptions. Most 'oldies' do orienteering as much for the environment, what they perceive as the technical challenge etc. etc., and I suspect that Battersea Park on a Bank Holiday Monday isn't that attractive.

You may be right about time from Guildford, but my reaction to that is to some extent "so what?". Most people will need to get out of London afterwards and home. Driving to and from is unattractive, and parking up and getting in and out of London, then home, isn't much more so.

We're actually entered, and I do enjoy sprint-O - but there is a part of me that tells me that there are loads of other things that I'd rather be doing than running round an urban park on my day off, however whizz bang the organisation, planning, World Cup etc. might be.

So, I suspect that the weight of factors combined are enough to limit interest.

[Guest88]

I think sprint races are a bit dull, although I am going to Battersea. Split-seconds...who cares when you lose minutes on the running.

Should be a good spectacle though, seeing all the elites in action in the middle of London, a one-off.

Maybe those worried about the value-for-money/time aspect could justify going by extending the day into the rest of London. A museum in the morning, lunch watching the end of the elites, run, social or culture in the evening - only question is where to shower/swim after the running???

[SJ]

As someone who can usually run significantly faster than I can orienteer, I'm really looking forward to the sprint races that are coming up. (Am really hoping finals don't start too early to allow me to go to battersea!)

I agree that for those who have being orienteering for many years and may have fantastic navigational skills but lack the speed they used to/would like to have it probably doesn't sound as interesting as a longer technical course in scenic terrain.

How much is sprint orienteering advertised to those who prefer "clean park runs" as opposed to "muddy forest orienteering"?...with orienteering often perceived as being something you do while walking with a rucksack (the shock on the face of the security guards at BUSA this year when I explained what orienteering actually involved!!) it could really help to improve the image of the sport, particularly as it would allow adults who can run to still get a good bit of exercise and not get cut up by brambles or have to go further than their own town/city potentially.

[Guest]

I live about the same distance from Battersea as Guildford, but the journey by public transport is a bus, two trains, and tube. A total of well over 2 hours each way. If the travelling was under 1hr I'd probably have considered going.

[rob f]

yeah, thats not why we're not going, its a vital revision weekend for me, so i need at least one of the days

[TommyC]

Two things:

1) We have some useful information. There is much discussion in the O world as to how we attract more people in the 20-30 age group. Apparently, this group is quite keen on sprint races...

2) The UK Cup race back in 2002(?) was more than just get there, warm up, race, warm down, go home. There was a good atmosphere around the race, and I had a good day out. Surely this time will be better as the profile is higher and more people are likely to come along. I think it'll be a cracking day, and at £6 or whatever, it's still less than a game of squash...

[P2B]

Ok, I may be a 20 something, but my running speed isn't great but look at it from the other perspective regarding travel:

I live in the middle of London. I always have to travel at least 1 hour (usually more) to go 'muddy' orienteering. The prospect of a race within cycling distance from my house is great! It's encouraging the husband to get out of bed and away from his accountancy exam revision as I can sell it as a 'short' day out.

I've never done a big sprint race before - but reckon that 15-20 minutes of flat out can't hurt that much? Can it? I've done 'training' sprint races and the navigational skill needed to keep on track is huge. Tiny wobbles are magnified...

Looking forward to the whole weekend!

[Guest]

Went last night to GG's sprint at Warwick Uni. Great fun, lots of technical challenge, whatever your speed (I'm a slowing M40). Looking forward to Battersea Park, both to run and to spectate.

What's nice about sprint races is that you know they're going to be short, unlike "short" events at National Events. 8.6km for M40S at Hambleden?!?! But that's OK, Mick Brett did 60 mins, so it's within BOF guidelines....