Run Challenge

[Gross]

One last night in Huddersfield but from 4pm to 5pm - Not exactly the best time to be going into Huddersfield and I see next one there Weds 10 July is also scheduled for 4pm to 5pm

That strikes me as being completely stupid..... does the target market not go to work?

[denbydale]

One last night in Huddersfield but from 4pm to 5pm - Not exactly the best time to be going into Huddersfield and I see next one there Weds 10 July is also scheduled for 4pm to 5pm

That strikes me as being completely stupid..... does the target market not go to work?

To be fair the website says
Xplorer is a fun family challenge aimed at primary and pre-school children and their parents, grandparents and guardians.
But even for grandparents who aren't working it's still a stupid time to hold it - getting towards rush hour, driving in Huddersfield can be horrendous

The cynic in me thinks it's is timed to suit the activator not the participants!

[tropso]

Did my third Run Challenge yesterday evening. Different area so different Activator. Would be so good if implemented better.

Was the only entrant. Again virtually all controls wrongly marked. Maybe being an orienteer is a disadvantage. 4 different control circle sizes used. Activator helpfully pointed out location of control 1. Good job because actual position wasn't within circle.

Next Wednesday there's a clash with the local o-club's event. Maybe doesn't matter as different target market, maybe no contest with low numbers, nevertheless it seems crazy that parking/registration for both events is in same park, just different car parks a few hundred metres apart. Run Challenge Activator for that one is shown as a BOF employee so no excuses for not knowing what's going on.

Let's hope Xplorer is more accurate, however coping with the inaccuracy of control circles assumes you can find the venue in the first place. The location map for a recent Xplorer event was several miles out.

Can only get better, hopefully swiftly.

[Gross]

Run Challenge Activator for that one is shown as a BOF employee so no excuses for not knowing what's going on..

[tropso]

Am happy to say that Steve Vernon has just informed me that necessary improvements are being actioned.

[SeanC]

It looks like the Xplorer series is due to kick off this weekend in the EM/NE - if these have been properly promoted then they may do a lot better than the Run Challenge in attracting numbers - is anyone going along to see what it's like?

I think this may not be the best week for junior school age kids since there are so many school fetes etc, so maybe expect 50% less than normal. But the market for this sort of thing will be very local, possibly just 3 or 4 schools. It may take the organisers a few months to figure out the best way to promote the events through the schools. Once they do they could get quite a loyal following. Orienteering is such a great activity for children of this age.

Local clubs might want to start planning for possible success of the eXplorer events. Once the children have done a few events is there a good local club scene for them to progress to? Is there a club junior squad/junior club? Are the local events "junior friendly" (eg junior prizes/competitions). There are some good development models around. For example Saxons coaches shadow groups of younger juniors on yellow courses whilst their parents stand and chat (avoiding the "parents need to run too" problem for the under 12's).

[Mrs H]

Have the local clubs been primed by BOF regarding this?

[DM]

What would you do if your club faced this situation?

Mon 24th; Run Challenge , Bollington
Weds 26th; Run Challenge, Alderley Edge
and 8 miles away
Weds 26th; MDOC Countryside score, Bollington

July 10th ; Run Challenge; Alderley Edge
and 3 miles away
July 10th ; MDOC Countryside score, Wilmslow

Same type of event, with concept lifted from MDOC (with help willingly given). Run Challenge dates came out well after the MDOC dates were in the calendar.

Target is runners in both cases, although I accept Run Challenge are trying to get a different type of runner along.

[Paul Frost]

Target is runners in both cases, although I accept Run Challenge are trying to get a different type of runner along.

So what are the different types of runners that will be attracted to each event?

With regard the clashes of date and location, has anyone from MDOC spoken to the "Activator" for the Run Challenge to find out what their thinking is?
Are they oblivious to the fact that there is an orienteering club putting on similar events at similar times nearby?
Or do they not care about any conflict as they don't see their events have anything to do with orienteering?

I'd like to think that the people responsible for setting up Run Challenge talked to the local clubs to ensure that what they were doing was in support of driving more people into the local orienteering club rather than setting up an alternative sport in competition. If it's the latter, then I don't understand why the national body responsible for promotion of the sport of orienteering is involved.

[andypat]

Target is runners in both cases, although I accept Run Challenge are trying to get a different type of runner along.

So what are the different types of runners that will be attracted to each event?

http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/images/uploaded/downloads/marketing_focus_autumn12.pdf

FWIW run challenge targets singles/couples age 16-30.

Maybe MDOC want a more elderly person along in keeping with the current orienteering demographic?

[Homer]

Just back from doing my local Runchallenge out of curiosity (as it didn't clash with any of our local clubs evening events ).

The 3 members of my family doubled the numbers (to 6). Of the other 3, one other was also an established orienteer. The two non orienteers were in the target audience: a couple in their twenties. I spoke to them and it turned out they were friends of one of our club members which is presumably how they came to be there.

I quite enjoyed the event. Old style street orienteering with clues you had to write answers to on the back of your map. I won't be a regular: I didn't consider it good value for £3 (compared with 'proper' orienteering).

Interestingly there was no issue with Lisa (age 14) taking part despite most of the course being on a mixture of roads (unclassified, B and A roads).

[Glucosamine]

Interestingly there was no issue with Lisa (age 14) taking part despite most of the course being on a mixture of roads (unclassified, B and A roads).

So risk-aversion at BOF hamstrings the established sport but does not apply to the ersatz version? What is the insurance regime for RC? Are we all paying the premiums for this competitor to the core sport?

[Spookster]

Interestingly there was no issue with Lisa (age 14) taking part despite most of the course being on a mixture of roads (unclassified, B and A roads).

Participants must be over 16

[EddieH]

DM's post is quite frankly shocking.

How can our governing body set up and support something that far from encouraging people into the sport is apparently actively trying to take people away

And what sort of respect does it show for MDOC's efforts in inventing the concept anyway?

At least it doesn't sound as though they are having much success - 2 people in their target market.

[andypat]

It looks like from the website that these run challenges are set up to go off at regular weekly slots, a bit like parkrun, so I guess there's always going to be an issue with clashes with something.

But I think its a bit of a stretch to suggest that people who turn up at this, were likely to have otherwise gone to an O event. It sounds very much like a gradual route into O rather than a gradual route out of it!

If it takes off like parkrun it could be a big pool of possible O participants. If...