On Sunday, 18 September at 10:00 AM, we will have a 90-minute “Fox Chase Score-O” at Carolina North Forest in Chapel Hill. The event is open only to advanced orienteers (i.e. those who have completed an orange, brown, green, or red course). Note that the staging location for this event — the Orange Co. Health department — is different than in previous years, although we have staged other events from this area in the past. After reading the description of this event below, register here before Friday, 16 Sept at 5:00 PM.
A “Score-O” involves a course with no predetermined route, in which competitors decide which controls they want to visit, and in which order. The “Fox Chase” version of a Score-O has two additional features that make it especially fun and interesting. First, a punched control will score points only if it is followed by another punch (within the time limit) of a common control, #40. For example, a successful series of punches might look like: 56, 40, 72, 40, 63, 40, 58, 40, etc. The sequence: 56, 40, 72, 40, 63, 58, 40 would not score the points associated with control #63 because it was not followed by #40. It would score points for 56, 72, and 58, though.
Second, at the start of the race, the event director will walk at an even, brisk pace around the main loop trail on the east side of the park (aka, the Pumpkin Loop). He will be carrying control #40 as well as the finish punch. Thus, you must plan your returns to control #40 to a constantly moving position. The route walked by the director will be marked on the map. The loop will take approximately 45 minutes for the director to walk, so the event will be over when the second loop is completed. (You can of course stop sooner and your accumulated score will still count.)
It is important that you are at the parking lot and ready to run at 9:45 AM. Park anywhere in the parking lot for the Orange Co. Health Dept, GPS coordinates = 35.94849, -79.06546. Note that bathroom facilities will not be available at the start. At appx. 9:45, the event director will walk (hopefully with all of the competitors) through the woods approximately 400 meters to the start of the race, and then will deliver the pre-race briefing. In case you arrive after the group has left for the start, this map depicts the relationship between the parking lot and the start. But if you arrive too late, the event director will be out on the course and you will not be able to participate.
