Discussion: GNC Injuries

According to a participant of this weekend's Georgia Navigator Cup, Saturday's races were plagued by an unusually high number of injuries -- including several broken bones. What was the real story?

According to the last information I had, there was just one broken bone, and several bad sprains. My guess would be very muddy trails, and other muddy areas, along with what seemed to be a larger than normal number of ankle-sized holes in the ground appearing as I ran.

drizzly foggy weather, slippery clay, lots of stump holes & a few rocky areas. Large number of competitors compared to many US "A' events. There did not seem to be anything too extraordinary about the event conditions. I don't have the stats, but I'd be surprised if the final number was exceptional enough to be statistically significant.

The mud was quite bad and it was raining when i went out. There were also some areas in which it wasn't totally green as you could see through it but a lot of vine like things in which your feet were pron to getting caught in. Also some of the gullies were a bit deeper than i expected. I will say i face planted at least once in the mud. But nothing that i haven't experienced before.
My guess is that there were a lot of people there that don't normally come to "A" meets. And may only come orienteering when it is nice weather?

Conditions seemed normal to me for any orienteering in rainy weather, horse trails were typically rutted and muddy and footing was fine in the woods with cleated shoes

I thought the traction was quite good overall for the weather.

I wore spikes and had no problem with traction. I did have a problem with wait-a-minute vines and similar vegetation as well as the noted stump holes. I rolled my ankle a bit less than I usually do on a course.

Talking of injuries on Saturday, for those who had later start, cold rain could also be a contributing factor. But it was never overly muddy or slippery, imo.

About the meet in general, a better than usual for GA map quality, yet disappointing course design, like the blue course was essentially 9 km long orange on both days.

This was the first time I've ever orienteered in the rain and mud, but I didn't have too much trouble. All of the wet leaves provided nice cushioning for the four times (thats a PR for me :) I either tripped on roots/thorny vines, stepped into what could've been a fox hole (?), or slipped off of a wet log and into a stream. My rubber cleats took care of the mud.

Jaxon: Metal spikes might have helped on the wet logs.

Judging by your times, I'd say you didn't have any trouble at all! ;-)

Yes i was about to say you should have fallen a bit more so that my ranking points weren't as affected but hey nice racing this past weekend!!!