March 22, 2009
Linne Woods

Meet Director: Robert Sparacino Course Setter: David Yang Schedule: 9:30 a.m. Registration 10 a.m. Mass start 11:30 a.m. Courses close, control pickup starts (Maximum time on course: 3 hours) Cost: (per individual or team) CAOC members $7 non-members $10 additional maps $3 rental compass $1 rental e-Punch $5 purchase e-Punch $30 (We suggest a maximum of four people per group.)

View Linne Woods in a larger map

Details:
The March 22nd Madnaess event will take place on one of our maps along the Chicago River. There will be a beginner's course (similar to the usual white or yellow courses) plus the Madnaess course for more experienced orienteerers.

On-line registration is open until noon Friday 3/20.

This is the second year of the Winter Madnaess Series which features four individual races over the winter months. The format is very different from traditional orienteering as the race is a mass start. The race is broken into three parts. The first is a set of common controls where the runners go head to head. They then enter the Madnaess box which features 7-8 controls. The intent of this box is to equalize the race for all levels of skill and as such each runner gets to skip a certain amount the controls based on their age and sex. Elite racers will have to cover all of them while younger or older runners will do less. Coming out of the box they then cover a number of common controls once again and if planned out properly most of the runners should finish very close to one another.

Racers will count their best three out of four results to determine overall 2009 champions. For runners who are unable to get to at least three of the races to count for the total, this is not an issue as each race is a seperate competition so if you can only make one then come out a try.

For beginners and kids we will have seperate novice courses so bring them out.

The competition will go ahead through rain or snow.

The Winter Madnaess Rules

1. All events will have a mass start at 10:00 on the event day. You may start without penalty up to 20 minutes after the official start time. After that, your start time may be adjusted back to 20 minutes.
   
   
2. The time limit is 90 minutes--all controls will be picked up after this time.
   
   
3. At each event, every participant must sign an event waiver prior to the start, at registration time.
   
   
4. Pre-marked maps are guaranteed to all who pre-register.
   
   
5. Map cases may be purchased at pre-registration or on-site for $1.
   
   
6. To ensure competitiveness for all participants, each event will use a handicap system called The Madnaess Box. Using their creativity, course setters will attempt to choreograph that elusive mass finish.

The Madnaess Box

Each race will feature the infamous Madnaess Box, which consists of a set of controls labeled with letters (A,B,C, etc) somewhere on the course. Participants may attack the controls in the box in any order. Additionally, participants may drop controls equal to their handicap point total. Handicap points are awarded as follows:

Examples:

• A 46-year-old female may drop 4 controls in the box.
• 19-year-old male may drop 1 control in the box.
• A 28-year-old male must visit all the controls in the box.

Public Transportation:
Take the Metra Milwaukee District North line out of Union Station to Morton Grove. Walk north to registration (1/4 mile walk).

Driving Directions:
Take the Eden's Expwy (I-94) 6.1 miles north (west) of the Kennedy (I-90) to Exit 37A (Dempster St. - west). Go west just over a mile to the entrance to Linne Woods on the right (north) side of road. Watch for the orange-and-white orienteering signs. If you are coming up I-294, remember that the Dempster ramps are closed. The Touhy and Willow exits are open, but with the construction, both could be very congested. Allow extra time.