EVENT OVERVIEW:
This training event consists of four short ("sprint") courses at four different parks. This gives you FOUR chances to practice skills and techniques. The courses will be set with sprinkler flags at Creston, Kenilworth, Woodstock and Brentwood parks in SE Portland. Courses will be available from 10 AM until 6 PM, on Saturday October 23.
You'll have a suggested skill to practice on each course, as well as the challenge of seeing three new, unfamiliar, maps (Creston Park has some new revisions). Here’s the challenge:
At a national event, you don’t look at the map until the clock starts. How quickly can you read the map, know where you are, and head the right direction to the first control? Skills to practice on these unfamiliar maps: Pretend you ARE at a national meet, where you can't look at your map until your time has begun. But before your time starts, study the terrain and know which way is north.
1. How quickly can you read the new map and move to the first control?
2. Keep the map oriented, and thumb the map. That is, have the map folded so that you can place your thumb on the map pointing to where you are. As you move in the terrain, move your thumb on the map to keep it pointing to where you are.
3. Plan your direction to #2 before you get to control #1, so you can punch #1 and keep moving in the right direction.
4. Add speed while you do all these other skills. As sprint courses, controls are relatively close and the terrain is not difficult to navigate (they’re urban parks). So run!
This training is COVID-cautious, with no trainer on site. Please keep social distance from other park users and wear a mask when you chat with others.
Course length varies from 1.2K to 2.3K; the total is 7K. The official assignment is to complete all four courses. You can choose the best order for you, or choose to do fewer than four courses. There will be a place to post your results.
This training is for CROC members, and there is no charge. Registration is required before October 22, 2021, in order for you to get the maps (and the training assignments). Printed maps can be mailed if you wish. To register, click here. For questions, contact Virginia Church, or CROC training coordinator Anndy Wiselogle.
If you are driving, the parks are not too far from each other. They are also easily connected by bicycle-friendly streets. Check out the Portland Bike Map to plan a route.
LOCATIONS
Creston Park's entrance is about a block south of SE Powell Boulevard; the entrance is at SE 42nd Avenue and SE Rhone Street. There is a good-sized parking area.
Kenilworth Park is between SE 32nd Avenue and SE 34th Avenue, north of SE Holgate Boulevard. Parking is on the street.
Woodstock Park borders SE Steele Street, east of SE 47th Avenue. Parking is on the street.
Brentwood Park is south of SE Duke Street between SE 60th Avenue and SE 62nd Avenue. Parking is on the street.