MtbO

Just using powerade or any other sports drink during a race will make you extremely dehydrated. One of the members of my club raced a long race with just energade and ended up throwing up everywhere. You actually would probably do well with just GU gels and water... The sports drinks are either isotonic or hypertonic. What you really need to have is something just slightly hypotonic.

You actually no longer need a TUE for salbutamol and salmeterol (as of 2010). You just need to declare it before you have a drugs test and there are limits. On that note, I can see hundreds of cyclists now going to a pulmonologist for a prescription.

Hey everyone The SA sprint orienteering champs is taking place at the waterfront this year. Sure to be a spectacular event. Although entries have closed, come along to check it out and learn a bit more about orienteering.

How many litres are the backpacks?

For R250 per month you can get a program from the High performance center in Pretoria. So if you don't need to see your coach every week then I think that it is a pretty good option.

I suppose just the usual running stuff (shoes, shirt,shorts etc). If you have a compass you can bring one, though you won't really need one because the buildings help you to orientate yourself. The actual event sheet is here: Event Sheet

To anyone interested there are a couple of events coming up for newcomers to learn about the sport and get a feel for it before the sprint season starts. Here are the details for the first event: Joburg Zoo 23 January Starts are from 8:30 until 11 Follow the signs to where the start will be Just pay the normal zoo entrance and then it will be R10 for the map Essentially the idea is to have a short 500m course where an experienced orienteer will help you to navigate. Then you can try the longer 2.5 km course on your own. If you would like any further details either post here or you can visit www.racorienteers.co.za

Montrails are cool, my second pair is a pair of Rockridges. Just not impressed with them changing their range of shoes every year (was more impressed with my first pair of Wildwoods). They don't last me long though, my first pair lasted me less than 275 km.

Anyone have any recommendations on some very technical terrain in the gauteng area? Not just limited to trails though, XC as well. I am looking to hit some very technical areas at speed.

@Azonic You are quite lucky that you didn't have a bigger dermatome. Something like the arm must hurt like hell (because the dermatomes are huge). I heard that antivirals and things they have to give you only work in the first stages. (at least at the clinic where I volunteer)

If anyone is interested in trying to improve their navigation for adventure racing, or looking for more of a challenge (trail running wise) there is an orienteering event this weekend at the pretoria botanical gardens. Clubs are also trying to increase interest so will be having a few "come and try it" events before the sprint series starts next year. Details for the event this weekend can be found at: http://www.orienteering.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2010SprintCupNotice.pdf Anyone that wants to know more about the sport can just post here.

I prefer montrail to salomon...so not sure what it means either...

Inov8 shoes are very popular overseas with trail running and orienteering. Like someone said earlier, some of us have longer second toes . I would rather get Inov8s anyway (was told that it is very good if you are a mid foot striker). From what I heard as well, if you are a heel striker and suddenly start mid foot striking you will pick up calf and achilles tendon problems. So maybe that is something to consider if you want to change from "normal" running shoes to these.

If you are a normal healthy person, you do not need to take any vitamins. If you are already getting everything in your diet then all you are doing is giving yourself expensive pee. (hence the darker colour)

I bought from derailerhanger.com. Worked out well.