Sat Nov 15 - One hour south of Columbus
there will be a "rogaine" in a very craggy forested location one hour
drive south from Columbus, Ohio, organized by a Southern Ohio
adventure racing club. It starts at midnight and ends at noon, so,
seven hours will be in darkness. Cost is $60/person, and it includes
food, shirt, prizes. A topographic base map in PDF format is viewable
at
website2006 rogaine map
Here are some answers to some questions:
Q: Do the controls have reflective tape on them somewhere on the
control or string ?
A: The controls will have reflective tape on each side so they will be
visable from any direction.
Q: How many controls will be placed ?
A: There will be 30 controls
Q: I saw the base map PDF of the forest, looks very craggy and
interesting… Can you provide some examples of clue sheet description
of control location (reentrant, saddle, stream intersection, edge of
…, etc). On the base map, the red lines delimite private from
public property. I am assuming that the rogaine area will be only
within the public property. Are you planning to place controls in the
partly separated area of the forest north of Moss Hollow Rd, and the
area south of Woods Hollow Rd/Wilson Run Rd ? What about the
eastern-most area, basically next to the Scioto River ?
A: There will be 30 controls and they will all be on public land
within the forest. The placement will
be a good mix of reentrants, saddles ridges, knobs and spurs.
The only parts of the forest that we will not use are the parts that
are land locked. We will not force you to go
onto private property although you may be tempted.
Q:Is there a MANDATORY equipment list (whisle, water bottle…) ?
A: As far as mandatory gear we are flexible. We hope you know your
abilities and bring the gear you might need. There will be water drops
but you could go
two or three hours before you reach one. I always carry a whistle with
me as they dont weigh anything but its upto you.
Q: Are there specific rules, such as "all team members must be at
audible or visible sight from each other" ?
A: There will be a rule sheet given out before the race but of course
we will try to make sure every team stays within 100 feet of each
other as well as some other things.
Map is a high quality tear-proof map.
--- post event notes ---
Here's the account of my latest adventure.
The “Sleepy Hollow 12 Hour Rogaine” at Scioto Trail State Forest
A few months ago, I received an email about this orienteering event and immediately was intrigued. Playing off the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, the race directors challenged participants “to keep their heads” while navigating the course in Scioto Trail State Forest near Chillicothe under a full moon. One of my first thoughts and fears was about Ohio in mid-November. It would not have been unheard of to see a foot of snow on the ground at this time of year. Actually, that would have been better than what we experienced.
Since no solos were allowed, I teamed up with Ingrid Honzak and Mike Allen, both experienced at ultra-distance events, as “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly”. I think we could have named Bob Burke, our honorary fourth member, “The Smart”. Recovering from injury, Bob stayed warm and dry sleeping in the car while we ran, meeting us at the aid station with his camera and encouragement. Ingrid put Bob to work getting her food and warm beverages. We joked that he was useful as well as ornamental.
For a few weeks prior to the event, I trained by running with my headlight and Camelbak pack filled with water. Testing out equipment turned out to be a good idea. While doing a morning run with Janie & Rex, I accidentally pulled the hose loose from my pack, instantly flooding my backside with cold water. I fixed this problem to make sure I didn’t get wet during the race. Perhaps, a little foreshadowing of things to come.
The race was scheduled to begin at midnight on November 15, concluding at noon the following morning. A number of other runners and I thought that this meant Saturday night to Sunday morning. Great I thought, since I could get a good night sleep Friday night with a leisurely drive over to Chillicothe Saturday afternoon. Actually, the race started Friday night, so after putting a full day in the studio with just a brief nap, Mike & I drove to the park. This drive gave us a great view of the promised full moon. It also turned out to be the only time the moon would be seen.
We arrived around 9:30 PM and were handed topographic maps of the 9600 acre forest showing the locations of the 30 control points. One of the first things that struck me as I looked at the map was all of the contour lines. Even driving into the State Forest in the dark, you become aware of the elevation change, but to see it put on paper is something else. All of those thin lines appear to be less than a 1/2 of millimeter apart. Studying the map further revealed that those contours actually indicated 20’0” intervals. The reality of this fact would become apparent later on.
