November 17, 2024
Poplar Creek Madnaess

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Meet Director:
Course Setter: Martin S

Schedule:
9:30 a.m. Registration
10 a.m. Mass start
11:30 a.m. Courses close, control pickup starts

(Maximum time on course: 90 minutes)

Cost: (per individual or team)
 

Event Day
Registration

Online
Pre-Registration

Participant
$10
$7
additional maps
$3
rental compass
$1

Details:

On-line registration is now closed. Please register on-site.

See the directions section for details on getting to the start location.

We are currently planning on just having a Madnaess course.

 

This is the first event of the 2024 Winter Madnaess Series which features 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.

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:

Category Handicap
Female
add 2
12 or younger
4
65 or older
4
14 or younger
3
55 or older
3
16 or younger
2
45 or older
2
19 or younger
1
35 or older
1

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.

Directions:
Take the Northwest Tollway (I-90) 19 miles west of O'Hare to Exit 11—Sutton Road-South (Hwy 59); proceed south 2.5 miles to Schaumburg Road and turn West. The forest prerve entrance/parking is 0.5 miles on the North side of Schaumburg road.

Public Transportation:
A great day to use a folding bike! The Metra train arrives in Bartlett at 9:30 a.m. Jog/bike north on Oak Ave to Hwy 20. Jog left then right and continue north on Bartlett Road; left on Schaumburg Road; Just after you cross Sutton Road you will find the parking lot. On the return, ask someone to drop you back at the station.

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