Highland 2015 - Scottish 6 Days Programme released

[distracted]

There must be an expectation of higher numbers for the 6-day in 2015 based on what happened at WOC/Highland '99 ?? I'm guessing someone will have the numbers relating to this - vaguely recall 5000 vs the usual 3000-3500?

Assuming that increase was primarily down to those coming from overseas to spectate at WOC, and we'll get the same this time round, I wonder what their thoughts would be on having to choose between spectating or running?

[Electrocuted]

Alternately, you could run the events simultaneously. Now its only a 5 hour window, much better for everyone except that runners may miss some parts of the WOC.

Thats Ok for you fast guys but poor 180minuteman isnt going to see much of the elites in that scenario.

Especially if we need to go for split starts.

[Domhnull Mor]

There are a significant number of folk from my club here in Sweden who have expressed an interest in coming across for the S6D and the WOC races. One comment I get quite often though is that 6 days seems a bit much, mainly when compared with the O-Ringen's 5. There is not such good awareness that it is the best 4 days that count so you can afford to miss a couple and that there is a (at least one) rest day. This view would seem to suggest that adding further races would maybe undermine the interest in the 6 days itself (even if I can understand the interest to run the WOC courses). Many people are interested in going but may not wish to run every day (especially if there is a clash between S6D and WOC races). It may be that careful planning can ensure that everyone has the possibility to run at least 4 of the 6 days without clashing with WOC races or the chance to run WOC courses but we may also have to promote the 4/6 a bit more.

[plain lazy]

I'd prefer for S6D Day 5 to have shorter distances (eg a middle-distance day?)

Since racing at the Croeso 2012 last year I'm a big fan of the mixed discipline multi day format. They ran 2 Classics, then a Middle, rest day, then 2 Classics and a final Sprint on Day 6.

6 Days of racing classic distance takes the "holiday" bit out of the orienteering holiday. If the S6D had one or two Middle/Sprint races mixed into the week like they did in Aberystwyth last year then I for one would be much happier.

If that would help folk find time to spectate at WOC (I include myself in that group having missed being around for WOC 99) then I can't see any down side...

[Dave]

a final Sprint on Day 6.

35 mins is the top end of a Middle Distance, not a sprint.

[graeme]

Especially if we need to go for split starts.

I think you're missing the point. On the relay day both WOC and S6D are in the same arena, so you can watch WOC while waiting for split starts if the timings overlap. But you might miss some of the WOC action while you run. So you can tell us that you'd rather spend 9 hours at the event (but we wont believe you).

35 mins is the top end of a Middle Distance, not a sprint.

This is true. Although in fact the event in question was neither: it was that far more popular format, the urban race. I believe* S6D may be offering an urban race on the WOC middle day at a nearby location.

* a word which here means "have been telling them for the last six months that they should"

[DJM]

We had 440 replies to an online questionnaire following last year's Croeso and the responses to two of the statements seem very pertinent ...

"The programme was enhanced by the inclusion of the Urban race in Aberystwyth"
43% Strongly agree
27% Agree
21% Neutral
6% Disagree
4% Strongly disagree

"A future Croeso should retain the programme of four Long Distance races and two Middle Distance races (one of which may be an Urban race)"
27% Strongly agree
40% Agree
20% Neutral
10% Disagree
3% Strongly disagree

The message is very clear. There is a strong preference for retention of the model we laid on at Croeso rather than the six Long races (the Scottish 6Day model) of previous years.

Although I have competed at as many Scottish 6 Days as most, I have not enjoyed the toughness of six physical races (more or less) in a row, with Oban 2011 being especially rough. I do wonder if the event survives via a loyal base of customers who attend despite the format rather than because of it. The Croeso format experiment was so successful that it seems a "no brainer" not to follow it in Scotland too ...

[graeme]

The message is very clear.

Indeed.
The first response shows massive enthusiasm for the urban race.
The second response shows that when you offer, in addition to the urban race, another middle distance race, support is reduced. Taken together the message is:

"We're so keen for an urban race that we'll even accept a middle race to get it"

If the 6-day is paying attention, it will offer an urban race, and stick to the current format of each day being midway between "long" and "middle" distance.

n.b. on M50 "middle" winning time should be around 33, "long" around 65: our S6D average was, in fact, 52.

[Domhnull Mor]

I'm not sure if this is what was meant but the idea of an urban race within the S6D multi-day competition may well be attractive but Abersytwyth was fortunate to have a good location and less than 2000 runners. It worked well for them but how many urban areas (any?) do we have available that could handle double that amount of people? Applying the middle distance option seems more feasible whilst retaining the rest-day option of a sprint or urban race with a limited entry.

[EddieH]

The Croeso "urban" race was not typically urban - the only roads were university campus and a very quiet housing estate with lots of paths and grass. I got the impression that most peole loved it including those that were doing one for the first time. It was very enjoyable terrain. It also had plenty of softer surfaces for those that are concerned about running on road surfaces. Standard streets may not appeal as much as the diehards seem to think to everyone.

[andypat]

It certainly makes sense to me not to have the toughest day on the last day of a multi day competition. Wales1 - Scotland0

The message is very clear.

Indeed.
The first response shows massive enthusiasm for the urban race.
The second response shows that when you offer, in addition to the urban race, another middle distance race, support is reduced. Taken together the message is:

"We're so keen for an urban race that we'll even accept a middle race to get it"

I'd like to offer an alternative hypothesis - when you offer a middle distance race on a really grotty area, people wont like it so much.

Wales 1 - Scotland 1

[JK]

...
I'd like to offer an alternative hypothesis - when you offer a middle distance race on a really grotty area, people wont like it so much.

Wales 1 - Scotland 1

So if there was a really grotty area you'd prefer a long rather than middle distance in it?

Personally instead of 6x 80-90% distance Longs I'd prefer more of a mixture.
So for a 6 day event maybe something like a 120% Long, 2x 90% Longs, a 70% long, a Middle and a Middle Urban or something like that (preferably a sprint too - but hey we need something to do on Rest day).
The Swiss 6 days tends to mix things up quite nicely.

The advantages are that you can use each terrain for the best type of event it can cope with (for instance there is often a downhill event at the Swiss); shorter courses can mean earlier finishers so better for travelling to/from a big event.

[JK]

The outline programme for the Scottish 6 Days is now available to view http://www.scottish6days.com/2015/

Looking at this reminds me that WTOC won't be held in conjunction with WOC in 2015


WTOC 2015 will be in Croatia though

[Freefall]

We have a Scottish 6 Day Central Organising Team meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) night. We should be able to publish further details of what was approved by the 6 Day Board. There might/will be a surprise.

[madmike]

I have not enjoyed the toughness of six physical races (more or less) in a row, with Oban 2011 being especially rough.

you should have tried being first starter every day DJM