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MAPRUN6 POSITION-BASED ROYO
(RUN ON YOUR OWN)
ORIENTEERING AT TOM BROWN PARK
(TALLAHASSEE FL)
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These are the 6 courses used at the live event Suncoast put on in this park Saturday 4/10/2021. Event director and mapmaker Gord Hunter has granted me permission to post these courses as semi-permanent ROYO (Run On Your Own) self-service courses so that those who couldn't make the live event due to the weather can enjoy them informally after the fact. These can be used by anyone, civilian or JROTC.
Use of these courses will be through the MapRun smartphone orienteering app. MapRun is a new kind of ROYO we are using which uses GPS position-based control punching. Start, Finish, and all controls are precisely georeferenced, and you punch your way through the course simply by approaching to within a few meters of each point as measured by smartphone GPS. This is a little bit different than the punching methods we're used to, but it has the advantage that it works even after our live event is over and all its associated ribbons and flags have been taken down. You simply walk/run around the course and your phone punches you in at each point automatically with an audible beep.
Instructions:
You will need a smartphone with the MapRun app installed. Version 6 of this app has recently been released, and that is what we'll be using. Be careful when you go to install the app on your phone, because there are multiple versions of this app available for different purposes. You want MapRun6, with a numeral "6" in the bottom right corner of the logo:
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You can find it on iTunes or the Google Play store.
As you're installing the app, it will ask you for permission to use location services (i.e., the phone's GPS location). This is obviously essential for its function so you must grant it. It's important that you allow access "all the time" rather than just "only when using the app", otherwise it may lose your GPS fix when the screen goes to sleep during your run.
When you get the app installed, open it and tap the "Name" button on the home screen and fill in your information. This will be used for results posting on any courses you run with the app.
To use the app to run a course, open it and tap the "Select Event" button, then drill down through
- USA
- Florida
- Central Florida
- TomBrown
and you'll see the list of the 6 available courses there.
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Once you've picked the course you want, you will be returned to the home screen with that event showing as the selected event. You can do all of this before you go to the venue, and probably should since connecting to a course and getting the map for it on your phone requires internet connectivity, which may be spotty at certain venues with certain carriers.
You can also get to the course you want on site at the venue using the "Events Near Me" button, which should get you to the same list of 5 available courses once you are physically close enough to them. This feature requires internet connectivity onsite, however.
When you are on site and ready to do your course, tap the "Go to Start" button.
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You will then see a picture of the map on your phone screen with a red dot showing your live GPS position on it. This is simply an aid to help you find the start position, which as usual shows as a red triangle on the map.
When you get within a few meters of the Start, the app will beep to let you know you're there, and at that point your official clock is running, and the live position indicator on the phone will disappear. Stow the phone in a runner's armband and forget it as you do your course using the paper map and compass for navigation as usual. At each control position, the phone will issue a loud beep to indicate a successful punch, and you're off to the next one. If you pull out your phone and look at it, you'll see the control circles changing from red to green with each successful punch. When you have finished the course, move to the Finish position - the double circle on the map. When you get there, the app will beep one last time, stop your official clock, and then display your results, along with a GPS log track of your run:
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Tapping the "burger stack" menu icon at the top right will pull up a menu that allows you to see the "details" (i.e., splits times) of your course.
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You can also tap "All Results" to see how you did compared to others who have done this course before you.
Video of me auto-punching a control at LBE East.
Video demo of using MapRun in a "casual" park environment, including using the phone for the map.
Note that as stated above, THERE ARE NO PHYSICAL MARKERS IN THE FIELD AT ALL AT THE CONTROL POSITIONS. No flags, no ribbons, no QR code tags. This is position-based ROYO ONLY. The beep from your phone indicating arrival at a control is your cue that you are in the right location, and this takes the place of seeing the physical ribbon or other marker. If you have only ever done live events which have flags, this will make these courses a little more of a challenge, as you won't have the relatively large beacon of a flag to guide you into the exact control position. Use the clues marked on your map and move to the feature (e.g., trail junction, distinct tree, depression, etc.) listed for each control point - that is where you should get your punch.
Remember that your phone's position depends on the readings from its GPS chip. You want your phone to have a decent view of the sky for it to get an accurate positional fix from the satellites. That's why we recommend using a runner's armband to hold the phone - it keeps it high and away from your body core, which can block the GPS signals. I have successfully used MapRun6 with my phone (Samsung Galaxy S9+) in my pocket, but a pocket or backpack isn't ideal. If you are sure you're in the right location and your phone doesn't punch the control, take it out of your pocket or backpack and hold it out for a few seconds to see if it will get a better GPS fix.
Also, the MapRun punching system has a 15 meter tolerance built into it to allow for random errors in GPS fix caused by weather, canopy cover, variations in chip technology, etc. In theory this means that the target you have to get into to get a punch is a circle 30 meters across centered on the control position. This is a pretty big target, and this helps balance out the difficulty of finding the right position without the visual aid of the flag we usually have at live events.
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SUMMARY OF COURSES
- YELLOW - For novices and casual family hikes. 2.7 / 2.3 km M/F straight-line. Can be done mostly on trails. Map is 1:7,500 scale, with verbose control descriptions.
- ORANGE - For intermediate to advanced orienteers. 4.3 / 3.6 km M/F straight-line. Most controls are on or near trails. Map is 1:7,500 scale, with symbolic control descriptions.
- GREEN - For experienced orienteers. 5.9 / 5.1 km M/F straight-line. Some controls are off trail. Map is 1:7,500 scale, with symbolic control descriptions.
Note that the course lengths mentioned above are measured straight-line from point to point to point. Your actual route on the ground will often be on more winding trails or diverted around obstacles like ponds or dense tickets, so your actual distance traveled will often be 25-50% longer than the stated course length.
As usual, there is a 3 hour time limit on all courses. If you take more than 3 hours on any course, RETIRE! Fatigue and dehydration can sneak up on you, particularly on the longer courses. Carry a CHARGED cell phone for safety.
Safety Bearings abound for this park, as you're boxed in by a railroad to the north, and paved roads Conner Blvd to the south and Easterwood Dr to the west. East is probably the only invalid safety bearing here.
Printing your map(s):
By printing the map for any of these courses you are agreeing to the following Waiver of Liability:
As a condition for participating in this orienteering event, you hereby release Florida Orienteering (also known as FLO), Suncoast Orienteering (SOAR) and all of their officers and members and others who have planned or participated in this event from liability for any personal injury or property damage that may occur to you or any member of your group as a result of your participation at this event whether caused by negligence or otherwise, and you hereby indemnify Florida Orienteering (FLO), Suncoast Orienteering (SOAR) their officers and any organizations or authorities sponsoring the event from any liability for injury or damage or expense caused by yourself or other members of your group.
To display the map of your chosen course, click on the appropriate link in the list of courses below, then use your browser to download or print it. If your print menu offers the choice, make sure the "Actual Size" option is selected.
Donation:
Suggested donation:
- Civilians and groups < 5 people: $7 for FLO members, or $9 for non members
- Groups (scouts, JROTC, etc.) 5-20: $5 per person
- Groups (scouts, JROTC, etc.) 21+: $4 per person
Donations may be made through Zelle. In order to use Zelle you will need to register for Zelle through your bank's website. Alternatively go to www.zellepay.com/get-started for guided instructions.
Once you have registered for Zelle, through your bank, you can send a donation to rayboyd@floridaorienteering.org and then select the 'Florida Orienteering' account.
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