Mountain Running - Athletics or Mountaineering or Orienteering?
To distinguish the sport of mountain running from mountaineering or
orienteering we can look at the philosophy of each sport.
The philosophy of mountaineering is based on contact with and challenge
to nature. The time factor is only important in relation to our
planning and safety. Climbers seek their adrenalin rush climbing on
rock faces, looking for new routes and overcoming the danger inherent
in their sport. A considerable amount of technical equipment, (ropes,
pitons, etc) is needed. It is a question of combat between man and
nature.
The philosophy of orienteering is to work out the quickest router
between two points. Speed is important but it is useless without
map-reading, compass, and route finding skills. In a few competitions,
orienteering moves out of the forest, its natural habitat, and onto the
mountains but its philosophy is still distinct from that of mountain
running.
The philosophy of athletics, in our case mountain running, is based on
the time factor, how to reach the finish taking the defined way as fast
as possible. This is the objective of those who take part in
competitive mountain running. Courses are designed to eliminate danger.
No equipment is needed, no ropes, no compass. Athletes find their
challenge in matching their speed against that of other runners, a
competition between man (woman) and man (woman) |
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