mispunching

[iainwp]

I seem to have a mispunching problem, not punching the wrong control, but actually missing one out. This has happened at long, sprint and middle events and affected me 5 times in the last 10 or so races. As far as I can debug, it seems that having punched I look at the map, work out where to go next and get this wrong. I guess I should have a better routine as I approach a control, any tips?

iain

[andy]

thumb the map?
count the control numbers off in your head?

[drobin]

Use an EMIT v3 card.

[graeme]

Stop trying to be Thierry Gueorgiou?

[andypat]

Graeme's slightly facetious comment is probably closest to the truth Iain. Planning ahead is a skill that also involves not planning so far ahead that you forget what control you are on. It quite easy to make that sort of error on sprint, but if you are doing it on long it sounds like you are thinking too far ahead as you come into the control. Its fine to plan the next leg in advance if you can, but coming into the control maybe you should concentrate on making sure its your control and flowing through it in the right direction.

As Andy says if you have your thumb on the map AND head off in the right direction, you shouldnt have much of a problem.

[Gnitworp]

count the control numbers off in your head?

I need a method of reminding myself to do this in spite of all the distractions that make me forget to do it - some way of habituating the brain. The problem of missing controls is not a thumbing issue, but one of not consciously 'seeing' them (incredible though it may seem), or simply immediately focusing on the route to wrong next control, most common in sprints and urban where numbers, lines and circles can be obscured by detail, especially buildings, and the best (or any) route is nowhere near the straight line. I find the phenomenon can sometimes happen mid-leg, where the brain switches to a subsequent rather than the right next control. I invariably know exactly where I am all the time, indeed my navigation to the wrong control can be perfect!
(like my 'perfect' leg 16-18 in the Sprint heats last Saturday)

[iainwp]

count the control numbers off in your head?

I need a method of reminding myself to do this in spite of all the distractions that make me forget to do it - some way of habituating the brain. The problem of missing controls is not a thumbing issue, but one of not consciously 'seeing' them (incredible though it may seem), or simply immediately focusing on the route to wrong next control, most common in sprints and urban where numbers, lines and circles can be obscured by detail, especially buildings, and the best (or any) route is nowhere near the straight line. I find the phenomenon can sometimes happen mid-leg, where the brain switches to a subsequent rather than the right next control. I invariably know exactly where I am all the time, indeed my navigation to the wrong control can be perfect!
(like my 'perfect' run in the Sprint heats last Saturday)

this is exactly it. i need a routine to go through as approaching the control, which includes:

* What is next control, i.e. number in course?
* What control number on box/kite?
* What is the next control in the course, usually +1
* What is it's box number and the following one, if I overrun ...
* Which direction should I run in?
* Probably something about control description too, especially for ISSOM.

at running pace for me, my brain can't do this ...

my mistake is to get these start at the map first rather than my control descriptions, if I look at the map wrong and everything else fails from there ...

at a recent sprint event I noticed a control circle as it covered a gate so it wasn't clear whether it was open or locked, but didn't actually visit the control ... crazy

[Marco Polo]

Repeating a lot of what has been said already.
A lot of control flow is knowing which way you are going to leave the control before you punch, so incorporating it into a control flow mental checklist makes sense..

I might leave out trying to remember the next but one control? Removes the potential to get the 2 mixed up.

Perhaps one of your club coaches could work on control flow on a future club night?

[Gnitworp]

at a recent sprint event I noticed a control circle as it covered a gate so it wasn't clear whether it was open or locked, but didn't actually visit the control ... crazy

That's 'crazy' for amateurs.

At the Welsh 6 Days two years ago we had a control right by a marked compulsory wall crossing point, whose number '11' exactly coincided with the wall further up so that it looked exactly like another crossing point. At least six people (including me) missed the control because they couldn't see a number. Several mentioned their plight to the embarrassed and extremely apologetic and sympathetic planner. After consultation, the organisers, because 'it was 'holiday' multiple day event', decided, extremely generously, to reinstate, without penalty, all runners who'd missed control 11(they'd run right by it to use the crossing point). Subsequently, however, an understandably aggrieved competitor, who'd 'bothered' to punch at number 11 and had had his best run so far, complained vociferously, and quite rightly all 'mispunchers' were (ceremonially) de-reinstated!

[johnrobinson]

An interesting discussion. Is it an age related phenomena? I cannot remember mispunching at any event until relatively recently but now it is a common accurance for me (M60 +). Sometimes I can explain it ( three controls in a line for example especially two close and one further away , easy to focus on the farthest one) other times seems less obvious. Missed the penultimate control at Bath uni after a good run and dealing with all the tricky legs , was not even aware of the mistake until download , just didn't "SEE it". nearly did same at Keele, started heading for wrong control at end of longish leg , just caught myself in time.
Seems more common at urban and sprint events, speed of thinking and reading map issues or just too much clutter on some maps..?

[Knee Deep Mud!]

I've done this a few times. Generally its been when I've been pushing hard and got into a bit of oxygen debt. The brain stops working properly, and starts to see what it wants to see, rather than what is on the map. If you're lucky you come across something so out of place that it jars your brain back into gear, and you can start navigating again. If not, you have a bit of a shock when you get DQed at download.
Its not age related as I first made this type of mistake as an M21. Only ever done it in forest events,so not urban specific.

[blindasabat]

I do think there is an age-related aspect to this.

I too mispunched the control Gnitworp mentions at the Welsh. I just couldn't see that there was a control on the map until I was told I had mispunched and then I had to take my glasses off and really look closely.

However, I am really starting to struggle at urban events as (like others I have spoken to) I cannot resolve the red over print against the dark grey buildings. Consequently when a line from one control passes through other control circles, (as happened at Bath Uni where line for my 14-15, went through the circles of 18 and 9) I tend to visit extra controls and, if I have been unable to resolve the control number, get very confused when I struggle to find the correct line to follow out of it. Thus shed loads of time get lost just standing still with glasses off peering at the map

[Slowtochide]

However, I am really starting to struggle at urban events as (like others I have spoken to) I cannot resolve the red over print against the dark grey buildings. Consequently when a line from one control passes through other control circles, (as happened at Bath Uni where line for my 14-15, went through the circles of 18 and 9) I tend to visit extra controls and, if I have been unable to resolve the control number, get very confused when I struggle to find the correct line to follow out of it. Thus shed loads of time get lost just standing still with glasses off peering at the map

Which leads to a separate point. I agree about red and dark grey contrast. IMHO the 'standard' colours don't work very well in this situation and should be adjusted by the mapper to improve contrast. For the London City race we usually send maps of to the printer for a draft run 3 weeks before the event; and as a result we have (I think) always lightened the building colour. I STRONGLY recommend getting a draft print run done for any significant event with laser printed maps - it can catch problems both large and small well in advance.

Sorry for wandering off topic a bit but I suspect map clarity is one factor in mispunching

[Mr D]

I have mispunched, in Urban Events.

The feature was a metal fence, with controls either end. The contact number was 77, and i punched 71.

Control 77 and 71 were on either end of the fence. It was the 2nd to last control, and i was rather tired.

However, i did not know that you could head back out, correct the mistake and finish again.

[Tatty]

Not sure that you can. I thought once you had finished you could not go back!