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Objective
Stay safe - stay alive
Strategy
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Wear bright coloured clothes with high contrast colours; if running in a
night event, wear white or light coloured clothes.
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Take care on roads; look and listen for traffic. Don’t take any chances.
- Cross creeks at marked crossing points or bridges. It can be dangerous to cross
elsewhere – be particularly aware of the possibility of snakes in long-grass
near waterways.
- Only cross railway lines and freeways at marked crossing points such as bridges
or railway crossings.
- The greyed-out area on maps represents PRIVATE PROPERTY – no runners are
allowed to run through this area (Note - even if there is a legal way through
- if it's grey - it means don't go there)
- A line with double-marks coming out one side is an un-crossable fence –
climbing fences can be dangerous and is not encouraged; it also puts those that
cannot climb the fence at a disadvantage – giving the climber an unfair
advantage.
- Take extra care:
- On rough ground or when coming down slopes/embankments
- When you're alone
- When conditions are poor - it's slippery, it's cold, visibility is poor
- Near the end of your course - you're tired and may not be thinking as
clearly as you were at the beginning of the course
- The course closes at 8:15 pm. If you are running late and can’t complete
by this time, please abandon your course and return to the finish.
On Hot Days
As our weather gets warmer, we find that we sometimes run in very hot or
humid conditions. Runners need to take care in such conditions and should:
- Hydrate before the run; if you are running that evening,
hydrate during the afternoon.
- Bring your own water; while we generally bring water/cordial
you cannot depend on this. Bringing your own is the most sensible
approach.
- Take water with you on the run; lots of orienteers take a water
bottle to provide fluid replacement during the run.
- Take it easy; temperature control will be more difficult in
hot/humid conditions. Back of the pace - be sensible.
On Rainy Days
- Don't slip; take care as you take part in the course - one slip could
cause an injury that will take months to fix.
- Don't wade creeks; it's dangerous and it's not fair to others (that
are either unable or unwilling to do so). It may encourage younger
participants to try to cross - and we need to teach them good habits.
- Visibility is not as good as normal - watch out for cars. Recognise that cars may not
see you and cannot stop as quickly as they normally can. The
responsibility
lies with you.
- You can't hear oncoming traffic as well as normal - be more careful
crossing roads.
- Fields and ovals may be like a swamp; not necessarily dangerous, but
really unpleasant to run through (and not good for your expensive running shoes
either).
On Thunderstorm Days
- Understand that we will cancel the course in extreme conditions - if
the storm is close, abandon your course and return to the start.
- It is a common myth that lightning will strike the tallest object. Not
true. Lightning will strike the nearest, best conductor of electricity,
and that may be you.
- Counting the time between the lightning and the thunder clap will give
you an idea of how far away the storm is - sound travels 1 Km every
3-4 seconds. But be warned - this is not a lot of comfort - as people have been struck by
lightning from a storm that was as much as 5-10 Km away.
- If you are in the woods or near trees, find an area protected by a low
cluster of trees. Never stand underneath a lone, large tree.
- Crouch with feet together and hands on knees if in an open field
during a lightning storm. You want to minimize your exposed surface area.
- Do not lie flat on the ground (too much surface area). Avoid tall
structures, such as towers, fences, telephone and power line poles.
- Stay away from lakes, rivers, pools and other bodies of water. Water
conducts electricity.
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Training Index
What is
Street-Orienteering?
Golden Rules for ALL Street-Orienteers
How to Read a Street-Orienteering Map
How to
Read Contours
Taking part in your first Scatter Course
Taking part in your first Score Course
How to read contours
Street-O Strategy - a Guide for Beginners
Emus Home Page
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