Der verflixte erste Posten – Laufzeitenanalyse von OL-Juniorinnen und -Junioren

Abstract

Orienteering is a combination of cognitive and physical capabilities of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system. However, especially for juniors, there is often the risk of running too fast compared to map-reading skills, which ends up in search actions. This yields directly to the aim of the study to analyze the steadiness of speed for course times in junior orienteering runners. Material and methods: Results from the Swiss long distance orienteering championships of the year 2020 were analyzed to calculate average speed and steadiness per control for the categories D14, D16, D18, D20 and H14, H16, H18, H20 with the concept of performance km. Results: Male juniors were significantly faster than female in all analyzed categories (p < 0.01). Both, female (R2 = 0.6573) and male (R2 = 0.7937) juniors showed an age-dependent average performance kilometer decrease and in consequence increase of running speed. Analyses from the standard deviation of the percentage deviation to a control and the ranking position indicated that the steadier the run, the better the result, whereby for some categories high coefficients of determination, e.g., D18 (R2 = 0.679) were identified. Moreover, analyses by control indicated, that especially to the first control respectively the first part of the race was uneven paced. Discussion: Analyses show a clear age dependence of running speed in female and male junior orienteers. Furthermore, the steadier the run, the better the rank. This implies, that even pacing yields to faster course times, which is also supported by biological restrictions known from long-distance running. In addition, it is detectable, that particularly the first part of the orienteering course respectively the first control was uneven paced. This is probably a consequence of an often too high speed in the beginning of a course with corresponding search actions. In consequence, the first control should be consciously addressed in training and the ability to directly start highly focused should be in consequence specifically trained e.g., with starting exercises.