Urban / Sprint O, what is it?
There are a few Urban / Sprint events coming up in the calendar, and you may be wondering what it’s all about.
There will be a presentation on Sprint techniques at the Benmore event on Sunday Feb 15th and below are some extracts from that.
The main factors in Sprint orienteering are:
- Route choices can be very different to ‘normal’-O
- Decisions need to be made faster
- Generally in a park / urban setting
- Shorter courses
- Puts orienteering in the public eye
- Demands quick orienteering
Skills Needed To Succeed at Sprint-O
For club-level runners Technical skills are most important, as the runner progresses Physical and Mental preparation become more important.
Technical
Route Choice - Precision - Flow - Simplification
Physical
KEY in Sprint-O –only run as fast as you can orienteer.
Another key area is using your speed wisely in the race.
If you put yourself in oxygen debt or over your lactate threshold too far –leg burning syndrome– it takes a large proportion of the race time to recover.
Mental
Sprint races can be full of surprises
Some can be planned for, others you just need to be flexible.
The additional factor of knowing every second can make a difference can increase tensions too.
Confidence is key to overcoming this.
Example event
Have a look at the RouteGadget for the Oban Sprint event that was part of the Purple Thistle last August, this was a typical Urban / Sprint event.
What now?
Come along to Benmore Botanical Gardens, nr. Dunoon on Sunday 15th February.
First you will take part in a 15 minute Sprint Score event, then head indoors. Then whilst eating your lunch there will be a presentation on Sprint-O techniques. Then it’s back outside for a full scale Sprint event where you can try out your new found skills.
There is an excellent Tea/coffee shop on-site to enable you to replace all those calories you have burnt off.
There are no entry fees for the gardens at this time of the year, so you can explore the gardens before and after the event. There is plenty to see/do for non-orienteering members of the family.
See this website for more about the gardens.
Useful links
This YouTube video has some top tips from Nick Barrable, Ex-British Sprint champion.
Posted on 06th Jan 09
by Paul Frost - Website, Membership, Publicity
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