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Orienteering

  

What is Orienteering?

Orienteering is a running navigation sport, where participants use a detailed map to visit a series of check-points (controls) as quickly as possible. The route is unmarked, and runners are free to choose their own way between check points.

Top competitors are highly-trained athletes, capable of racing at high speed through rough forested terrain. Besides specific navigation-technique and terrain exercises, orienteers generally train like long-distance runners.

Races

Orienteering races can be any length, but these are the most popular (by winning time):

  • Sprint - 12-15 minutes
  • Middle - 25-30 minutes
  • Long - 70-90 minutes
  • Relay - 3-4 runners x 30-45 minutes

Top runners’ pace averages around 5 min/km in the forest but can be as quick as 3-4 min/km in sprint events, where there is often more running on faster surfaces like grass, trails, and roads.

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