Ingrid & I studied the map, and plotted our course from control to control utilizing the trails and fire roads as much as possible. We were told that to efficiently clear the course about 40 miles would be covered. Each control was assigned a different point value based the distance and difficulty of its location. Both of us knew that we would not clear the course, so we purposely didn’t include all the controls. I think we decided to skip two or three. We could give up a few, we thought.
The weather forecasters provided to be accurate Friday night. The rain and the race were supposed to start at midnight. The race directors took a final head count, and gave out last minutes information such as “Watch out, there are hunters out there, but they’re bow hunters and they usually like to get closer to their game before they shoot”, and to be aware of private property, that “people around here take trespassing seriously”. With the shout “Go”, the rain started coming down, and didn’t let up for the next 10 hours.
About an hour later, we were still looking for our first control. We discovered that the undergrowth consisted mainly of barbwire like thorns, which formed a nearly impenetrable barrier. Mike’s plastic poncho became more and more shredded as the night went on. Finding the first control provided us with the confidence to go on to our second.
Don’t worry; I won’t give a blow by blow account of each control we found. Besides, it wouldn’t really take that long. We finished the race collecting only 10 of the 30 controls.
After becoming thoroughly soaked, the rain didn’t seem to bother us. Since we were constantly moving, we were just occasionally aware dropping temperature. We passed through pockets of fog, which restricted our vision to 10 to 15 feet, making it difficult to see the paint markings on trees of designated trails. It was a little worrying when the markings ran out.
As the rain tapered off and the sky lightened, we put our lights away. I was amazed when Ingrid announced that it was 7:30 AM. I wasn’t really tired nor sleepy. Ingrid explained that all of the constant decision making, navigating, and searching for the controls takes your mind off the time spent running. Most of the time was spent walking or hiking with short bursts of slow downhill running on the fire roads.
With a brief stop in the aid station for pancakes and dry socks, trying hard to remember which ones get the syrup, we continued searching for controls. The temperature was dropping and the wind was picking up. I thought about these conditions, I hoped that Ruth wasn’t experiencing the same ones. These were appropriate for an adventure event, not a road marathon.
Looking at the map at the location of last control, which we decided to find, made it look simple enough, a reentrant or gully about a hundred meters off a fire road. Mike & Ingrid said, “Ken, why don’t you go get it”. After descending over 220’ of elevation change to find the control, and ascending what seems like three miles to get back to the fire road, I was spent. We decided that with a little under an hour to the noon cut off, we’d make our way to the finish. If we were late, the penalty was to lose our highest point control plus one minute for every minute past noon. We had worked too hard to lose any points.
We finished with 10 controls, 560 points, and, at this time, have no clue as to our overall standing. After eating some hot chili, we stayed around long enough to see Joe Smindak, Larry Berna, and Andy Helmick finish, having found 28 controls.
“The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly” decided that we had a great time and were pleased for our performance. The real challenge was trying to stay awake in the warm car as Mike drove us home. Finishing my 24th race this year, I returned home again with a plastic bag of wet clothes and a story to tell.
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I was asked by Gailanne to join her in the Sleepy Hollow 12 Hour Rogaine at Scioto Trails State Forest near Chillicothe, OH. I have never done an "adventure" race before, but man was it fun! I tried to get us another team member or two, but Josh and Kim (the first two I called) weren't biting, and I got busy with other stuff so it ended up being just Gailanne and I.
We showed up to the race HQ (a pavillion in the park) at 10 pm and after getting our gear in order for the race, went down to HQ to sign in and get our instructions and maps. We received two maps, one waterproof (and very waterproof at that!) and one not. Also, our scorecard which was waterproof and before the race there was a bonus checkpoint announced which was unmarked but you got grid coordinates and had to mark it using a UTM tool yourselves.
The UTM tool helps you mark maps on the 1:240000 UTM Grid scale. These are laid out in 100 meter blocks instead of LAT/LONG coordinates like some maps. Luckily, I have a background just varied enough to know how to work with both...ain't I weird?
