Discussion: For all the walkers out there
in: Orienteering; General
Apr 26, 2015 1:49 PM
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So, since I was a kid in Scouts I've loved Orienteering. Sadly, I had little chance to do it outside of Scouts. Then adult responsibilities rose their ugly head and I got down to life.
Fast forward many years and an opportunity to "do" Orienteering again came up when my boys were in a Scout troop. As the only adult to even have heard about Orienteering, not to mention be able to spell it, I became the go-to Orienteering guy for the troop. I did much studying, and thankfully the area the troop was in had active Orienteering groups so the boys got lots of practice. Even I got to do some meets, although I always dragged one of my daughters along with me, figuring that would give her a chance to see how much fun it is.
Fast forward yet again, and I'm currently stationed somewhere with Orienteering, although at a very reduced scale. I am going to my first meet in May, although it is a "trail orienteering" meet. But I figured that would give me a chance to get my map/compass skills back up.
So that brings me to this thread topic: Any others out there, perhaps with bad knees too, who simply like going out with map and compass and walking/slow-running to each of the controls, just having fun out there?
Fast forward many years and an opportunity to "do" Orienteering again came up when my boys were in a Scout troop. As the only adult to even have heard about Orienteering, not to mention be able to spell it, I became the go-to Orienteering guy for the troop. I did much studying, and thankfully the area the troop was in had active Orienteering groups so the boys got lots of practice. Even I got to do some meets, although I always dragged one of my daughters along with me, figuring that would give her a chance to see how much fun it is.
Fast forward yet again, and I'm currently stationed somewhere with Orienteering, although at a very reduced scale. I am going to my first meet in May, although it is a "trail orienteering" meet. But I figured that would give me a chance to get my map/compass skills back up.
So that brings me to this thread topic: Any others out there, perhaps with bad knees too, who simply like going out with map and compass and walking/slow-running to each of the controls, just having fun out there?
Apr 26, 2015 5:00 PM
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I think you're talking to me (and a few other 60+ folks). I've been orienteering 25 years; I got started because I wanted something besides "just running" (not being a fast runner to begin with) and discovered how much fun orienteering could be.
Recent years and injuries have made me slow down so that "running" usually only happens on trails or down hills. Bad knees, bad ankles, but I'll keep going as long as I can because I love the thrill of finding the controls and trying to find the most efficient route for my abilities.
Recent years and injuries have made me slow down so that "running" usually only happens on trails or down hills. Bad knees, bad ankles, but I'll keep going as long as I can because I love the thrill of finding the controls and trying to find the most efficient route for my abilities.
Apr 26, 2015 8:02 PM
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Plenty of people orienteer at whatever speed they're comfortable at. This website has something of a focus on high-speed competition, but there's nothing wrong with doing it however it works for you.
"Trail orienteering" is something different, though. Kind of like how a pineapple isn't an apple.
"Trail orienteering" is something different, though. Kind of like how a pineapple isn't an apple.
This discussion thread is closed.