Anyone else doing the OMM?

[KnitterNotTwitter]

I'm an orienteer who's had a rush of blood to the head and decided to enter the OMM this year with my sister (we're doing the shortest score event). Anyway I then got pregnant so was thinking I wouldn't want to be doing the OMM when 5 months pregnant so didn't train. And now I've MC'd so have no excuse and will be doing the OMM at the end of Oct....

I'm going to sort of follow this training schedule but obviously won't be able to do the whole thing so will start with week 1 this week and then just do a taper in the last week.....

FWIW I've started today and cycled my usual 7.5km into work and then run it home (59m29s FWIW). My plan is then to run into work tomorrow and cycle home again... Then I'll do a little run on Thurs... Rest day friday while I put my mind to the big runs on the weekend....

If anyone else is doing it I'd love to hear from you....

Oh well I guess it's just me... might turn this thread into a little blog for my training....

So I ran into work this morning (1h2mins which is ok in that it was only 12 hours since the run home) and will cycle home tonight. then just have to do a 4k run tomorrow and I'm on schedule.

For the record I weighed myelf this morning and I'm 14st 9lb.... if I keep this up I hope to lose lots of weight though.... 12 stone would be nice....

Wheelybug has just pointed me in your direction cos I'm doing it too! My first time, I'm a runner, triathlete & outdoory person who's done very little navigation (although I've done a couple of training courses to fill some gaps)

We're doing Class D, which seems like the most beginner-friendly. I'll look at your training plan later as I'm muddling on through with one I found in a magazine plus what I know from marathon running.

oooh - lovely to have a friend :-) we're also doing course D - starting at 10.15 on the first day if I remember rightly. My sister and I are definitely navigators rather than runners though... we've been orienteering for 20 years but I've never run further than a half marathon....

Just thought I'd post up that I did another 50 minute run today - and I'm psyching myself up for a big run tomorrow - don't think I'll manage 16km but I'll try for an hour and a halfish...

Did an hours run on Saturday and then nothing since.... eeek. Should be able to run to work tomorrow and I'm going to do it with my rucsac on my back to see if I can cope with all the bouncing around :)

phew - done another 1hr run - this time with the rucsac on my back. Went ok actually - was anticipating more bouncing and general irritating but it was fine.

enjoy!

erm... thanks heaintheavy !

Running home from work tonight and then in again tomorrow - still haven't managed a run longer than an hour yet....

And FWIW Im now 14st 13lb....grrrr

I seriously enjoyed the mountain marathons I did a lifetime ago. Never did the OMM / KIMM: maybe in 15 years time.

Inspired by your first post, I'm wondering about taking my children to an orienteering event this autumn.

oooh - orienteering is fab. Where do you live roughly and I can track down the list of local events if that helps...

There's a colour code event about 2 miles from me in a few weekends. Has a white course (plus higher colours, obviously). No CATI events nearby. I would be with a 7 and a 3 yr old. Is it likely to be family friendly enough for us all to pootle round together in a family way? I don't understand the new electronic card thingy, but I guess someone will help?

How's your OMM prep going?

ah - you sound like you know what you're talking about... I assume you've done it before. Yes that should be fine for a first timer. If you go to Registration there should be someone there who can explain the ropes - or infact you should be ok to ask anyone and they'll help you out.

Hope you have a great time.

Nope, not done it before - well, once, with DC1 (the now 7 yr old) in a pack on my back, but I've read the website. I knew a few orienteers back in the day (when I did my mountain marathons) and believe the concept is similar to the MMs (except shorter, and without the rucksack / camping / getting up the next day and doing it all again). However, the children add a new and unpredictable dimension to anything.

Would it really be OK to turn up with small children? Fancy hearing how we get on?

definitely ok - there is even a 'string' course which is normally free and designed for them specifically - it's about 1km of string on the ground with the checkpoints normally having a cartoon character or similar at them. DS loves it. And you normally get a prize at the end - apple or sweets :-)

Would love to hear how you get on

Just thought I'd post to say that I DID IT...

With the warm glow of hindsight I look back on this as an event that wasn't for me. I enjoy running but not stumbling for 5 hours through marsh, and I love camping but I hated camping in a tent that was too small, wearing all my clothes because my sleeping bag was too thin and with the wind and constant driving rain buffetting all night. That plus the fact that the campsite was actually a large area of tussock grass - seriously there were 20cm high lumps under our tent. So uncomfortable.

Even if I had done a lot more training I don't think I would have enjoyed myself. But I am proud of having done it.

I hope that twink enjoyed herself too.... would be nice to hear how you got on if you see this message....!

oh, well done you! I understand that the OMM is a really tough event. At the very least it's a 'done that' tick, and your hindsight had a 'warm glow'.

And most things you do in the future will seem easier in comparison (unless you are some super-nutty endurance athlete) - at least because you don't have to get up the next morning (after a cold and cramped night in a mini-tent) and do it all again the next day.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Just seen this message about the OMM. In 2014 we have a number of events where we want to encourage younger people to compete so we have dropped the entry age to 14. This is provided that the other member of the team is over 18. The events are OMM Bike Spring (Kielder) 26th/27th April. OMM Lite/OMM Bike (Autumn) North West of England 6th/7th September. We also have adult only events OMM Iceland 24th/25th May. OMM France 19th/20th July Avoriaz (You can enter this from age 16) The OMM North East England 25th/26th October. For more information www.theomm.com/events