Come and try Park Orienteering on the Gold Coast with the MapRun App
MapRun Parks GC is a series of park orienteering events on Saturday afternoons during August 2024 held in a variety of Gold Coast locations. You have 40 minutes to navigate to control points in parkland and nearby streets, using the free MapRun smartphone app and a paper map.
- Saturday 3rd August 4pm - Pizzey Park, Miami
- Saturday 10th August 4pm - Musgrave Park, Southport
- Saturday 17th August 4pm - Schuster Park, Elanora
- Saturday 24th August 4pm - Cos Zantiotis Park, Labrador
- Saturday 31st August 4pm - Coomera Sports park
These events will be held in anything but dangerous weather.
What do I need to participate?
- Walking / running shoes.
- Your phone needs the latest MapRun app, internet access, and the ability to scan a QR code.
- Entry fee is $7 for members of an orienteering club, $9 for non-members. A group that carries only one phone and records only one result pays one fee.
- Preferably pay with credit card or phone.
- A sense of adventure.
Who can participate?
All ages and fitness levels are catered for; you can run, walk or push a stroller.
Compete individually or in a group.
You don't need to be an orienteering club member.
You don't need to know anything about orienteering or navigation.
What does a MapRun event look like?
It's a race, but feel free to go at your own leisurely pace within the timeframe. Everyone starts at different times and chooses their own route to take between control points. We give you a map showing all controls and you work out your own course; maybe you think you can get them all, maybe a little less ambitious. The fastest runner doesn't always win; route choice and navigation skills are all-important.
There are 20-25 control points shown on your map and labelled with numbers which tell you how much the control is worth. Controls 20-29 are worth 20 points and controls 80-89 are worth 80 points, etc. Take as long as you like planning your route, then you have 40 minutes to gain as many points as you can. If you are back late the penalties are steep - you lose 30 points per minute or part thereof.
Turn up between 4pm and 4:30pm, pay for a map and load the course onto your phone; start your run when you are ready; finish by 5:30 at the latest.
How does MapRun work?
- Install the MapRun app - it has to be the latest version, currently version 7.
- Tap on User Profile and enter your name and contact details.
- Scan the QR code on your map to load the course and map into the app.
- You will also need to enter the 4 digit PIN code shown on your map.
- When you are ready to Start, tap on Go to Start.
- Approach the Start banner, your phone will beep and you are away.
- At each control point your phone will beep; if it doesn't and you are sure you are in right place, press on and we can sort it out later.
- Finish by approaching the Finish banner.
- Your result will now upload to the MapRun server.
- You can see your result and route and compare with others.
- You will receive an email with results after the event.
- After the event we will upload results to the OQ website
Sign up for emails from Paradise Lost Orienteers
Useful links
Contact MapRun Parks GC: maprunparksgc(at)oq.asn.au
Install MapRun: https://maprunners.weebly.com/
Orienteering Queensland Event Calendar: https://oq.orienteering.asn.au/event-calendar
Paradise Lost Orienteers: https://oq.orienteering.asn.au/clubs/paradise-lost-orienteers
Paradise Lost Orienteers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParadiseLostOrienteers
Join Orienteering Queensland and save on fees: https://oq.orienteering.asn.au/membership
Subscribe to the Paradise Lost Orienteers email list to receive information about upcoming events
Subscribe to the Orienteering Queensland email bulletin
Paradise Lost Orienteers and Orienteering Queensland gratefully acknowledge the support of the Queensland Government's Active Industry Project fund in making this series possible.