So after plotting our bonus checkpoint onto the map, we waited around for the pre-race briefing with me getting little tidbits of information about how to go about this from everyone who would talk.
They gave away the door prizes BEFORE the race, I think because some people would leave before the 12 hours was up. I didn't get anything, same as I always don't. :) I complained about that plenty to Gailanne too. The race started at midnight precisely and would run until noon Saturday.
Anyways, we formulated some strategy for how to start off the race and when it began we headed straight for the bonus checkpoint which was close to the HQ and we wanted to get it out of the way quick. We went up the small valley where we thought it would be and looked and looked for about 30 minutes before giving up and heading for one of the regular checkpoints. We figured we would come back for the bonus in the daylight.
On the way to the first regular checkpoint is where the night's FIRST nemesis reared it's ugly head. Prickers, thorns, brambles, whatever term you like (Gailanne called them "sharpies" ... like the marker I guess) they were all over when you were off-piste (off trail) and they nicked the hell out of my legs ALL night.
We figured out our orginal mistake on the way to the first CP and got back on course. We reached and punched the first CP in just about an hour. Next we headed down the trail and road, vowing to stay out of the underbrush as much as possible, to search out the next closest CP. As it turns out this one was way off trail too and we had to hike into and out of a small valley. We bagged CP #2 (for us - not the actual #) in about two hours and by now the rain had really started to come down. We were getting soaked and it was getting colder. We decided to go for two easy checkpoints via a route back to the HQ (where the warming tent was) and made our way back in just after 3 am with 4 CPs punched and soaked to the bone and shivering.
The warming tent had a propane heater which would warm you and dry your clothes somewhat if you stayed near it. We both did. As we warmed, the rain kept coming down harder and harder, and we both did not want to go back out, so I found a foam sleeping mat and tried to get a little sleep while warming/drying. I had been up at 330 am the day before for work, with only a 1.5 hour nap during the day, so I was reasonably exhausted. I slept in fits and starts as I was cold, shivering and laying on the ground on a mat. I think I perhaps got 30 minutes total shuteye but we were in that tent and at the HQ for almost 3 hours debating whether to go back out or quit and head for civilization and warmth.
I honestly was ready to just go home and try this again on a reasonable night, but neither one of us was willing to proclaim we were done so we just kind of stuck around till around 6 am, the rain abated somewhat and we both just kind of said screw it, let's go look for more. So we headed back out looking for the missed bonus CP with daylight creeping into the park still filtered by grey rain clouds.
Carefully I studied the map, and the terrain features where the bonus CP should be and directed us up a little valley with a stream in it, that I thought HAD to have the CP along it's length. We explored this valley with me on the far left and Gailanne on the far right, slowly and carefully seeking the CP. I saw Gailanne peak at a little shack on her side and procede....I found NOTHING on my side....on we went.
Eventually we gave up and decided to head for a run to the far side of the park for some easy looking CP's that I wanted to get, partially because they were near the airfield which drew my interest. Before we started out that way, the Race Director talked us into giving the bonus CP one more try with a little hint, as he knew this was my first Rogaine and we went back into the woods with much more daylight now. We made our way back to the SAME valley and this time (WITH the hint) I headed up the right side and right for that little shack.
Sure enough as I approached, I saw the CP INSIDE with a little plastic skull hanging below it. I got out our scorecard and reached in to punch it, and all of a sudden the skull descends down it's string and starts talking (Halloween toy) and startled me quite a bit. I punched the card (and gave Gailanne a good teasing for missing the CP) and then we headed out for the run and airfield.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Sleepy Hollow 12 Hour Rogaine
But Mike! What in the world is "a Rogaine?" - Click here.
Click the logo to see their site and see the results page there.
I was asked by Gailanne to join her in the Sleepy Hollow 12 Hour Rogaine at Scioto Trails State Forest near Chillicothe, OH. I have never done an "adventure" race before, but man was it fun! I tried to get us another team member or two, but Josh and Kim (the first two I called) weren't biting, and I got busy with other stuff so it ended up being just Gailanne and I.
