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Meet Director: Michael Collins
Course Setter: Michael Collins
This event has been postponed because the map was unable to be completed in time. We apologize for this inconenience, and we'll let you know when we have rescheduled the event.
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Details:
ROGAINE is an acronym that stands for Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance. A typical Rogaine is a 6-, 12-, or 24-hour event in a large wilderness area designed to challenge the stamina of competitors as much as their navigation skill and speed.
In the first Chicago Area Orienteering Club Urban Rogaine, we will be be using a shorter time period (4 hours) and a smaller scale map (1:15 000) than might be used in some wilderness Rogaines (which might use 1:24 000 or even 1:35 000).
Thanks in part to Daniel Brunham, the streets of Chicago are laid out in a grid oriented to north. Since Chicago happens to lie almost exactly at 0° declination, effectively no correction is needed between true north and magnetic north. Thus, no compasses will be needed for this event.
Beginners are encouraged to attend. Without the distraction of using a compass, you'll probably find navigating much easier than in our local woods. Of course, the large landmarks will also help, here. A special beginners' clinic will be held after the start at 10 a.m. (yes, on the clock). Also, since this is a Score-O format rather than loop orienteering, you can stop anytime. So, you get to pick how long you're out on the course.
The start will be on the south side of Roosevelt between State and Wabash (see map above). This is just east of the Roosevelt stop on the Green, Orange, and Red lines. There is a Starbucks there for any last-minute diuretics you may want. Taking the "El" is highly recommended. Parking is available for $13 at 1255 S State (1 block away—entrance on S 13th St). The manager at Jewel has confirmed their strict towing policy (they don't even let their employees park there), so the parking lot just south of the start should be considered off-limits.
All competitors will receive a pre-printed map of the downtown area. The map is brand new, and is likely to be missing some detail, have confusing areas, or even have mistakes. The areas in the immediate vicinity of the controls has been checked with care. Detail in areas more than 1 or 2 blocks away from a control should be taken with a grain of salt. The basic road layout is correct, but it may not always be possible to get through, over, or under obstacles.
You will probably want to bring along money to purchase food and drink along the way. Keep in mind that many businesses in the loop are closed on Saturday morning, so plan accordingly.
Rules (read carefully—they differ from most CAOC
events):
Teams are encouraged (for safety) but not required. If you are a part of a team, all members must stay together for the entire course. Any teams seen splitting up will be disqualified. Teams on bicycles or with strollers may separate only insomuch as they need to watch their equipment when approaching each control. Most controls can be visited without climbing off a bike.
Bikes, scooters, and roller blades, etc. are allowed, but you must declare whether you are running or riding/rolling before the start. Strollers or carts are allowed in the "running" category for children under 10 years old.
Using public transportation is allowed and even encouraged. Day passes are available from the CTA for $5. Taxis, limos, private cars, or other "personal" transportation are not allowed—only regularly-scheduled public transportation. Any team using private transportation will be disqualified.
The race is a score-O format with controls scattered across the map. They can be visited in any order. Each control will be worth between 1-5 points, depending on the difficulty of the control location, as well as distance from the start. Competitors will be ranked by the total number of points they accumulate. Ties will be broken based on the time that each competitor finishes. The course will be designed to make it difficult for runners to get to every control in the 4-hour limit. Teams on bicycles may be able to sweep the course.
Like recent Lincoln Park events, soda cans will be used for controls, with chalk markings on nearby sidewalks as backup. Each can will have the control number, and a two-letter code to use as proof that competitors were there.
As an experiment, competitors are encouraged to bring digital cameras to prove their visiting each control. Photographs must clearly show the control and its location, but the two-letter code doesn't necessarily need to be readable in the picture. All photographs must be taken with the same camera (so make sure you have sufficient batteries and memory for up to 50 control photos). Any individual or team who takes pictures that can be downloaded to the meet director's computer at the finish (USB, CompactFlash, or SD cards accepted) will be given a bonus of 10 points (that's equivalent to two of the most difficult controls). By using this method, competitors agree to let the Chicago Area Orienteering Club use these photographs for promotion on the Internet, in print, or for any other purposes. (Note: most "camera" phones do not have a convenient method for downloading pictures to another computer—contact the meet director (847-673-7283) before the event if you have any questions.)
Competitors without digital cameras may simply write down the two-letter codes at each control location on a piece of paper (available at the start). Teams will also be expected to write the time each control is visited. Codes without times will receive half credit at the discretion of the meet director. So, bring a watch, or be prepared to ask a lot of strangers for the time....
Teams or individuals finishing after 2 p.m. will be penalized for each minute or part of a minute that they are late. Any team or individual finishing after 2:30 will be disqualified. Competitors may finish before 2 p.m. with no penalty.
There is no restriction on the use of additional navigational aids, such as street maps and GPS devices. You may ask bystanders for navigational assistance. You may not, however, share codes between teams. Each competitor must physically visit each control to receive credit.
Competitors are expected to keep themselves safe, and to protect those around them (including and especially people not participating in the event ("civilians"). Any team behaving in a manner deemed by race officials to be reckless or hazardous will be disqualified (and given a stern talking-to). The Chicago Area Orienteering Club is not equipped to offer medical assistance of any kind. Competitors are encouraged to carry a mobile phone with them along the route and call 911 in case of emergency. Any competitors who are unable to finish by 2:30 should call the meet director at 847-673-7283 so we don't have to organize a rescue party for you.
For safety and liability reasons, teams must have at least one person 18 years old or older. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed to compete solo.
Any competitor who arrives late will be started as soon as practical for the meet director. The finish time will not be adjusted for a late start (2 p.m.). If you know you will arrive late, please call the meet director at 847-673-7283.
Directions:
Taking public transportation is encouraged. Parking is limited. The start is just east of the Roosevelt stops of the Red line (subway) or the Orange and Green lines (elevated).
Driving: Take just about any expressway into the loop and exit on Congress Parkway. Turn right (south) on State, about 1/3 mile past the river. Then go south 1/2 mile to the corner of State and Roosevelt. Parking ($13 for 4 hours) is one more block to the south on 13th Street, just east of State (though the address is technically 1255 S State St). Good luck.
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