IROC races

[NeilC]

And doesn't the annual CUOC sprint-O also do this? At least it did the last time I controlled it.

[Blanka]

And doesn't the annual CUOC sprint-O also do this? At least it did the last time I controlled it.

There were days when the CUOC Sprint-O actually had a controller?!?

[Scott]

And doesn't the annual CUOC sprint-O also do this?

Yes. I'm still bitter that distracted only won it this year because he had the loops in the final the easy way round and I had them the hard way.

And also because I can't tell a hill from a depression.

[EddieH]

There is, or used to be a hill race in the Highlands which gives runners the option of going either way round. Interestingly some choose to go up steeply with a more gentle descent, whilst others choose the opposite.

[Adventure Racer]

The HOC June Jaunter is a run round the Clent Hills map with visits to the top of two hills and one church, points to be taken in any order, hence you can run either way. There is still some debate which is fastest - my personal preference is to run up steep and technical, though better descenders than me may choose the opposite. That is nominally a proper O event, since there is no signing, just a map.

[Angry Haggis]

It is quite pricey if you do all six races (£70)

Compared to what? Is only £7 more than entering 4 races at JK if you enter today!

I think the JK is quite expensive too!

It's quite expensive compared to your average Street-O (£0-£1) or an urban race (~£8), which at this time of year are my two favourite formats. However I would be absolutely prepared to spend £££ on iROC because the concept sounds amazing.

I don't really understand the need to avoid putting events on dates because other events might be nearby. Put events on anywhere at any time I say, and people can choose what they want to go to. Let the strongest event/format win. Survival of the fittest.

[rocky]

I agree that the concept sounds great fun and it's good to see "proper" orienteering being given prominence in an adventure race weekend.

It's the sort of thing I would like to do because I think I'd be good at the fell/trail running and the orienteering but I haven't mountain biked for years, so I would actively try and get some bike practise in.

I wonder if there are similarly capable fell runner/mountain biked types thinking something similar? How do we find them and get them involved?

(Sadly it also clashes with exam season - and if it wasn't for exams I'd be at TioMila too...)

-m

[Adventure Racer]

It's quite expensive compared to your average Street-O (£0-£1) or an urban race (~£8), which at this time of year are my two favourite formats. However I would be absolutely prepared to spend £££ on iROC because the concept sounds amazing.

Seems somewhat bizarre to compare it with a cheapy street-o - I mean even MADO starts to look expensive compared to that! Meanwhile, it's actually probably cheaper than an urban race on a cost per race basis once you factor in other costs involved in doing an event apart from entry fees. Obviously depends whether you consider it 1 race or 6 (though to be fair £12 does seem rather a lot for a 4 mile fell race!)

We do get to use proper O maps in Rat Races, though it does tend to be rather easy (given many of the planners are on here, you can blame them for that!)

[Copepod]

iROC entry includes free camping on Friday and Saturday night, which makes it better value, I reckon.

[Pyro]

I'm going to be there. Looks like good fun, and certainly a different concept to a lot of AR / Multisport stuff. The navigational side is certain to confuse a number of regular adventure racers who are used to being led by a navigator, so we'll see how it works out.

[abd]

I'm also entered and very much looking forward to it; but slightly nervous that fitness will be lacking (especially after yesterday's Open 5 in Malham)!

[DanH]

I'll be there, hoping to get enough points in on the early running stages before my poor bike handling skills become an issue in the later races!!

[Becks]

Can anyone get me to a train station after the iROC race on Sunday? My eventual destination is Liverpool for a conference, so my kit/bike etc will be returning to Edinburgh, and I will just have a small rucksac coming with me. Anywhere south of the event would probably do - Leeds/York/Sheffield/Manchester. If anyone is going super close to Liverpool and could actually drop me there, that would obviously be absolutely amazing.

[Shane Ohly]

With less than three weeks to go before first iROC™ Adventure Race Weekend the event is approaching 80% capacity and any competitors who haven’t already entered are being urged to get there entries in ASAP!

Full details of this exciting inov-8 sponsored iROC™ event, on the 18th and 19th April, are available here: http://www.iROC-Race.com

If you would like a bit more detail about the concept behind the event, let me explain…

We wanted to organise a series of different races across different disciplines that include fell running, mountain biking and orienteering. Each individual races is being designed as though it were a standalone race; the idea being that if you turned up and competed in just one race, you’d be impressed with the format, organisation and experience of that race - to be honest, I expect most competitors will want to do all 6 races though!

What really makes iROC™ an adventure race is the close succession of each of these 6 individual races. Of course, the different skills sets required for each discipline mean that only a true all-rounder will be capable of wining outright. This new adventure racing format will be challenging and action packed for the competitors but also very visual for spectators as each of the races starts, loops though and finished at the event centre.

Finally, to make the event fun and sociable there will be a late bar on both the Friday and Saturday night and some live music on the Saturday evening. We really want each competitor to have a great time out on the hill and a great time catching up with their friends afterwards.

----

In the last few weeks there has been lots of exciting developments taking place at the race venue as well prepare for the event. Last weekend a team of volunteers prepared 1.8km of brand new MTB single track! We have also taken delivery of 10km of reflective barrier tape that will be used for marking the course; for the night races this will make for a visual spectacular for the competitors, especially the night fell race.

On the fell racing front, the weekend kicks of with a hilly, 8 mile fell race. The race route covers a contrasting mix of the former quarry site (think: tough running up and down grassed over slag heaps) and some truly beautiful fell that is part of the North Pennine Special Protection Area, a SSSI and An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s pretty awesome running and has taken a lot of effort to get the necessary permissions.

Finally, the new orienteering map for the area (called Weardale Works) has been completed and the proofs arrived from the printers yesterday… they look great!

If you have any questions about the event please email info@iroc-race.com or phone 01388 744900.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Shane Ohly
iROC Race Director

http://www.iroc-race.com
18/19th April 2009
1 weekend – 3 Disciplines – 6 Races - 3 At Night – Don’t Miss it!

[King Penguin]

The HOC June Jaunter is a run round the Clent Hills map with visits to the top of two hills and one church, points to be taken in any order, hence you can run either way. There is still some debate which is fastest - my personal preference is to run up steep and technical, though better descenders than me may choose the opposite. That is nominally a proper O event, since there is no signing, just a map.

A few years ago Pingo ran it clockwise, then after a relatively short rest ran it anti-clockwise, taking only a few seconds longer. I'm still waiting for him to complete the experiment by running anti-clockwise first, then clockwise to determine how much the marginal difference is due to order of running and how much to terrain.