Getting lost and having fun
By Claire Rizos, first published in the Autumn edition of “Stride”, the jogScotland.org.uk magazine.
As a beginner runner I find that my mind tells me all sorts of reasons why I should stop for a breather (perhaps it still happens when you’re good at it too?!). The secret to eliminating this problem is it seems, quite simple – Orienteering!
It was 20 years ago as a student at Stirling University that I first tried Orienteering. A few of us started up a new club and although most of us had no experience, we had a great time travelling all over Scotland. Back then hill walking was my main passion and the motivation for Orienteering was primarily to improve my navigation skills.
This year, having recently moved to the west coast of Scotland I was looking for a way to get involved in the local community. Too many years working far too hard in the South of England had also meant that I’d lost fitness and gained weight. I started jogging, joined the Jog Scotland group in Oban and shortly afterwards saw a piece in a local magazine about Loch Eck Orienteers. I was amazed to find a group local to my area given that we’re quite remote here.
Going along to try it out I was in trepidation. Would I remember how to map read? Would I manage it in ordinary trainers? What if I wasn’t fit enough (I could only jog for about 30 minutes)? What if I got completely lost? But I needn’t have worried. Everyone at the registration desk was friendly and encouraging. They were happy to explain the basics including how the new technology worked – since the old punch type control points have now been replaced with electronics at this club.
The event included a choice of ‘Colour coded’ courses which involve navigating to control points in the order marked on a detailed map of the terrain. Each control point is marked on the ground with an orange and white ‘flag’. In this case the ‘Yellow’ course was 1.5Km, ‘Orange’ 3Km, ‘Green’ 4.5Km, ‘Blue’ 6Km. The courses increase in difficulty as well as length according to the colour code. After helpful advice from the club members at the desk I chose an Orange course - they reminded me that the course is measured ‘as the crow flies’ and so the actual distances would be quite a bit further than the 3Km stated. It’s always worth starting cautiously with orienteering. Much better to have a good time, generally not get too lost, and make it home before nightfall!
One thing I noticed was that there was an enormous range of ages at the event. There were a lot of young families, school children, retirees and everything in-between. It was obvious that some took it incredibly seriously, whilst others turned out in hiking boots with no intention of breaking a sweat! In the lower categories it’s quite common for less experienced orienteers to go in pairs as well, or to be ‘shadowed’ by someone who can stop them going too far off course.
In exchange for a small fee I received a map showing the 12 control points to visit, numbered in order. I also received a loan of an electronic device the size of a pen top, which, it was explained, I should ‘punch’ at each control by inserting it into the receiver until I heard a loud beep. To start the event all I had to do was to ‘punch’ at the ‘Start’ control and get going.
(It’s worth noting that for many events you’ll need to register for a start time to prevent bunching up with other competitors, but you can usually still just turn up on the day).
Once I’d started out I was grateful to see that the first control would be easy to find, being located just off to the left of the road which I was starting out on. It was at this point that I remembered that there are special symbols used in orienteering which tell you exactly where the control is in relation to a type of feature. For example, this first control was in a gateway. Another later in the course was on the north west side of a small mound. It’s possible to find out more about these symbols on orienteering websites, but if you ask nicely one of the willing club members at the registration desk will usually give you a run through. I’d done neither so I knew at that point that I’d have to manage as best I could!
Having found and ‘punched’ the first control I looked at the map and found that the next one was near a stream. I took the path which I thought would get me there but found myself at a derelict building which was clearly way off track. I retraced my steps noting that I’d now been overtaken by two ten year old girls.
And so it went on. The scenery was fabulous with a good part of the route involving a run along the Argyll coast. It was hard not to get distracted by the beautiful views on such a sunny spring evening but I wanted to keep a very close eye on the map so that at most times I knew exactly where I was. At one point I did get a bit lost, looking for a feature which I thought was a bridge. Fortunately though, the two ten year olds squealed with delight when they found the right place (a gulley, not a bridge). Following their cries I quickly located the lost control point and was back on course! Eventually it was all over, I’d punched the final control and was home and dry.
I realised that I’d walked and jogged for about an hour with very little thought to the fact that I was out of breath, my knees ached, or any of the other excuses which seemed to plague my mind during the average run. Some of the time I’d been able to run for a while where there was a good track and I knew exactly where I was going. At other times I had slowed up due to rougher terrain, to check the map, to breathe(!), or to look around for the control point.
I had such a good evening that I looked at the Eck-O website (http://www.ecko.org.uk) for details of the next event. I found out that membership of the club was free and that it was even possible to get free membership of British Orienteering for the first year. As a member I would receive discounts on event entry fees and various other benefits such as a newsletter. Given the incentives I signed up straight away and now find that I’m much keener to get out training on the hills around Oban, as I’m looking forward to the Autumn season.
I’d definitely recommend other joggers and runners to give Orienteering a go. It’s a great way to work out without realising you’re working. It’s also a good way of improving your navigation for hill running or hill walking.
Claire Rizos
(first published in the Autumn edition of “Stride”, the jogScotland.org.uk magazine)
Posted on 02nd Nov 09
by Admin -
Claire Rizos
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