Ultra Sprint - especially aimed at juniors Friday 11th January 2012

By Colin Hicks , 7 January, 2013

Please see below from Emily Benham SARUM.
Sprint into the 2013 Orienteering season with an ultra-sprint training
session. The ultra-sprint concept has been around for years from purpose
built mazes to 1:500 orienteering maps of small complex terrains. It's a
fantastic way to train in a high-speed, high-pressure environment and to
prepare for your important races this season. Get to grips with head-to-head
racing, knockout sprints and challenging indoor mazes.

The concept is simple: orienteer around the indoor sports hall getting all
the controls as fast as you can.

The reality is much harder: orienteer around an indoor sports hall, trying
to avoid crashes with your competitors, while getting all the controls in
the right order, without getting lost (believe me, it's possible!), and
getting the fastest time!

On Friday 11th January, Emily Benham (WOC MTBO 2012 Silver medalist) is
organising a knock out sprint, starting promptly at 6pm, at Downton Leisure
Centre (SP5 3NF). Racing on a brand new area, made by Frozen Penguin maps,
you are guaranteed several tough 2-3 minute races. The knockout sprint will
consist of heats with people starting together, where the top two from each
heat qualify for the semi finals. The top two athletes from the semi's will
get a place in the final. There will also be B semi's and finals. (if you
wish to warm up prior to starting, please arrive at 5.45pm).

The cost will be £2 per junior, and please email embenham1 [at] hotmail.co.uk (embenham1[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk) to
confirm attendance so I can print the correct number of maps. (If you don't
email, I cannot guarantee you a map). Parents are welcome to join in too.

Please bring you SI card, indoor trainers (no outdoor O shoes, muddy shoes
etc), water, jacket to keep warm in between races/outdoor jogging. Toilets
and showers available free of charge. Some snacks and drinks available at
reception.

If there is time (before 7pm) after the knock out sprint, you can re-run the
courses and download as many times as you like.

Although aimed at Juniors, given our limited numbers in the club (Sarum) and
if you would like to have a go, then please get in touch with Emily. It
should be really good fun. See the link here for a demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IP4IEwNY0Y - start at minute 3:00.
Although nothing quite so complex will be on offer on the night, it gives
you a good flavour of the quick thinking that is required.