31/01/2024 – Evening MapRun – Cinderford 2024

Cinderford is built on the side of a hill! It has evolved in a somewhat haphazard and completely unplanned manner over the last couple of hundred years, and is characterised by lots of small residential roads and alleyways, often with footpaths joining them up. So in the dark it makes for an interesting challenge, and spending a little time contour counting is likely to be well worthwhile, as we start and finish at the top. The course keeps mainly out of the industrial estates in the bottom of the valley, as there are too many unpredictable gates down there which may or may not be open, and too many rather derelict or semi-derelict areas where it's not particularly pleasant to run.

There are, however a few controls on well trodden footpaths in the valley bottom, and on some of these you may well encounter quite a lot of standing water, if this week's test run is anything to go by.

Starts from 1800 to 1830. If you think you'll struggle to make that start window, email the organiser to let him know, and we can extend starts a bit.

To guarantee a map, you will need to pre-enter via Fabian4: entries are now open shortly, and will stay open until midnight on Tuesday 30 January. A few extra maps will be available for entry on the day, but don't rely on this, and bring cash!

Entry fees: £5 seniors, £2 juniors. Competitors aged under-16 must be accompanied. The fee covers third party liability insurance, a map printed on waterproof paper, and post-run cake!

It’s a one hour score event using the MapRun app:

• Checkpoints 1-10 are worth 10 points.

• Checkpoints 11-20 are worth 20 points.

• Checkpoints 21-30 are worth 30 points.

Score as many points as you can within an hour. If you’re late getting back, there’s a 10 point penalty per minute over.

You'll be issued with a waterproof map, A4, scale 1:10,000, before you start.

Please make sure you’ve installed MapRun before the event. If installing MapRun for the first time, select the MapRun app from your app store, and not MapRunF or MapRun6. MapRun, which is in practise Maprun v7, is now the standard app. If you haven’t used MapRun before, don’t worry – it’s easy to use, and we have full details on getting started.

You should download the course to your phone ideally before coming to the event, as sometimes there is little or no phone signal once there.

Links to enable download will appear here when the course is published, a week or two before the day.

You can download the course by scanning this QR code

 or by tapping this link on your MapRun phone, or by using the Select Event button in MapRun and navigating to the UK/Gloucestershire/Current Series folder.

MapRunG (Garmin watch) users: if you have MapRun6 or later, you do not need the event PIN number to download the course to your watch. This means you can download the course before your arrive at the event, in case there is no phone signal there.

• The course is mainly urban, but with a couple of controls on woodland paths. Most roads are residential, with little traffic, but the main road through the town, although largely a 20mph zone, nevertheless need care when crossing. You must also take care running out of alleyways or around corners, and be very aware of other pedestrians.
• A head torch is mandatory, and you should wear bright or reflective clothing.
• Under 16s must be accompanied.
• A First Aid kit will be available at registration

Although all legal Covid restrictions have ceased, you should NOT attend if you are Covid positive, or suspect you are.