I would like input on this question please to clarify the genre and in some way give help and ideas to competitors, planners and controllers.
I enjoy the challenge of urban racing (and also sprint racing but that is another but complementary topic). I prefer my races to be on hard, paved surfaces around detailed and intricate areas of buildings, car parks, housing complexes etc. I do not particularly like events that combine 'Park O' with 'Urban O' unless the park areas are paved and, preferably, small and complex. Small and intricate city/town green spaces are okay as they add to the variety of the courses. One of the issues this raises is concerns clothing and footwear.
I understand that this makes planning for junior courses difficult but hope that planning one does not compromise another.
What do others feel about 'Urbans"? Is it possible that the sum of all of our ideas may provide a definition that works for everyone and help organisers when advertising their events?
What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
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What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
Last edited by old lough on Sun Sep 09, 2018 2:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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old lough - off string
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
Not referring to any specific event were we - after todays enjoyable 'urban-cross' event around Hanley (and Central Forest Park)... (maybe 10% park - though often to keep juniors (and BOF?) happy planners utilise a park area for their course. (Not always the case abroad happily).
With the large majority of an 'urban' orienteering course keeping to the surfaced streets and paths , but with just a small amount of 'urban park' thrown in makes the course more interesting usually... though as you say, as long as it keeps to surfaced paths in the park areas... choosing shorts and urban footwear can get messy otherwise, especially if wet underfoot. Some urban events in the past have been lucky that it has been dry.
I do like to have variety though.
With the large majority of an 'urban' orienteering course keeping to the surfaced streets and paths , but with just a small amount of 'urban park' thrown in makes the course more interesting usually... though as you say, as long as it keeps to surfaced paths in the park areas... choosing shorts and urban footwear can get messy otherwise, especially if wet underfoot. Some urban events in the past have been lucky that it has been dry.
I do like to have variety though.
- nooomember
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
Personally I'm quite happy if the course includes urban parks, even if running across the grass is a sensible route choice, but I'm less keen when areas of forest and the like are included (or if the park is so steep that normal running flats will slip, but that doesn't happen very often). The main thing is that competitors know what to expect: so (for example) the information in the London City Race final details - hard surface >95% grass <5% forest 0% - I think is very helpful.
- roadrunner
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
I don't think we should tie down the definition. Just describing the terrain adequately (before entries close) should be sufficient. If people don't want to go to those events that have more park they don't have to.
I can recall at least two events that were a complete mix of urban and park / forest terrain - and they were both brilliant. Deciding on the most suitable footwear / clothing was a necessary element of the event. We don't want to artificially rule out such areas.
I can recall at least two events that were a complete mix of urban and park / forest terrain - and they were both brilliant. Deciding on the most suitable footwear / clothing was a necessary element of the event. We don't want to artificially rule out such areas.
- Snail
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
What I want from an urban is route choice on hard surfaces which I guess can be difficult to achieve if it affects the amount of permissions required. When the route choice is limited it ends up being a time trial with none of the navigational challenges expected of orienteering. I carry a compass but rarely use it especially on university campuses where building shape recognition is more useful for me.
I tend to wear trail running shoes rather than road running shoes unless I know it 100% tarmac.
I am keen on seeing famous or well known bits of cities during the race. I am also keen on there being a single punching type ideally touchfree after years of stopping to get my SI Card past the gripple, or find the box amongst the o-flag or vegetation being able to flow through the control site feels great.
My biggest annoyance is when cheating happens. Twice in my most recent urban race I could have crossed out of bounds areas as the most sensible routes out of controls if I hadn't glanced at the map to check and then ended up running in the opposite direction. Plan control sites to limit crossing out-of-bounds accidentally as far as possible.
I tend to wear trail running shoes rather than road running shoes unless I know it 100% tarmac.
I am keen on seeing famous or well known bits of cities during the race. I am also keen on there being a single punching type ideally touchfree after years of stopping to get my SI Card past the gripple, or find the box amongst the o-flag or vegetation being able to flow through the control site feels great.
My biggest annoyance is when cheating happens. Twice in my most recent urban race I could have crossed out of bounds areas as the most sensible routes out of controls if I hadn't glanced at the map to check and then ended up running in the opposite direction. Plan control sites to limit crossing out-of-bounds accidentally as far as possible.
- canol
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
Urban parks are fine as long as you're only going to be running on short grass or paths.
I've only run one event that crossed the boundary and it was in Ilkley, where they started on the hill to the south of the town - http://www.aire.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/# ... =1&route=9
It was a great event, it just wasn't Urban and I made the mistake of wearing flats (maybe I didn't read the final details) and it was really heavy rain. I think if it had been dry it wouldn't have been an issue.
I've only run one event that crossed the boundary and it was in Ilkley, where they started on the hill to the south of the town - http://www.aire.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/# ... =1&route=9
It was a great event, it just wasn't Urban and I made the mistake of wearing flats (maybe I didn't read the final details) and it was really heavy rain. I think if it had been dry it wouldn't have been an issue.
Andrew Dalgleish (INT)
Views expressed on Nopesport are my own.
Views expressed on Nopesport are my own.
- andy
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
andy wrote:Urban parks are fine as long as you're only going to be running on short grass or paths.
I've only run one event that crossed the boundary and it was in Ilkley, where they started on the hill to the south of the town - http://www.aire.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/# ... =1&route=9
It was a great event, it just wasn't Urban and I made the mistake of wearing flats (maybe I didn't read the final details) and it was really heavy rain. I think if it had been dry it wouldn't have been an issue.
lol you didn't make the SOUL at Dunstaffnage then. Cracking event but probably 20% urban if that and a 1k uphill moorland leg in the middle. With hindsight I probably would have not included it in the SOUL series as it didn't meet the criteria but I do really like mixed terrain sprint events. MOray Mix is a favourite weekend of mine.
Orienteering - its no walk in the park
- andypat
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
andypat wrote: but I do really like mixed terrain sprint events. MOray Mix is a favourite weekend of mine.
And we look forward to welcoming you again Andypat with Urban (plus a little bit of parkland and perhaps woodland) in Forres on Sat 27 Oct and a National Event in a newly LIDAR mapped Roseisle on Sun 28 Oct. Entries now open https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=4852
Oh, and there is the SOA Jnr Inter-Area Relays in Forres as well on Sat 27 Oct.
- Roomungous
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Re: What makes an 'Urban' and 'Urban'?
Well you know how much I like Forres Roo!
I'm doing my best to swing it with the family...
I'm doing my best to swing it with the family...
Orienteering - its no walk in the park
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