Scientific Journal of Orienteering, Vol. 14

Bader, P., Fries, C., & Jonsson, B.-G.: Trampling by orienteers on downed spruce logs in a woodland key habitat in northern Sweden. [Abstract]

Laukkanen, R., Kaikkonen, H., & Karppinen, T. Heart rate and heart rate variability in male orienteers before, during and after intensive training camp. [Abstract]

Scarf, P. Route choice and an empirical basis for the equivalence between climb and distance. [Abstract]

Bibliography

To investigate whether trampling by orienteers negatively influenced conservation values in the form of spruce logs in natural-like spruce forest, a study was undertaken during the 2^nd day of O-Ringen, Sweden's International 5-days Orienteering, 1997 in the county of Västerbotten, northern Sweden. Ten logs within an area of 20 m x 40 m at a control where 102 adult male competitors passed were inventoried before and after the competition. The competitors passed over 30 of a total of 62 2m long sections. 20 sections were trampled 1-5 times. As a result of trampling, the coverage of bark or mosses decreased by 5 per cent on three 2 m sections. No species of mosses or fungi disappeared from the studied logs. The most important conclusion from this study is that the 102 competitors who passed the studied area had a very small impact on the logs. From a conservation point of view the impact must be considered insignificant. Another conclusion is that the competitors used only a few passages through the area, although there were no visible paths within the study area.

Overtraining is aproblem for orienteers especially during pre-competition season in the spring. To avoid overtraining, practical methods for detecting it are needed. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) can be used as indicators of overtraining and of training recovery because they are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate whether resting heart rate and R-R interval recording (HRV) can be used as training recovery status indicators in orienteers in field situations. Seven male orienteers (mean ± SD: age 30 ± 4 years, VO_2max 70.8 ± 3.9 ml·kg^-1·min^-1) were studied during a spring heavy training camp. Subjects recorded their resting HR and HRV six days before the 10-day camp, during the camp and on five days after the camp using wireless heart rate recording technology. All measurement were done four times a day in a sitting position for a recording period of five minutes. Heart rates during each training session were recorded and used for training intensity calculations. In addition, subjects kept diaries of their subjective rating of perceived exertion. Total training per person during the camp averaged 19 hours. The orienteers could easily perform all resting and exercise measurements at home and during the camp by themselves. Resting HR and HRV results were consistent with subjective feelings and training intensity. After the camp the HRV remained low, even though the HR did indicate total recovery. We conclude that these methods provide useful tools for recovery and overtraining detection in male orienteers.

We look at data on U.K. fell running records in order to investigate the equivalence between climb and distance. The analysis points to a "1 to 8" rule for male athletes, whereby 125 m of climb is equivalent to a flat distance of 1 km, and a "1 to 10" rule for female athletes. These rules can be used in decision making about alternative routes, and to compare courses of differing distance and climb.

Back to Sci.J.O. Home Page

Next Issue