Any excuse to have a
picnic...
Over the years I've met a few runners who are also Geocachers
& a lot of Geocachers who also happen to occasionally run. Some
were quite serious about winning while others were simply jogging
for charity. I jog as yet another excuse to go & visit my
favorite parks. Many times I've combined the activities - running
with a GPSr in my hand & a tiny pen tucked into my sock. This
healthful addition to caching is not without it's pitfalls however.
I literally mean falling into pits! You really have to pay
attention to your surroundings when Geo-Jogging. 
Presenting, the Geo-Jog 2010 - a "5K" race unlike any that the
running clubs host. This time you'll have to chose between speed
... and finding the new caches along the route. You can either be
First to Find... or First to Finish! Like a "normal" race the
course will be marked & measured to be fairly close to 5000
meters. There will be at least one water stop, maybe two. There
will be awards for the top 3 overall finishers & for the male
& female winners in each age group. The "post race party" will
be a picnic at the posted coordinates featuring standard post-race
snacks & Team ABC's famous GEO-ADE. If you would like something
more substantial, you are encouraged to bring a dish. If I can
swing it, we'll have official race number bibs that we can all
wear. The event will begin at 10:00 & the race will start at
11:00 with lunch about an hour later. Then we'll probably hang
around until we run out of food or the park closes. If even a small
amount of kids attend we'll have a short "fun run" for them. You
may bike, kayak or ski the course as well (weather permitting) but
will be in your own category. This event will be held rain or
shine! If the weather is looking bad enough the night before we
may postpone for a few weeks.
The event is
open to all cachers!
You do not have to run (or even walk) the course to attend the
event.
Click Here to download the GPX of the tracks &
waypoints along the course!
Now I know what you're thinking - "I can't jog that far!"
and you might be right - but you have 8 weeks to train! A "5K" is
only 3.1 miles & the course is only a "2 star terrain". It is
mostly flat & alternates between wide meadow trails, crushed
gravel roads & hard-pack woodland trails through Tatum Park. Tens of thousands of people
have gone from "couch to 5K" every year in various beginner running
courses. Geocachers, being fairly active people, have a serious leg
up over the average muggle couch potato. All it takes is a little
momentum & you'll be on your way. Getting some good exercise
just three times a week on a regular schedule might not make you a
runner but it will get you through 5000 meters. Of course,
when starting any new vigorous exercise regimen it's always a good
idea to clear it with a doctor or life insurance
salesperson.
Of
course, if you would rather hang out we could really use a few
volunteers to help setup/work the race. You still get to watch
the fun & you get first crack at the snacks!
The approximate course
A simple 8-week training
course
Week 1 20 minute brisk walk x2, 30 minutes brisk walk
Week 2 30 minute brisk walk x 2, 5 minutes of slow
jogging
Week 3 10 minutes of jogging x 2, 40 minute brisk walk
Week 4 10 minutes of jogging x 2, 15 minutes of
jogging
Week 5 15 minutes of jogging x2, 45 minute brisk walk
Week 6 20 minutes of jogging x2, 45 minute brisk walk
Week 7 15 minutes of jogging x2, 30 minutes jogging
Week 8 20 minutes of jogging x2, 45 minute brisk walk
By week 7 you probably ran 2 miles & if you can do 2mi, you can
do 5km!
Week 8 you can take a little easier before the big race. Good
luck!
For insurance
purposes
This cache is not certified
Central
Jersey!
