The Military Challenge 2011

[AndyC]

What is wrong with orienteering that stays on roads and paths being called "Track O"?
that would leave "Trail O" for the internationally recognised discipline.

[madmike]

Simples:

it would confuse people from north America

[Gnitworp]

Don't they call it Precision O in Sweden? - best unequivocal term in my opinion.

[IanD]

I'm inclined to agree that Precision-O would be a better name, and if and when the IOF come to this view, the name Trail-O would become available for dumbed-down foot-O. Unless and until that happens, it would cause less confusion all round to leave the term 'trail-O' for the intellectual sport.

[plain lazy]

That's my entry finally in for the Black course at this year's event... better get some miles in my legs before then! Anyone else entered yet?

[NeilC]

Two Black entries from our household.

[EddieH]

I've entered as well although the recent windy cold weather has sapped my will to train

[Big Jon]

Eddie - you're getting soft in your old age, I never thought I'd hear you saying cold windy weather was reducing your training

[EddieH]

If your circulation were like mine maybe it would affect you. My fingers are nearly as thick as they are long

The problem I have is that exercise causes my system to switch off the blood flow down the arms so my hands actually get even colder when I run. In the really cold windy weather they just about drop off, and when it happens to the feet as well it feels like running on hard blocks of ice. It's a real downer on my beloved outdoors.

I only put this here as Nopesport can be a great way of getting advice and maybe someone out there knows a solution.

[Gross]

Must be an age thing Eddie... my feet are like that in the cold also... I use neoprene running socks which help a bit. Not sure if you can get them in the UK but the orienteering shop in Tampere sells them

[Monte]

I knew I'd seen this discussion before:

http://forum.nopesport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9167&p=101057&hilit=out+of+breath#p101069

Must be a December thing.

Eddie, I think it's now referrred to as 'Raynaud's phenomenon'.

[EddieH]

I'm not sure. In Raynaud's fingers go white. My limbs go blue, never white.

I remember hearing a radio article about it years ago. They were saying that this had evolved in Africa where it makes sense when you need to power your heart to minimise circulation down the limbs. However they were saying it is totaly inappropriate and dangerous for people in more arctic climes.

[Karen]

Certainly sounds like Reynauds.
Theory is that your peripheral circulation shuts down to conserve core heat.
Folks with Reynaulds have systems that shut down too soon.

I can take a jug of milk out of the fridge on a hot summer day and the "shock" makes my fingers go "dead". Trouble is, that then spreads to both hands and feet even if they should be warm! Gloves, neoprene socks etc help to insulate the hands and feet, but if there is no circulation in them, they are not producing any heat to be kept in, so they just get colder and colder. As you say, hands and feet go white at first, but mine then go blue. In a bad case, the blood forms "puddles" where it can't get though the vessels, and leaves bruises when my hands do warm up. I've had days when I've had to lever my fingers from round my compass at the end of a winter event. And the term "hotache" goes nowhere near the agony when they start to thaw out! I have actually been sick with the pain.

What to do?
Keep as warm as you can before you run. Keep all of you warm, esp head.
I use disposable hand warmers inside my gloves. They are soft enough to still use my hands to hold map and compass (or to ride my bike). The ones you have to reheat in a pan are too clumsy. Microwave ones don't retain heat for long. "Hotrox" recharge like a mobile phone, and are good, but bulky, not waterproof and expensive.
Don't hang around after a run. I can sometimes finish warm but freeze as soon as I stop. (I'm known for being anti-social!)
Check out the UK Reynauds website for approved products. The "silver" socks and gloves seem be effective as a base layer for me. http://www.raynauds.org.uk
But everyone re-acts differently and it is difficult for no-affected folks to understand.

[EddieH]

Very interesting Karen. I can relate to a lot but not all of that.

As you sayinslation is of limited use if you are not generating heat in the first place. I've certainly found "silver" socks and gloves to be useless.

Anyway I'm looking forward to back at the Miltary Challenge - just hope it's not wild and sleeting. Real pity as were it not for my extremities I love the wildest conditions.

[Soldja Boi]

Eddie, it looks as though you may be in luck. The forecast for next week is for it to be fairly mild (for this time of year) with only a small chance of rain. Although, we don't do refunds if the weather isn't to your liking!