Middle Distance information request

[RichardE]

Hi all,
I've never done a Middle Distance race as such. I read the article in Compass Sport and fancy having a go at the up-coming Haverthwaite Brit Champs. It sounds exactly the sort of thing I would enjoy.

However, there's no clear information as to the expected course lengths. Can anybody tell me roughly what the lengths might be for M55 and W55?

I know there's some sort of formula relating expected winning times to M21 winning times but this doesn't make much sense to me because I don't win things or even come near the top! I just want to know if it woould be appropriate for us to enter.

As an aside, I might add that information like this could easily be added to event details which always seem to be written as though the reader is expected to already know all the answers. This is particularly true for the bigger events and tends to put you off entering as a first-timer.

Thanks for any advice.
Richard

[Homer]

I suggest you look at the relevent event rule, available on the Downloads section of the BOF website. Here is the link:

http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/d ... ules_d.pdf

M55 do course 5 which is 78% of the length of M21.
W55 do course 7 which is 50% of M21.

At Haverthwaite I'd expect M21E to be about 4.5 to 5.0km.

[Scott]

Last year's British Middle Champs was 4.5km/135m climb/26 controls for M55 and 2.8km/80m climb/18 controls for W55 - hopefully that will give you a rough idea of the lengths to expect.

You can also have a look at RouteGadget from last year here to get a better idea of the style of planning - M55 was course 4 and W55 was course 6 (although this year is obviously on a very different area).

I would definitely encourage you to give it a go - I personally really enjoy middle races.

[lakesorunner]

Homer is spot on with approx. distances - and having pre-run a course for the planners, can safely say you will be running through some of the best terrain the Lakes has to offer, and at the best time of year. Not only that, but the bluebells will just be appearing, the sun will be shining (hopefully ), and you can even come a day early to run on a small bit of Graythwaite for a quick warm-up on the Friday... followed by the British Elite Sprint Champs at Chorley the day after... What more could you ask for!
Could be the event of the year???!!!

Get your entries in now...

[Ed]

The last time BEOC Middle was held on Haverthwaite, the M21E course was 4.3km. I'm reliably informed that this time round more the southern part of the area is being used, which is probably a bit more physical (certainly compared to the last little stretch along the riverbank in 2003 which was very fast). I would therefore guess that the M21E is unlikely to be much longer than that (unless expected winning times guidance has changed, or M21s have got much faster or slower*).

78% of 4.3km would give you about 3.4km, and 50% 2.2km (note distance adjusted for climb should be used, but I'll make the assumption that the proportion of climb stays the same).

Which is a very long winded way of saying that you'd be looking at about 3½km for the M55 and 2¼km for W55, ± a bit.

*This particular M21 has got slower, but you probably know what I mean.

[graeme]

I think in 2003 BEOC still had a "short" race (25minute elite winning time, hardest course you can plan) , not a "middle" (35 minute, control picking). So it should be 40% longer.

Since 2003 was in fact won in 31, it was a bit long. The main thing I remember was that it was a cracking good race.

Age-group for middle has now been defined by 35 min. winning time for the best M55: this should give you some idea how long it will take you (n.b. Haverthwaite is hard and slow - don't get hung up on distances). It also means your course will be a larger percentage of the elite course than normal.

And if you're a relative novice, you'll probably find it takes you as long as your normal M55 course!

[ba-ba]

when do entries close for the BEOCs?

[RichardE]

Homer is spot on with approx. distances - and having pre-run a course for the planners, can safely say you will be running through some of the best terrain the Lakes has to offer, and at the best time of year. Not only that, but the bluebells will just be appearing, the sun will be shining (hopefully ), and you can even come a day early to run on a small bit of Graythwaite for a quick warm-up on the Friday... followed by the British Elite Sprint Champs at Chorley the day after... What more could you ask for!
Could be the event of the year???!!!

Get your entries in now...

Thanks to all for the replies- we are going to enter, sounds great!
However, the Sprint Champs sounds like a bridge too far!

Cheers
Richard

[RichardE]

[quote="graeme"(n.b. Haverthwaite is hard and slow - don't get hung up on distances).

And if you're a relative novice, you'll probably find it takes you as long as your normal M55 course![/quote]

I've been to Haverthwaite twice before- I know what it's like!!!

I expect it will take as long as usual (or longer), but navigating is more of a strength for me than running, so we shall see!

Thanks
Richard

[keever]

when do entries close for the BEOCs?

5th for the middle and 6th for the sprint

[Zokko!]

However, the Sprint Champs sounds like a bridge too far!

Don't be put off by the "Elite" in the title of this event. The Mens and Womens open courses are just that - open to all ages from 18 up. We already have a good number of competitors entering in the older age classes, so there will be plenty of people in your class to run against.

The event consists of heats in the morning followed by finals in the afternoon, with the fastest from the heats running in the A final, then the next fastest group in the B final and so on. Lots of chances to spectate and see the finish of the A finals before running in the other finals, plus commentary by Chris Poole.

All taking place in a glorious parkland setting (plus surrounding streets and shopping areas) with the finish right in front of the historic Astley Hall.

As noted above the closing date is 6th April, and you may enter online here http://www.oentries.com/event/details/146-british-sprint-elite-championships

There will also be some entry on the day courses, mainly using the park and courtyard areas.

[Scott]

Don't be put off by the "Elite" in the title of this event. The Mens and Womens open courses are just that - open to all ages from 18 up.

Hear hear! Last year's Elite Sprints at Nottingham was a great day out, and possibly the best "spectator value" I've seen at an event in the UK. And the format means that, even if you're not up to racing with the elite, you still have something to aim for in both rounds - firstly running well in the heats to get into as high a final as you can, and then trying to do as well as you can in a race against people of around the same speed as you from across the age classes (and in the last couple of years there has been a full spread - check out the results from Nottingham).

And, of course, this year is the last chance you'll get to run at this event before the format is changed in 2011.

[RichardE]

having pre-run a course for the planners, can safely say you will be running through some of the best terrain the Lakes has to offer, and at the best time of year. Not only that, but the bluebells will just be appearing, the sun will be shining (hopefully )
Get your entries in now...

Well, we followed this excellent advice, and had a great day! This was our first Brit. Champs of any sort. The orienteering was tough, perhaps more metally than physically (I was limited mostly by brain power rather than fitness which is more usual for me), a great challenge. The organisation seemed spot on, and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. And of course the sun shone.... this IS Cumbria, after all.
Thanks to all involved, including the train driver!

Richard