Mixed Sprint Relay - athlete feedback

[Spookster]

Interesting feedback from athletes (albeit mostly Swedish and Swiss) on the recent mixed sprint relay in Turkey.

http://orienteering.org/foot-orienteeri ... valuation/

[andypat]

The feedback is quite interesting. No huge surprises.

I think the most interesting part is that the feedback talks throughout about the "sprint relay" and there's only one question which refers to the mixed element of it. I'm not sure whether to take from this that sprint relay might not always be mixed?

I also noted that the runners tended to think the courses were too easy. I've only done one mixed sprint relay (the test event that was knocked up in 2 weeks by Tay/FVO with Dave R planning) and I think there was a general feel that the courses were also technically a bit easy. I dont know for sure (I guess nobody does yet) but my guess is that the format of mixed sprint places significant limitations on planning, possibly to the detriment of good sprint planning.

[The Loofa]

As the two fastest Swiss teams mis-punched it can't have been that easy

[mrmoosehead]

As the two fastest Swiss teams mis-punched it can't have been that easy

Unless that was the touch free punching and not just the difficulty.

[mikey]

As I've said elsewhere, let the teams choose their running order but keep them secret until all teams/running orders are declared. Everything becomes much more tactical then.

Scotia at WOC 2015 in Forres (or wherever) trying to chase down (say) the leading Swiss lady on the last leg would be fun to watch.

It becomes much more interesting then and a much better spectacle than a 3k running race interspersed with waving your hand or foot at a distant flag.

[DJM]

I dont know for sure (I guess nobody does yet) but my guess is that the format of mixed sprint places significant limitations on planning, possibly to the detriment of good sprint planning

If you look at the maps used you'll see the reason for this straightaway. The terrain did not lend itself to technical Sprint planning - nothing to to do with the mixed format ...

[greywolf]

The terrain did not lend itself to technical Sprint planning - nothing to to do with the mixed format ...

So are you saying the terrain used was inappropriate for the event? It may have been an "unofficial" World Cup race but the final bulletin lists an Asst. IOF Senior Event Adviser (Sprint Relay). Or was it that the organisers picked the most appropriate terrain (i.e. non technical) for the event specification? Do the areas being used for the sprint relays at WOC 2014 and 2015 lend themselves to technical sprint planning??

It becomes much more interesting then

You're assuming that the objective is to produce an interesting race for people who know about orienteering, rather than a predictable race for those who don't

[Big Jon]

As I've said elsewhere, let the teams choose their running order but keep them secret until all teams/running orders are declared. Everything becomes much more tactical then.

Scotia at WOC 2015 in Forres (or wherever) trying to chase down (say) the leading Swiss lady on the last leg would be fun to watch.

It becomes much more interesting then and a much better spectacle than a 3k running race interspersed with waving your hand or foot at a distant flag.

If teams pick their own order, then every one will finish with their best male runner.

[andypat]

I dont know for sure (I guess nobody does yet) but my guess is that the format of mixed sprint places significant limitations on planning, possibly to the detriment of good sprint planning

If you look at the maps used you'll see the reason for this straightaway. The terrain did not lend itself to technical Sprint planning - nothing to to do with the mixed format ...

Sorry DJM - youve missed both my points.

The format of two men and two women inhibits the planner who must find a way to even out the 4 legs. This is much harder to do (I think) when working with two sets of two (gender specific) than 1 set of three. This also then has an impact on the technicality of the area as its easier to get 2 sets of 2 courses on a less technical area when you dont need to worry about all the issues you get with houses getting in the way. Or you end up with multiple loops rather than gaffles. So sprint relays will tend to get run on easier areas - possibly.

[Scott]

It's not really that different from planning two sets of three sprint qualifiers on the same area. And aside from convenience for the planner (and TV crews!), there's no reason why the women's legs need to bear any resemblance to the men's, given that you can't gaffle the men against the women anyway.

The one thing that is likely to compromise the course is an "arena passage", which will significantly restrict how far from the arena the planner can go to get into interesting terrain, and which will make it much, much harder to fit a decent long leg in.