Sprint races - how long

[graeme]

Sprint races are defined as 2.5-3km course which take the elites 12-15 minutes.

For slower people, would you prefer the same type of course, or the same type of winning time?

[Spookster]

I want another option, which is to have different length urban races.

I want some to have a winning time of 12-15 mins (in which case they'd be called sprint).

I want some to have a winning time of 30-60 minutes (in which cases they would not be called sprint, and they'd be held in places like Venice, London, York, Lincoln).

[Mrs H]

Yes Graeme - It's not like you to be so sloppy with your designations - you talk about urban races in the title of the thread and sprint races in the poll heading - I hate to be pedantic which exactly are you asking for an opinion on - the two are not synonymous!

[graeme]

Quite right Mrs.H. I'm talking about Sprint races, not urban races.

[mharky]

Long urban races should be saved for the nice historic cities like Oxford, Edinburgh and Milton Keynes...

Sprints can take place pretty much any where... we could probably find at least 200 suitable sprint areas if we really tried.

[distracted]

Sprints can take place pretty much any where... we could probably find at least 200 suitable sprint areas if we really tried.

Why not? Great for beginners and experienced alike, and clubs always seem to say they don't have enough areas...

[SeanC]

Personally I like the chasing sprint concept. Even though I am slow, I am not so keen on travelling a long way for a 3K race - even if that race is faster and more exciting than normal. Having two sprint races is the best of both worlds. Also the time between sprints is a good chance for socialising, and those that only want to run 3K can just do the first sprint.

[harry]

Aye longer urban races should be allowed if the location is glamorous enough Venice, Oxford and like Mharky suggested MK...
A reasonable map & imaginative planning can turn a tiny pile of * into a great sprint race - happens all the time in Trondheim, it amazes me that someone has bothered to map some of these places.

[EddieH]

I'm happy with whatever. However if there really are to be age lass championships at different distances, everyone running elite distance would become a nonsense as they would be middle distance times in some classes, and ... where is the so called long where winning times are often 45 minutes?

Note that Forres will be in the Urban over 30 minute category, and I am sure it will be worthwhile.

[Cave Man]

Personally I like the chasing sprint concept.

you mean this sort of thing?

http://www.halo-orienteering.org.uk/fix ... Sprint.php

[EddieH]

Cave Man they look brilliant. All local people should try them.

[graeme]

everyone running elite distance would become a nonsense

Like it is with marathons and 10k races?

[EddieH]

No Graeme, read my context. There is nothing wrong with whoever likes running elite distance in urban, sprint, or any other race.

However if there are age group championships at 3 distances it is a clear nonsense if the sprint race is longer than middle, and middle than long - and even for W80 the sprint could end up longer than the long

Therefore your poll is unanswerable. It depends on whether we are talking about a Championship event or any other.

[EddieH]

After all our club is now running a monthly "sprint" league. This is (has not yet been) urban, and it is certainly not sprint timing for anyone in our club. However they are approximate to elite sprint distance - around 3-3.5k - and they are becoming very popular.

[geomorph]

I like the idea that top dogs at my age can win the course close to an ideal time.
15, 30, 45, 60, 90 etc, and offered in varying terrains.

So do we shorten length or increase time wrt to elite for the not-elite. Do we do this consistently for all race types or is it something that changes according to the race type?
Should sprints be treated differently from urbans from middles from longs in how we ratio courses?

What I do not want is that the course becomes inferior wrt to the Elite offering at the same event.