Proper Jobs

[wonderboy]

With the announcement of the new senior squad recently, I thought I would look at the jobs that its members did and I was suprised by quite how many students, mature or otherwise, comprise the current squad.

So I ask the question, is it possible to do the training required to be in the GBR squad with a normal job (45+ hours a week)

I have deliberately set this up to be contraversial and I appreciate the irony that I am doing a PhD but lack both the running ability and motivation to make that level, and I have respect for those who do.

I'm sure I will offend a few people by starting this poll, but I hope they will not hold it against me!

[Kitch]

thats not a normal job, in fact thats an illegal job according to the European Working Time Directive.

The answer to your question, however, is simple.
Jon Duncan works full time in a highly responsible position with BP and is not only in the GBR Squad he is one of our best and most consistent performers in International races.

The answer therefore is Yes.

So if ayone wants to treat it as an excuse - tough - you can't.

[ifor]

I was disscussing the trail / ultra running scene in France with Al during the Omm weekend. Basicaly ultra runnuing is realy big over there. For the big races you get thousands of people taking part, there are enough people doing it to to support plush glosy magazines etc. There is at least 10 times the participation level compared to the UK. Al put a lot of it down to the fact that they do a 35 hour week. If you are only working 35 hours compared to wonderboys 45, there is a lot more oportunity for the training nessasary for Ultras.

[Rach]

ah, but JD went half time for several months this year to make sure he could do the training he wanted.

so my answer is yes, but only if you have a very flexible emploer, which unfortunately only usually happens after you have worked somewhere for many years!

[Wattok]

I think it depends on how much the athlete wants it. Putting enough training/racing hours in & doing a full time job doesn't leave much time for anything else but if the hunger is there then the athlete will be happy and committed to do it - it wouldn't be easy. It is also a case of being selective in the races you go for and using your holiday time carefully and effectively...not speaking from experience though!

[SeanC]

Sorry to be picky, but for the benefit of those who've never come across it, the european working time directive is, unfortunately, not quite as helpful as Kitch says. The maximum working week is 48 hours per week, and that's an average over a long period, 13 weeks I think. Employees also have the right to opt out, which sounds fine until you are handed the opt out form on the first day of your job. You could opt to stay in the directive, but will your card be marked? The result is there are still plenty of long hours jobs where it must be very difficult to get the time to train for sport at any level. Not that I would know what that felt like, as I do my best to avoid both.

[DIDSCO]

It's certainly possible to be in the GBR squad and have a full-time job.....but it definatly isn't possible for an athlete to reach their maximum potential whilst working fulltime.

Kitch uses the example of J.D. as a full-time worker and international orienteer. J.D's got some great international results, but as I'm sure Jon would agree he hasn't maximised his potential(yet..?!) - he choose another route where he's got alot of satisfaction not only from orienteering but other areas of life, and he's probably dead happy with the way things have gone anyway...WOC bronze aint too bad
It's a huge sacrifice to try and maximise your potential in a non-professional sport like orienteering. Jamie did it partly with the lottery support but he had to give up his career for almost 10 years,...and he's probably dead happy the way things have gone anyway....A nice girlfriend and a house in Denmark aint too bad

[AndyO]

The simple answer to the question is yes, as Kitch points out. If you turn the question around and ask if it is possible to realise your full potential as an athlete/orienteer while doing a "normal" 9 to 5 5-day week job you'll get a different answer.

When you see world-class athletes, their sport is their job, and all their attention is focussed on training/preparing/competing, so for anyone to be able to be competitive at World level as JD has for so long, while still holding down a job, is just incredible.

What results could our teams achieve if they had the funding to go full-time as orienteers?

[Gross]

What results could our teams achieve if they had the funding to go full-time as orienteers?

Not nearly as good I don't believe being a full time orienteer is benifical to anyone... the mind becomes stale

[tendon]

I don't believe being a full time orienteer is benefical to anyone... the mind becomes stale

I'm trying to persuade my employer that working full time isn't beneficial to anyone, but don't seem to be getting anywhere

[sgb]

I'd guess the job is probably not as important as the flexibility one gets with it. I applied to spend the fourth year (ie. the Masters part) of my course based in a research group involved in Computational, rather than Synthetic, Chemistry. The primary reason for this was that I'm more interested in computers than test tubes, but at the time I applied, I knew full well that I wouldn't have the flexibility I wanted if I were to be always waiting for the next reaction to finish. The result being that I've been able to train when I want to as long as I do the work, and take the odd week off for training camps with the University's orienteering and cross country clubs. Which is most certainly an advantage, whatever the level at which one's competing!

[AndyO]

I could think up a few exercises to keep my train my mind as well as my body, Gross, at least I'd give it a go for a few years. Might even make the Scottish Vets at M65 if I really pushed it....

Now - where do I apply for funding? £100k a year should do it, might get some technical training in Lithuania thrown in

[Adventure Racer]

What results could our teams achieve if they had the funding to go full-time as orienteers?

Not nearly as good I don't believe being a full time orienteer is benifical to anyone... the mind becomes stale

Do the smileys imply you mean the opposite? So hard to tell with you!

[Gross]

Mean that I don't believe in full time orienteering.... it's never been seen to work in the past as far as I know... Even when substantial lottery funding was available in GB none of the top athletes became full time orienteers for more than a short period. And I can't think of any really successful orienteers worldwide who have been 'full time'... lots with half or quater time jobs, lots in the military (look at WMOC this week) but very, very few only orienteering.

[BJesus]

Gross >> Jørgen Rostrup lived as a professional orienteer for 2 years in finland and thats when he was at his best, Jarkko Houvila (lived in Halden for many years as a professional, and only now has got a proper job). Im sure that Pasi Ikonen, was a pretty much full time orienteer before starting his studies. As far as i know all these guys got there best results when full time orienteers.
Simone Niggli-Luder, finished her studies, now full time. the list goes on mate. If can cope financially, you will be better as a full time orienteer.