England win VHI 2014

[Arnold]

Re the "classic" style of planning - I think the main issue is control inflation generally in the last few years - in concert with overmapping of tiny features. So more features mapped -> more controls -> even more features mapped and so on

In some areas you can't really help it, especially here down south - if there are paths everywhere and the forest in between isn't that exciting, then fewer controls means more path running.

But in many (most?) long races I run, taking a few controls out would make it a better course. And adding a really long route choice.

[afterthought]

Yes I agree there may be control inflation (I wonder who may have some numbers as to whether there are more controls per km than there used to be? )

By coincidence, I see Gernot Kerschbaumer writing

the trend is obviously going towards “prolonged middle distances” on the long distance.

in his current post at http://www.gernotkerschbaumer.at/news/no-shorts-anymore-/

[Gnitworp]

I have always tried to apply the following maxim to my course planning:

Every leg should be as long as it possibly can be without reducing the quality of the preceding or subsequent leg or itself, which inevitably results in some very short legs.
It's a very, very difficult art of compromise throughout.

[graeme]

In some areas you can't really help it, especially here down south - if there are paths everywhere and the forest in between isn't that exciting, then fewer controls means more path running.

Why is there this obsession against path running? If there are loads of paths everywhere, then its perfectly possible to plan good long legs with lots of route choice and many decision points. Surely that's more interesting than looking for the single pit in each block of forest? The BMOC bracken fairies took this to an extreme, their rationale apparently being that it's better to plan routes using tracks that aren't marked on the map than to use tracks that are!

The constraints of different areas lead naturally to different planning styles - surely this diversity is something to celebrate!

[mikey]

In some areas you can't really help it, especially here down south - if there are paths everywhere and the forest in between isn't that exciting, then fewer controls means more path running.

Why is there this obsession against path running? If there are loads of paths everywhere, then its perfectly possible to plan good long legs with lots of route choice and many decision points. Surely that's more interesting than looking for the single pit in each block of forest? The BMOC bracken fairies took this to an extreme, their rationale apparently being that it's better to plan routes using tracks that aren't marked on the map than to use tracks that are!

The constraints of different areas lead naturally to different planning styles - surely this diversity is something to celebrate!

As in 7-8 here

http://www.arua.ch/packfigures/woc-men-langdistanz.jpg

[EddieH]

Regarding the Forest of Dean, roll on an increase in wild boar - I am sure it is they that made it so runable in September.

Really enjoyed the event - thanks NGOC.