Hoyles Mill
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PDF versionShareThisFebruary 6
Saturday
PERMIT APPROVED
UPDATE AS OF Monday Feb. 1: Our permit has been approved! Registration will open TUESDAY AT 6pm.In a time when very little feels normal, David and I hope to bring a bit of familiarity and tradition this month with the 9th annual Super Bowl Saturday BUMBLE (sans the mass start, of course). And this year, we get to try out a brand new map that encompasses two distinct parks, courtesy of long-time club member, Nadim Ahmed.
The Bumble includes 5 course levels: Beige through Blue. We will also offer white, yellow and orange courses. Check-in and “starts’ will be on the grounds of the Maryland SoccerPlex. Courses span across two parks -- South Germantown Recreational Park (property on which the SoccerPlex is located) and Hoyles Mill Park.
Registration for this event has been modified to organize Bumblers running the same/comparable courses into small groups of (5-10) people who can start their Bumble race together (spread out, with extra start boxes). We hope that this will provide the feel of a Mass start “in miniature” (with the opportunity to follow, of course!) Please see the schedule preview below.
Here is how we suggest you plan for your BUMBLE START (Beige through Blue):
- Come to the check-in table (during your assigned time) READY to go out!
- We will have a clothing drop at the start, so you can stay warm!
- Register your e-punch
- Head directly to the start (~100 meter walk), where you will receive your map (do NOT turn it over!)
- As soon as there is a small group gathered, the start team will initiate the “GO”. (Those who prefer to begin as soon as they arrive at the start are welcomed to do so.)
- PUNCH the start box | Turn over your map | Head to control #1 (mandatory)
PLEASE read ALL meet and course notes for important details!
Meet notes:
- ALL SOCCER FIELDS ARE OUT OF BOUNDS! DO NOT RUN OR WALK ON THEM! You MAY ONLY USE the grassy borders around/between the fields for your route choices.
- Everyone must be out of the woods by 3:00pm, which is when we will begin picking up controls.
- Dogs are allowed but must be on leash at all times.
- Port-o-Johns will be located at registration
- Bumble prizes will be awarded differently this year, due to no mass start:
- First male and first female of each advanced course will receive a fun treat/recognition. Since for the moment our QOC motto is “come, run, leave”, we will announce the winners post-event and have your treats available at the next QOC event.
- PROPERLY WORN MASKS ARE REQUIRED at all times when near registration, epunch areas or other concentrations of participants or others.
- Water will not be provided in accordance with QOC COVID-19 risk reduction policies. Please plan for your own hydration needs before, during, and after your run/walk.
- We encourage everyone to download and use any or even all of the DC, Maryland and Virginia COVID exposure notification apps.
- Maintain social distancing at all times especially in the designated lines for check-in, e-punch registration, start and e-punch download.
- The size of WYO start teams (groups of individuals orienteering together with one e-punch) on a course must be no more than four (4) individuals (juniors and adults combined).
- There is no planned, on-site beginner instruction, but beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst
Preview of start procedures for this event: There will be fourteen 15-minute start windows, with the following maximum start slots per window and per course type:
9:45-10:00am = 7 slots for red/blue and 6 for WYO
10:00-10:15am = 7 slots for red/blue and 6 for WYO
10:15-10:30am = 7 slots for red/blue and 6 for WYO
10:30-10:45am = 7 slots for red/blue and 6 for WYO
10:45-11:00am = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
11:00-11:15am = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
11:15-11:30am = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
11:30-11:45am = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
11:45-12:00pm = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
12:00-12:15pm = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
12:15-12:30pm = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
12:30-12:45pm = 9 slots for green/brown/beige and 4 for WYO
12:45-1:00pm = 10 slots for green/brown/beige and 3 for WYO
1:00-1:15pm = 10 slots for green/brown/beige and 3 for WYO
"WYO" means either a white, yellow or orange course; and for the advanced (Bumble) courses, the beige, brown, green, red and blue course types correspond to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 windows, respectively.
