MapRun Orienteering: Getting Ready

How do I get started?

You'll need to install the latest version of the app - MapRun6, though a newer version, MapRun, is beginning to replace it - from Google Play or the iPhone App Store. Once you open the app you'll find several of the features are aimed at people who are planning courses - don't be put off, there are only a few buttons you'll need just to take part on an existing course. There's a good "Quick Start" guide on the MapRun website: it's an Australian organisation, so their sample events may seem a little beyond our reach! Closer to home, British Orienteering has produced this guide & the Potteries OC has produced an excellent video which demonstrates the use of a MapRun course in one of their local parks.

If you plan to use your Garmin during your run you'll also need to download MapRunG from the Garmin Connect app store. You can find full details here.

How do I find local courses?

There's a summary on our website with links to the information page for each course, where you'll find a description of the type of course & be able to download a printable map if you wish (essential if using MapRunG). To manually download the course into your phone you go to the Events List in the app, scroll down to UK, Suffolk, then the correct region, & choose the one you're interested in. The webpage for your course has a section which displays the sequence of MapRun folders & the course code. To make life easier, the most recent release of MapRun6 (6.3.8) enables us to supply links on the website which, if loaded onto your phone, will automatically summon your MapRun6 app & it will locate the course for you. The section looks like this:

 

Please Note: We are in the process of adding the links to the website &, as with all new developments, are finding the occasional glitch: if your default phone browser doesn't support the feature then try a different one - or resort to a manual load.

 

 

What sort of courses are there?

Some courses are "Linear", so you just plan your route to follow the controls in sequence from Start to Finish & you'll be given an overall time as long as you've completed it correctly. The simplest ones are labelled as "Run Routes" - these are good if you're new to orienteering or wish to practise a 5Km route as training (or are missing your weekly parkrun!).  On the more detailed linear courses you'll be given a choice of routes, as in normal orienteering courses, so you'll need to plan the most efficient line between the checkpoints.

The courses labelled "Trail Run Style" are good for runners as the navigation isn't too complicated, but some can be quite long & also involve sections of country road. These can be "Linear" or "Score" courses (see below)

With "Scatter" & "Score" courses, where you can visit controls in any order. There's a subtle difference between them, however: with a Scatter course there's no time limit but you have to visit all of the controls to obtain a result, again, an overall time, whereas with a Score course there's a set time & you gain points for each control you visit. If you go over that time you start to accumulate penalty points, but there's more flexibility with a Score course as, if you're short of time or don't want to go as far, you'll still get a published result if you decide to only visit a few controls & finish early.  Both Scatter & Score courses often offer a "Start Anywhere" feature - you don't have to go to the Start shown on the map as the app has been designed to accept any control as the Start, though you'll have to remember that it will also be programmed to use that as the Finish so you must go back to it at the end.

Next.. Taking Part..