Orienteering is the sport of navigation, using a highly detailed map. Whether you’re an experienced hiker, competitive runner, or just a family or group out for an activity in a park, this sport helps you improve your navigation each time.
Wikipedia even goes further, calling it a group of sports:
Orienteering is a group of sports that require navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they use to find control points.
Per my previous post, that's the second race Jason (Reed) was going to after racing the Big Bunny Fun Run in Cupertino. Although I had told him I wasn't racing because of the calf injury, he insisted I give it a try to that other format, even if only to walk the 5K option with his wife, Erika, and... their baby due in... 3 days! That's typical of the Reeds, always on the move and involved in competitive sports, from running to body building or table tennis! Not to forget trivia and Jeopardy, if they were sports too.
While I was really not in the racing mood, the topic got my curiosity and I decided to run to the start of the event in Sunnyvale, about 4.5 miles from home (I would end up running a slow half marathon on a strained calf that Saturday...). I got there a few minutes before Jason and Erika. They showed me the mystery map they were handed a few minutes before the start, to study and decide which route they were going to create to go through all the required checkpoints, 26 for the 10K.
At each checkpoint you have a question which requires you to be at the precise spot to get the visual clue, something unique proving that you were indeed at that point on the map. Something which you can't find an answer to on the Internet!
Coming from a company selling mathematical optimization software, that looked like a great instance of the famous TSP (Travelling Salesman Problem)! Quite a combinatorial problem and, as Jason had warned me, leading to participants taking off in multiple directions right off the bat. Quite different from a classic race where we all follow the same route.
I apologize for not staying until the finish because of other family plans. While I ran back home, I saw a few participants running or walking in different directions indeed; so surprising!
By the way, I'm afraid to ask how such an event can take place in a city, what the event insurance entails, especially as participants might be tempted to cut corners and jay walk... At least the pricing of the event is super reasonable and affordable.
Anyway, it was interesting to see and get to know more although I can't say I experienced love at first sight. As I tease those asking if we can walk while running an ultra, it's really the running and speed I like in... running. That being said, this certainly looks like a much more engaging way to walk and hike. I also have to admit that the finding-your-way thing isn't appealing to me, which I'll keep as an excuse for not being interested in the grueling Barkley Marathons. Give me a good and well-marked course, please!
And a good briefing that you'd better be attentive to!
In any event, kudos to Rex for organizing such an active series with orienteering events every month!
Kudos to Jason for winning the 10K race (of course...!), in 55 minutes. Assuming he optimized the route to cover the 26 checkpoints with a 10K route, didn't stop at intersections, ran the 10K at 6:30 min/mile, that's less than 30 seconds by checkpoint to catch the clue and write it down.
And mega kudos to Erika for winning the 5K event as well (women division), while 9-month pregnant! What a way to stay healthy before the big day! See all the results.
Also noting that it was refreshing to visit the RoadRunners store. That was the first brand I bought my running apparel from. And they do have such a broad selection, although I spent more time checking on the Brooks section for some unknown reasons... ;-) Can't believe they are even able to price my favorite Brooks Launch 9 at $80.95, that's bold! And $69.95 on line, this is a STEAL! (PS: they are actually passing through Books' current sales.) But even better to visit the store on McKinley, they'll check your stride and gait as well.
Now you know, a new sport awaits, run the world with a map and Find-Your-Way, Go Wild! Thank you for the invitation, Jason, and all the best, Erika!
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