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Your first event
Your first event should, ideally, be a small local or colour coded event. Look on the fixtures page of the SWOC web site. In addition to a list of the annual fixtures, we normally post a page giving final details of each event a couple of weeks before it takes place. This will include details such as directions, courses available and start times. It also includes the name of the organiser and contact details. If you have any questions, give the organiser a ring.
The difficulty and length of a course at a local or district event is denoted by its colour,(until recently these events were referred to as colour coded). It is probably best to talk to someone at registration about which course will be suitable for you. At local events SWOC tends to have the following courses:
- yellow -this course is normally between 1km and 1.5km long and is suitable for all beginners and children aged between 8 and 12. A yellow course will stay on the paths. Younger children often do these courses accompanied by an adult;
- Orange -a slightly longer course up to 2km long. Whilst slightly more difficult than a yellow it can be a good course for older beginners and adult first timers. Mostly on paths ;
- Light green - This course is starting to get more difficult and may be up to 4.5km long. Controls will be away from paths but not too difficult to find. Suitable for older runners and improvers;
- Green - a technically difficult course up to 5km long. Not suitable for beginners;
- Blue - as for green but longer. definitely not suitable for a beginner, no matter how good you think you may be;
- Brown - as for blue and green but longer still. Will be over 7km, could be 10km with plenty of climb.
When you arrive at your first event, you will normally need to go to registration. This is often a car with plenty of people milling round. At larger events it could be a tent. Registration is normally open for a limited period only. You can arrive at registration any time during that period.
At registration you will fill out an entry form that includes basic information such as the course you want to do. After paying a small fee, you will be given a map, a control card, and a control description sheet. The control description sheet lists the featurewhere eaxh control can be found and provides a unique number for each control so you can check that you have found the correct control. There will be a matching number somewhere on the control.
Even if you are competing as a pair, perhaps accompanying a child round a course, it is a good idea to get a map for each person. If it is your first event mention this at registration and someone will spend time with you explaining what you have to do.
After registration you will need to go the start. Sometimes you will be given a start time at registration. At the start you will probably need to copy the course onto your map. At larger events you get a map with the course pre-printed.
At each control you need to punch your control card with the punch found hanging from the control.
Be sure to check in at the finish, even if you do not complete the course, so that the organisers are not searching for you.
The results are normally on SWOC's website within a day or two.
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