Malvern Hills - Eastnor

[DJM]

Big Jon wrote:

Aim for inspirational events rather than formulaic races.

This is rather emotive! Guidelines provide a flexible framework rather than a straitjacket and they by no means damp down inspiration. Events which do not inspire are planned by unimaginative planners and can become formulaic as a result. But at least following guidelines should rescue them from being disasters - they will just be dull instead!

If following guidelines means formulaic races rather than inspirational events, then none of last year's WMOC races would have been memorable as they all followed IOF Guidelines (those in Appendix 6). But Jon himself said

Races were superbly organised and the forest wonderful - especially the long final - think Culbin and vegetation with attitude

Well done to the Portugese federation who put on a superb event - and good weather!!

and EddieH said

For example I thought that the WMOC was the PERFECT sprint event.

Not bad for "formulaic races"!

[EddieH]

I'm happy with you reiterating the complements about Portugal. But I do worry about the desire to differentiate styles.
In particular Long has replaced the classic, not in length or physical toughness but in it's determination not to be as technically demanding as middle. Clearly we don't want middle style courses for 90+ minutes, but why can't a section of a long race use the most technically demanding parts of an area instead of bipassing them altogether as in the WOC in Ukraine?