Mike gets his dream job

RUNNING with a map is set to be going places in Moray thanks to funding from sportScotland and Moray LEADER.

We now have a newly-appointed orienteering regional development officer in the shape of Mike Rodgers who will be working two days a week in the Moray area.

Mike, who lives in Kintessack near Forres, will be joined in August by Jess Halliday, one of Britain’s top female elite orienteers who will work in Aberdeenshire. The pair also hopes to work together when the opportunity arises.

Mike came in to orienteering from a road-running background where despite 70-mile training weeks, the best he could manage was an 80-minute half marathon.

An RAF navigator by trade, he was introduced to running with a map in 1989, and was shamed by a 2½–hour epic on a 6Km course that he thought would take him half an hour! Professional pride dented, Mike learned how to navigate on the run while continuing to compete on the road and cross country with Nairn Road Runners, Fife AC and Forres Harriers before a problem with the electrics in his heart put a stop to serious running.

This particular cloud had a silver lining in that Mike discovered the pleasures of still being able to compete at orienteering events, and beat people who were able to run much faster than him by means of “cunning running”.

Mike has been working with Active Schools as a volunteer for several years, and has helped introduce orienteering in many schools, where children can learn about maps in a fun way, while getting active in the process.

The local club, Moravian Orienteers, has grown rapidly and local events now take place at least once a month. Now that he he’s able to devote more time to it, Mike hopes to help as many local groups as possible discover orienteering for themselves.

“Orienteering is a running sport,” says Mike, “but it’s a running sport that can be done by walkers too. My aim is not to try and turn runners in to orienteers, but I want to help running clubs use simple orienteering sessions to give a bit of variety to their training sessions.

If this means that some runners decide to take up competitive orienteering to complement their running, then so much the better. I also also want to encourage more orienteers to improve their times by getting fitter by training with their local running club or Jog Scotland group. We’re both athletic sports so why shouldn’t we work together?” Mike also emphasises the added interest that orienteering can bring to walking groups.

“It really develops your navigation skills, and a few of the most valued members of the local club regularly take part without running a step,” said Mike. “Because orienteering events have staggered start times, walkers can start before the runners, and there’s no pressure of competing head to head. I’ve seen many super-fit runners coming in after having a nightmare with their navigation to find they’ve been soundly beaten by a speed-walking pensioner with walking poles!”

In 2013 Moray will be staging the UK’s biggest orienteering event when the Scottish 6 Days Festival comes to this area. Around 4,000 competitors will be competing in separate competitions at Lossie Forest, Roseisle, Culbin, Darnaway and 2 further areas up in the hills South of Nairn. With age-class competitions for under 11s to over 85s this is truly an event for all ages, and with the local economy set to benefit to the tune of over £2 million thanks to the influx of visitors, it will be a huge occasion for Moray.

The event, which runs from 27th July to 3rd August will be open to all local people, whether you’re a member of a club or not.

If any group would like to invite Mike to come along to one of your sessions to see what you can get out of orienteering, please contact him at mrodgers506@hotmail.co.uk. Who knows, there might be a future British Champion out there somewhere!