Gateway Grunt Course Notes

Forest Park Sprint

Course Statistics

Course	Dist (Km)	Climb (m)	Controls
Blue/Red	2.9	57	15
Green/Brown/Orange	2.1	42	11
Yellow/White	1.6	25	10

Recreational entries will run on the White/Yellow course. All courses will score as part of the North American Sprint Series.

General Notes

All courses will cross a road which gets light traffic. There is a control on each side of the street. We will have a course marshall at the crossings. They will attempt to stop cars so runners have the right of way. However, if told to stop, YOU MUST STOP. If you are told to stop, your number will be recorded and your time will be adjusted based on the split from one side of the road to the other.

There are no water stops on course, but you can use the park water fountains (which are on the map) if needed.

Hawn Middle

Course Statistics

Course	Dist (Km)	Climb (m)	Controls
Blue	5.0	170	14
Red	3.9	105	13
Green	2.8	90	11
Brown	2.0	65	8
Orange	1.8	65	11
Yellow	1.3	30	10
White	1.0	10	8

Winning times are targeted at 25-30 minutes. Yellow and White are intentionally a bit short since it may be cold and/or rainy and we don't want a bunch of kids getting hypothermia.

General Notes

Safety bearing is North to Pickle Creek (the only sizeable stream in the Middle area), then follow the creek to the campground.

All courses finish by crossing Pickle Creek to the GO control. White, Yellow, and Orange are routed across a bridge (all will cross this bridge on the way to the start). The bridge is also a viable option for advanced courses, but may or may not be optimal. Depending on rainfall and snowmelt in the days before the meet, the creek may be anywhere from a lazy ankle-deep splash to a waist-high torrent. The GO control is in the spectator area. Competitors are encouraged to check the conditions at the crossing point prior to going to the start.

Look ahead for deadfall. It's easy to run around if you spot it in advance. If you run right into it, you can lose a fair bit of time. If the around route is significant enough to factor into route choice, the map will indicate as such.

There are many shared controls and a few shared legs to give some opportunities for cross-course split comparisons. The forking is fairly complex and some of the controls are reasonably close together. Following is a very dangerous strategy and one that won't likely work at all for more than a few minutes.

Blue, Red, and Green have one water stop. Everybody else is on their own for fluids.

Yellow and White use a section of trail affected by storm damage. The trail is marked as closed, but that doesn't apply to competitors. The best path through the deadfall is streamered and requires no climbing over trees.

Start

The start will be familiar to anyone who's run my courses before. All courses will go to the same first control which is less than 100m away on a trail. There will be no secret as to which direction to go, so there will be no complicated staging procedures. Runners will be called up 2 minutes before their start. At that point they may opt to pick up a clue sheet (clue sheets will also be printed on the maps, which are 8.5x11"). At 1 minute before the start competitors may step up to the line and pick up a map. Show the map to the starter to make sure you have the right course. Shortly after being given the start, punch the start control and flip over your map. As the e-punching adjusts for start time, if you see someone who is clearly planning on running down the trail to the first control starting with you, let them punch the start first so they don't run you over.

Finish

We will be taking manual finish times in case there is an electronic timing malfunction. Please make sure your bib number is visible at the finish. If it isn't, go to the finish crew and tell them who you are. After finishing, head over to the main pavillion for e-punch download.

Team Fundraiser Sprint

There is one sprint course for everybody: 2.2Km, 20m (yes, really, 1% climb in Missouri and there's even an around route that cuts out half of that!) Furthermore, the start is 50m above the finish and it's all open woods and trails, so it should have a sprint feel, even for those who wouldn't normally blast for 2Km.

Start interval will be 1 minute. Start times are not assigned; simply head to the start when you are ready. It is a 700m uphill walk to the start. If you arrive at the start prior to 4PM, you will be allowed to start, even if that means waiting in line until after 4PM.

Clue sheets are printed on the maps (8.5x11") and will also be available at the start.

We will not have anybody taking times at the finish. Just come on over to the pavillion and download after you're done.

Gateway Grunt/Runt

Course Statistics (subject to change)

Course	Dist (Km)	Climb (m)	Controls
Grunt	16.1	615	26
Runt	9.5	300	16
Green	5.2	170	9
Orange	3.5	100	10

Special Beginner Event

Introduction to Orienteering session including:

• A brief intro of the goal of orienteering and basics of map reading.
• A trainer-led map hike focused on matching features and map and a discussion of route choice.
• Registration for the Orange (Intermediate level) orienteering course.

General Notes

On-site registration for Grunt and Runt is allowed but there will be a limited supply of maps will be available. Once the maps are gone, no additional registrations will be accepted.

Green and Orange are recent additions for recreational participants. Day of registration is permitted and the usual club fees will apply.

Electronic punching required on all courses. Rental e-punch sticks available for $3. Lost cards will require a $50 replacement fee.

Refreshments will be available at the finish.

Map Scale - 1:15,000, 5m Contours

Clues will be printed on the map. Separate clue sheets will be available .

SAFETY BEARING � North, Northwest � Hawn Park Road (gravel), Pickle Creek, main park road.

Grunt

Must finish within 5 hours.

Must visit controls IN ORDER.

2 Skips allowed.

You may skip more than 2 but will be ranked below all others who get more controls.

Wet crossing about 1/3 through the course.

At 16K, the course is on the long side, but the climb at 615m is relatively tame. The open woods and the absence of thorns should make for some fast finish times by the leaders; however a couple of �Bermuda Triangle� areas could mix things up a bit. I�m expecting a winning time in the 110-120 minute ballpark.

A crossing of Pickle Creek will be required about a third of the way through the course. Depending on rain and/or snow melt in the days leading up to the event, it may be possible to cross dry if you pick your spot carefully, but plan on ankle to mid-calf deep water. I hope the temps are warmer than the 32F the day that I did it!!!

There will be 3 controls with water and Gatorade. I�ve tried to locate the water controls strategically; however, it is possible that you will skip one or more. Ultimately it is your decision whether to carry fluids and calories or not.

Runt

Must finish within 4 hours 40 minutes.

Must visit controls IN ORDER.

1 Skip allowed.

You may skip more than 1 but will be ranked below all others who get more controls.

Wet crossing should not come into play (there�s a bridge).

Runt participants will be running the last portion of the Grunt course. Hopefully this will generate lots of activity at the finish as the lead Grunters catch the main body of the Runts.

There will be 2 water controls. Same caveat as the Grunt course: I�ve tried to locate the water controls strategically; however, it is possible that you will skip one or more. Ultimately it is your decision whether to carry fluids and calories or not.

Green

Typical point-2-point Green course for those who don�t wish to tackle the 9K Runt. Composed of 9 controls from the Goat course, but not necessarily in the same order.

Orange

Typical point-2-point Orange course. Plenty of handrails and catching features. All of the climb is in the first quarter of the course, the remainder is downhill or flat.