We showed up to the race HQ (a pavillion in the park) at 10 pm and after getting our gear in order for the race, went down to HQ to sign in and get our instructions and maps. We received two maps, one waterproof (and very waterproof at that!) and one not. Also, our scorecard which was waterproof and before the race there was a bonus checkpoint announced which was unmarked but you got grid coordinates and had to mark it using a UTM tool yourselves.
This is what a UTM tool looks like.
The waterproof map, compass, and our scorecard.
The UTM tool helps you mark maps on the 1:240000 UTM Grid scale. These are laid out in 100 meter blocks instead of LAT/LONG coordinates like some maps. Luckily, I have a background just varied enough to know how to work with both...ain't I weird?
So after plotting our bonus checkpoint onto the map, we waited around for the pre-race briefing with me getting little tidbits of information about how to go about this from everyone who would talk.
Pre-race photo
They gave away the door prizes BEFORE the race, I think because some people would leave before the 12 hours was up. I didn't get anything, same as I always don't. :) I complained about that plenty to Gailanne too. The race started at midnight precisely and would run until noon Saturday.
Anyways, we formulated some strategy for how to start off the race and when it began we headed straight for the bonus checkpoint which was close to the HQ and we wanted to get it out of the way quick. We went up the small valley where we thought it would be and looked and looked for about 30 minutes before giving up and heading for one of the regular checkpoints. We figured we would come back for the bonus in the daylight.
On the way to the first regular checkpoint is where the night's FIRST nemesis reared it's ugly head. Prickers, thorns, brambles, whatever term you like (Gailanne called them "sharpies" ... like the marker I guess) they were all over when you were off-piste (off trail) and they nicked the hell out of my legs ALL night.
We figured out our orginal mistake on the way to the first CP and got back on course. We reached and punched the first CP in just about an hour. Next we headed down the trail and road, vowing to stay out of the underbrush as much as possible, to search out the next closest CP. As it turns out this one was way off trail too and we had to hike into and out of a small valley. We bagged CP #2 (for us - not the actual #) in about two hours and by now the rain had really started to come down. We were getting soaked and it was getting colder. We decided to go for two easy checkpoints via a route back to the HQ (where the warming tent was) and made our way back in just after 3 am with 4 CPs punched and soaked to the bone and shivering.
Punching the scorecard at CP #1 in the rain
My turn! CP #2
The warming tent had a propane heater which would warm you and dry your clothes somewhat if you stayed near it. We both did. As we warmed, the rain kept coming down harder and harder, and we both did not want to go back out, so I found a foam sleeping mat and tried to get a little sleep while warming/drying. I had been up at 330 am the day before for work, with only a 1.5 hour nap during the day, so I was reasonably exhausted. I slept in fits and starts as I was cold, shivering and laying on the ground on a mat. I think I perhaps got 30 minutes total shuteye but we were in that tent and at the HQ for almost 3 hours debating whether to go back out or quit and head for civilization and warmth.
I honestly was ready to just go home and try this again on a reasonable night, but neither one of us was willing to proclaim we were done so we just kind of stuck around till around 6 am, the rain abated somewhat and we both just kind of said screw it, let's go look for more. So we headed back out looking for the missed bonus CP with daylight creeping into the park still filtered by grey rain clouds.
Carefully I studied the map, and the terrain features where the bonus CP should be and directed us up a little valley with a stream in it, that I thought HAD to have the CP along it's length. We explored this valley with me on the far left and Gailanne on the far right, slowly and carefully seeking the CP. I saw Gailanne peak at a little shack on her side and procede....I found NOTHING on my side....on we went.
Eventually we gave up and decided to head for a run to the far side of the park for some easy looking CP's that I wanted to get, partially because they were near the airfield which drew my interest. Before we started out that way, the Race Director talked us into giving the bonus CP one more try with a little hint, as he knew this was my first Rogaine and we went back into the woods with much more daylight now. We made our way back to the SAME valley and this time (WITH the hint) I headed up the right side and right for that little shack.