| Location | Maryland SoccerPlex, Fields 12-13 Parking, Germantown, MD (Classic & Bumble) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registration | Registration will open 6pm on Tuesday Feb. 2, and will close no later than midnight Friday Feb. 5. There will not be day-of registration. To register, click on this link. Who's registered for a WYO course? View here. Who's a registered Bumbler? View here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start Times | Participants will register (and pay) in advance for a specified 15 minute check-in window, including map pick-up for W/Y/O. Advanced course maps will be distributed at the start. Windows are scheduled from 9:45am through 1:15pm. Each 15 minute window will be limited to 15 "starts"(solo individuals or groups.) For BLUE/RED competitors ONLY: when you register online, you will see timeslots for Green-Beige. Please ignore and select the blue/red options. If, however, you are not able to participate in the designated start windows, please contact the event director for assistance with a later time slot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule | Saturday, February 6
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| Course Details | Classic & Bumble
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| Course Notes | Classic & Bumble Important Information on Course Lengths As in past years, all of the advanced courses – Beige through Blue are part of the BUMBLE and are longer than usual. That said, 2 of the 5 windows are in mowed open areas of the Recreational Park (about 6.5k total for both) and controls range from beginner to intermediate level of difficulty. The other 3 windows are advanced level woods courses in Hoyles Mill Park. All course lengths and climb are ESTIMATED and based on selecting windows that result in the least distance that could be traveled. If you have never participated in the Bumble, no worries. You are simply running an advanced course that has a different format – windows – and is longer than usual! PLEASE read the information below so that fully understand this format. MAP NOTES This event utilizes terrain on two very distinct parks on ONE map – South Germantown Recreational Park, which includes large grassy areas, roads, paved trails, parking lots, and distinct features nestled in open fields/areas. Soccer fields are distinctly mapped and are OUT OF BOUNDS; DO NOT walk or run on them! Please also be careful crossing roads and parking areas. The recreational park is widely used by the community! Lastly, the Archery and Driving ranges (located to the west of the power line) are also out of bounds and will be marked as such.
Hoyles Mill is a beautiful, rather secluded wooden area that is mostly flat, with the exception of one area which has medium climb. Contours are subtle and some areas are bland with point features. Rock is rather abundant. There is extra unmapped rock, however, what is mapped is very prominent. There are also plenty of rocks to assist with water crossings, as well as a bridge that enters the northern most Bumble window. Green varies widely across the map but is well defined. There are thorny sections (to keep you on your toes – ha ha!) Corridors of white do exist! For those on the intermediate and advanced courses, you will enjoy your experience more if you WEAR GAITERS / PANTS. For advanced runners selecting to run the western most window, please note that SCHAEFFER ROAD is out of bounds and will be marked as such.
For BUMBLE/Advanced, the entire map (both parks) is rotated 20 degrees to the east in order to fit the map on the paper. In other words, NORTH LINES will be angled, not vertical.
COURSE NOTES: Bumble Notes (advanced courses): The advanced courses comprise a first and last control (both mandatory) and 5 windows that contain 5 controls each. There are NO controls in between windows. The windows vary in size, and each competitor, depending on their orienteering level, will have a handicap that will determine how many windows he/she/they must run. To have the most fun on the course, we recommend that you select a level based on the normal course you run at local QOC Meets; you do not have to run your IOF age group. As per normal window rules, you must visit EVERY control in the window, but the controls inside each window may be taken in any order the runner decides. Adding another twist, each competitor, depending on his or her handicap, will be able to determine which of the windows he/she/they want/s to run. For example, if the handicap is 3 windows, the competitor can decide which 3 of the 5 windows he/she/they want/s to include. And because there are no mandatory controls in between the windows, you can choose the order to run the windows in, if you have two or more windows. As mentioned above, due to COVID-19 protocols, we will NOT have a mass start. Instead, we have organized start times to allow for “mini” group starts so that competitors will have a few people to “run” with, and potentially “follow” which is one of the fun aspects of a mass/group start. So the race will go like this: You punch the start box (during your scheduled start window), turn over your map, and head to the FIRST control (mandatory). Part of your course planning is to select which windows you would like to visit (and in which order) based on your course handicap. Once you enter your first window (after punching the FIRST mandatory control), you must complete all of the controls within a window before continuing. When you have completed ALL of your chosen window(s), you must then visit the course’s LAST control (mandatory) before heading to the finish where you will punch the finish box. Part of the fun is figuring out which way will be the quickest based on your physical and navigation strengths.
Bumble Course / Handicap (# of Required Windows) Those with the most generous handicap will travel a minimum of approximately 3.7k, while those with the least favorable handicap will run a minimum of approximately 14.6k. All others will fall somewhere in between depending on route choices. If racers select the course appropriate for their skill/fitness level, which should be your usual O-course (again, no need to run your IOF age group, run up and enjoy more of the course!), then everyone should conceivably finish with the same amount of time on their course. David and I are very exciting to be able to bring the BUMBLE to fruition this year in a fun and safe way. We look forward to seeing you soon! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entry Fees | Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
Group Entries Participants are welcome to orienteer together as a group (up to the maximum for that event; usually 4). Each member of a group is charged their individual rate as shown above, up to a group total of $30 (maximum), and each receives a map. A group receives one epunch. Individuals or groups desiring to compete on a second course after completing their first can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map subject to approval at the event by the Event Director. Important Notes
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A sample window is shown at right.