Discussion: << Newbie

Hi,

I'm new to this place and I'd like to get into it. I used to run cross country several years back, and now I'm just trying to keep up running in general. It's hard to find motivation when you're not on a team anymore and I'm hoping that the shame of an empty running log on here just might spur me on :)

So what is this whole set up, and where can I learn about orienteering in NJ, USA. Seems to be more of a Euro thing (+ Canada).

Educate me!

Thanks

Dan

Hi Dan,

Welcome to Attackpoint. I think you'll find it motivating to post your training, especially if you have other people reading your log, able to give you a good ribbing if you wimp out of a workout. ;-)

You'll be glad to know that NJ is quite centrally located for a lot of orienteering opportunity in the US. Check out DVOA, a very active and big club, for meets that might be local to you. For general O info the US Orienteering Federation site is a great place to start. The DVOA site also has lots of good intro information. And, of course, the people here on AP are (usually) very friendly and helpful if you have any questions. The discussion archives here are pretty chock-full of interesting tidbits, too.

Hope that helps!

Welcome Dan. Where do you live in NJ? I live just at the top of the Garden State Park on the NY side, but I am at school in MA right now. The Hudson Valley Orienteering club (HVO) covers northern NJ and southern NY, so if you are in the northern part of the state check out HVO for some local events. DVOA holds most of their events around the Philly area and eastern PA, but they have a couple in southern NJ every now and then so you should definitely check them out too.

DVOA is hosting a national meet (the Batona 500) in southern NJ in early November this year, so you should definitely check that out as you will be able to meet lots of Attackpoint members from around the country there.

We are always excited to see runners coming out to try Orienteering, so I think that you will find that people are quite friendly and helpful.

And don't worry about all those Euros and Canadians. There aren't really that many of them, they just like to make a lot of noise. They're pretty harmless for the most part.

Anyway, welcome to Attackpoint. I look forward to seeing you at some meets this Fall.

Oh, and you should definitely check out the DVOA training weekend at Hickory Run State Park on the 16th-17th of September. The Sprint Series Finals are on Sunday at the same place, so not only will you get some good Orienteering training, but you will also get to watch one of the coolest Orienteering races in North America.

Welcome Dan!!! Attackpoint definitely helps you get out and run. or at lest it does for me, i don't like looking at a empty training log. and as for orienteering, DVOA is a great club. everyone is very friendly and willing to help new comers. We normally have one event every weekend (not sure how close they will be to you though) The Hickory Run Training weekend as John said is a great place to start orienteering but at any event you can find someone to give you some explanation/training. hope you come out and try it soon and welcome to attackpoint!!

And don't worry about all those Euros and Canadians. There aren't really that many of them

BUT THEY ARE GOOD !!!!!!!!

Hi Dan,

Welcome!

There's some good info for beginning orienteers on the U S Orienteering Federation Web Site (linked above). Also, for an entertaining tale of a first-time orienteer, see Adventures of Joe Sark: Diary of a First-Time Orienteer on Orienteering Cincinnati's website.

Feel free to post any questions here on attackpoint too.

Mike Minium
V P Program Development
U S Orienteering Federation

Worry about the Aussies though.

Yes, but for entirely different reasons.

Hey, thanks for the info everyone.

As far as the Batona, that's not too far from me at all. I go to school in South Jersey ( Richard Stockton College of NJ ). I've got a hell of last semester lined up, but I'll see if I can go anyway. If i do go, how do I ID you guys. Is there some attackpoint paraphernalia (T shirt, arm band, balloons tied to running shorts) that I should be looking out for?

I plan on running in the Philly marathon, not the whole thing though. Relay, 4 mile leg, it'll be my first race in a long long time. Anyone else going to be there? Better yet, anyone care to make an attackpoint relay team? I'm a reserve on ski club team, so if someone else in the club wants my spot I'll end up trying to form a team of friends instead. Any takers?

Shek aka Dan - orienteering community is small but very friendly community. All you need to do is to show up at local meets or A-meets and as long as you attempt some kind of socializing - you shouldn't have a problem finding who is who...

We almost forgot to tell about golden O-rule for participating at A-meets...

First time A-meet finisher must buys a round of liquid carbs to all the A-meet veterans.

PS. Let me know if I need to explain term "Liquid carbs"

There's an empty keg of "liquid carbs" downstairs. I think I got it.

Videos by Thierry Gueorgiou. Here you get some idea what it is like.

Orienteering game/simulator:
Catching Features

Maps, routes, dot animations around the world:
RouteGadget
RunOway

Here is another "useful" link


Orienteering is my life from

Orienteering is my life" by NTNUI discusion.

So how competitive is this around here (NJ, USA). What kind of pace will the top end be running at the Batona 500?

If I'm running 6 min/mile pace by the time the competition comes around, will that put me in the front, middle, or back of the rest? -- And yes, I realize that not getting lost and using the best route is as valuable as being able to move quickly.

If you're a runner - simply put, you'll outrun your ability to read the map when starting out. Running won't be your limiting factor.

If you are in a physical shape to run 6 min/mile on trails for an hour, this shape will put you near the top. Not at the very top, but near.

Even if you navigate cleanly, there is substantial skill required to move quickly through the forest. In the same way as trail running requires more technical skill than road racing, off-trail running requires even more skill to be able to move at speeds that are close to the limit determined by your aerobic capacity. I.e. if you do not have the correct muscles, you will get tired and move at a suboptimal oxygen uptake rate.

Running road races is different then running races on trails. However terrain running is not as close to trail running that some people think it is. There is no natural rhythm to it. Depending on terrain almost every step could be different from previous. You got to be physically fit and good runner to succeed in orienteering. But do not assume that if you can run 6 min miles on road that you'll be no problem shadowing (follow without reading map) even average orienteer.

If you have not done orienteering before (or just as a boy-scout which almost does not count) then here is my prediction - ether you will like it and you will get hooked for life or you will not like it at all.

If it happens that you enjoy orienteering then it will not matter if you are successful right away. That's just my observation that spans over 20+ years and includes orienteers from Latvia (that's where I am originally from) and US.

I am not implying that you shall not plan to be successful with orienteering however what I am sensing is that you have not done first step yet - go out and try it for a while.

There is nothing wrong with being competitive and wanting to succeed. Even I am a shadow of who I used to be physically and technically with orienteering every race I participate I run it not just to complete the race but to win. Don't even tell me before the race that I have no chance of winning....