Sure enough as I approached, I saw the CP INSIDE with a little plastic skull hanging below it. I got out our scorecard and reached in to punch it, and all of a sudden the skull descends down it's string and starts talking (Halloween toy) and startled me quite a bit. I punched the card (and gave Gailanne a good teasing for missing the CP) and then we headed out for the run and airfield.
The State Park Airfield
We ran quite a bit of the road out to the airfield area and quickly found those checkpoints where we expected them. Just before the last checkpoint we were going to hit before heading in, a man and woman team was catching up to us from behind. They came into the CP right after us and on our way out I whispered to Gailanne that we had to run hard to the HQ and not let this team pass us, just for fun. We both knew they undoubtedly had many more CPs marked than us because we took the long drying off/warming up break, but it gave us a mini-goal.
We lit off down the road and they were right on our tails, but I just kept us running pretty fast WITHOUT looking back. When I finally did look back after a few miles, they were way back there and headed up into the woods. As it turns out they were going for one more CP on top of a ridge (that we should have went to, but didn't think to...we were concerned about running out of time.)
Also, a side note - Josh, guess who I talked with and saw here? Ingrid! Our Another Dam 50k friend. She said hi.
We finished in the last hour with 330 points and I don't know where that puts us (but not too high...) The winners had 1240 and the next two were over 1100. I liked the fact that the park and course were so big that is was essentially impossible to get all the CPs and teams had to find their own strategy for the night. I LOVED the event and will do more of these, but hopefully in better weather, with more rest, AND with a little more appropriate gear, like some shin guards and tough leggings or pants. Check out my legs AFTER the event below...compare with the starting picture at the top of this post to see what that damn forest did to me! :)
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These comments are all anonymous from the racers survey.
Great job guys -
On a long overnight event the only thing I would like to see different is to have hot soup to eat. Last night was COLD.... :)I really enjoyed the race.
I've done all of your rogaines and I think you guys do an excellent job. The only complaint I have ever had is the weather. I would still like to see one scheduled in the spring or fall when the temperature has a chance to be around 60-70.I like the time change for next year's 12 hour.
I hope the turn around time in posting results is fast. There was no water at the north designated drop (trail junction 11). I really would of liked a T-shirt, but we were >50. As dumb as it sounds, a T-shirt is a trophy for me.For our first rogaine, "Moon Runners and one lost Pole", we did respectable. 5 star on what we saw of the course. 5 star on the map, half the interval between magnetic north lines would of helped.
The reason the map is rated average is because the light green color trail dashes were hard to see, my teammate could hardly see them. Also, I know that Rogaine maps never have the detail that orienteering maps do, and we don't expect that, but considering the amazing thickness of the green brier, it woulld be nice to have some green spots on the worst brier locations. This would help my case when I'm trying to talk the orienteering gang into trying Rogaine events, too!
Love the hot food and drink! Nice job overall!
We primarily participate in ARs throughout the midwest and look for long Rogaines to improve our nav skills. We try to participate in any Rogaine's longer than 6 hours that allow teams. This was a great event and you did a great job with everything. If you could have the race without the rain next year that would be great. thanks!
Learn to have better weather
Give everyone high quality waterproof maps. I would gladly an pay upcharge option.
My only complaint about this weekend's race was that the checkpoints were so far apart that there was too much time spent just getting from check point to attack point. That got boring. It was also very difficult to start the race on a Friday night after working all week. I'd rather do 12 hours from noon to midnight or something like that.
Great job, guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is a lot of work to put this together, keep up the good work! I am not very good, but just love your events!
Happy trais!
Ingrid
Great Job! Can't wait until Feb (No rain this time would be nice).
Keep on doin' what you're doin' guys. You organize some of the best races in Ohio and I never have any complaints. Thanks for a great race!
Great day and event....even with the rain. Looking forward to February event. Thanks to both of you and your helpers for putting these events on. Gary Lester
Great job guys! Next time we need more rain!
Enjoyed the race - will be back next year.
You should have t-shirts for all that apply before a cut off date and you should be able to order your size. Mostcompanies that supply t-shirts to events only need one week.
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