Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Topic created by kathyu on Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 10:40 am

kathyu
Num Posts: 694
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hickory Run Sand Spring
First O: 2004

there was a Wall Street Journal about indoor marathons on a track.  Talk about boring!  but they did mention an indoor marathon on a motocross track in an arena.  Anyway, is there such a thing as indoor orienteering, maybe in a mall or something?  I just thought of a runner with map tripping into the mall fountain, like the cell phone lady.  Pretty funny.  I guess liability issues would make this impossible, but what a great idea.

Reply by DaveUrban on Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 11:26 am

DaveUrban
Num Posts: 166
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map:
First O: 0

I can imagine a Sprint course in the Philadelphia Convention Center during the Auto Show.

Reply by j-man on Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 4:06 pm

j-man
Num Posts: 128
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Spackman Creek
First O: 1985

Randy may have done the ultimate in indoor orienteering. But, he will have to share the details.

Reply by Steve on Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 8:41 pm

Steve
Num Posts: 402
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Paradise Farm
First O: 1993

Alexei Zuev once told me about Orienteering on a cruise ship. You needed seven maps to compete, one on each deck.

Reply by Orienteeringmom on Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 10:30 pm

Orienteeringmom
Num Posts: 163
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Green Lane NC
First O: 1993

Kathy, I have done orienteering in a Mall but there was no running.  It was at a HVO winter meeting back when both of my kids were still in HS and orienteering with us.  It was at the Palasides Super Mall up on I-287.  It's a great mall the kids loved it.  Indoor ice skating rink, a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel as well.  Quite a place.  If you have not been there, stop sometime on your way to or from an A event up north like West Point this spring.

Nice food court too.

Reply by randy on Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 6:22 pm

randy
Num Posts: 11
Primary Club:
Fav map: Hickory Run 1:15000
First O: 1998

"Randy may have done the ultimate in indoor orienteering. But, he will have to share the details."

I''ve orienteered in the Grand Bazaar in Instanbul (whch is basically a 500 year old shopping mall).  One of the challenges is that there are two levels in parts.  (They asked not to post the map online, tho that was several years ago, so perhaps you can find it online now).

Indoor orienteering is actually quite popular in Turkey (at least it was when I was there) -- they've had events on cruise ships, and they make these micro courses (like a maze) out of snow fence and things like cubicle partitions.  They showed a video of this when I was there, you may be able to find that online as well.

Our malls are nowhere near as interesting.  Also, you would have to get permission when they are closed (as they did).  Old fallout shelters (which are rumored to be under certain Mid-Atlantic universities, and are huge expanses winding tunnels), may be a better bet.