JK Relay

[andypat]

Its about the nature of the team event and the feeling of letting your teammates down even if you have a good run....

You let your team mates down a lot more by not running!

This appears to be a peculiarly British attitude - relays are a lot more participation based abroad, where everybody appears to get stuck in.

Well I do run - its just that if i see I've got a relay leg of 5k or so my heart sinks as i know I'll take about 10-15min longer than the leader even if I have a perfect run - give me short sharp and technical any day - or the orange leg of the 11 person relay

[mharky]

If you want to discuss sprint racing, start a thread.

[awk]

The word sprint indicates running fast - for many of us the challenge of orienteering is the navigation. Again most sprints seem to be in urban terrain. Put them in a forest and you might get more interest from us oldies.

At no point have I said anything against sprints - just that they are not for me. They are a good way to advertise the sport and have obviously been a success for many, but give me a forest any day.

Sprint simply refers to the distance and to the style - which is about control density rather than speed. Being shorter though, most people find themselves running them faster, but the reason I enjoy them so much is I find them technically more interesting and challenging than standard distance events.

True, many sprints are put on in urban environments, but actually a lot of urban environments are unsuitable - running fast in traffic ridden streets isn't very clever. The vast majority (all?) of my club's summer and spring sprint race series are held off road - sometimes parks but mostly woods.

So - your phrase "short, sharp and technical" is a perfect descriptor for sprint. It's one that also describes what many older competitors are looking for - which is why there's been such a growth in the M/W40+ and 55+ classes over the past year or so. It seems to me that you're cutting off your nose to spite your face - not running the very races you'd enjoy, simply because of the label 'sprint'.
BTW, have you tried any?

[RJ]

......which is why there's been such a growth in the M/W40+ and 55+ classes over the past year or so......

Really?

[awk]

......which is why there's been such a growth in the M/W40+ and 55+ classes over the past year or so......

Really?

Whoops! Crass error on my part - thanks for picking this up RJ. For some reason I'd got urban races in my mind, not sprints - and there's me saying that they shouldn't be muddled up!

Don't have any figures for sprints (although our summer series is growing in popularity amongst all age classes).

[RJ]

.....Don't have any figures for sprints (although our summer series is growing in popularity amongst all age classes).

For both Sprint and Urban I don't think it is the format neccessarily that is the 'carrot' for the 'sporty' public, and the reason that people are now joining orienteering. I think it is because we have finally managed to find a way of taking the sport to the general public and making it far more accessible.

Again, BOF's and Steve Vernon's promotion of a regular weekly session in a 'local' setting has been a huge magnet for new people. If we can continue to entice new people into the sport by showing them, and letting them take part, in a local setting then we really do have a future. Once they understand what the sport is about and have learned some of the skills then it is a doddle to get them to turn up for a run in a forest.

Many clubs are now following this route.... and are reaping the benefit of increasing participation and.... membership.

[Roger]

Men Trophy: 5km / 4km / 6km, TD5
Women Trophy: 4km / 3km / 5km, TD5

Gaffled?

[Big Jon]

Of course Gaffled - without that its called a cross country race.

[awk]

For both Sprint and Urban I don't think it is the format neccessarily that is the 'carrot' for the 'sporty' public, and the reason that people are now joining orienteering. I think it is because we have finally managed to find a way of taking the sport to the general public and making it far more accessible.

I'd agree Roger.
In that context we've found the sprint format very useful - it enables use of small areas, and gives a decent race that all ages and abilities can take part in on an evening. But, as you say, it's the vehicle rather than the reason.

[graeme]

Of course Gaffled - without that its called a cross country race.

Or "lange nacht".
I think Roger's point is that it's difficult to gaffle legs of different length. Not impossible, but I don't think anyone has managed to do it at the JK...

[jonm]

Graeme, The SE JK Relays gaffled accross course lengths. It requires a little bit of thought by the planners but definately achievable.

If people want a master class in how to do this they could always look at the Tio / Jukola all controls maps and forking plans !

[mappingmum]

You let your team mates down a lot more by not running!

I don't think this is a fair statement. Perhaps it's meant in jest.

Relay brings into the equation a team element and the huge challenge of mixing very diverse abilities and experiences to build a relay team into the categories and course lengths available in the competition.

An individual has to be allowed to make a decision about whether it's wise for them to run outside their comfort zone.

Sport can be very disappointing at times and can really kick you in the teeth. Do you have any idea what it feels like to be the weak link in a relay team and be the one who mis- punches rendering the others' strong runs futile?

[Mrs H]

Er yes but what was the alternative - no run at all?

[mappingmum]

You can always enter as a team and omit a leg or run non-comp and pick up runners from other clubs.

[graeme]

Do you have any idea what it feels like to be the weak link in a relay team

At last years Scottish relays, INT had two of the previous years British Relay Champions, and some guy who finished over 20mins down on the individual M45. The team decided the best hope for damage limitation was to send the old guy off first, rather than run for individual glory with the leaders and fall away. Predictably, the M45 ran terrified, but pretty much to form, and left the team 6+ mins off the pace. But the team didn't give up, and pulled back to second place. A silver medal at the Scottish Relays is not a big deal for elite BRC champions, but the old guy is very, very proud of it.

...and that's what it is like to be the weak link in a relay team.