MapRun - New User or Club
Often there is someone in an Orienteering Club (or similar), who has heard of MapRun and would like to evaluate MapRun for their club... or maybe just for their own interest.
MapRun makes it easier than ever to give GPS-based Orienteering a try. This page gives a summary of what is required for each option.
MapRun makes it easier than ever to give GPS-based Orienteering a try. This page gives a summary of what is required for each option.
Ways to get Started
Stage 1: Run in an Existing Event
- You could look for an event that is already set in your area and go and try that.
- Clubs typically don't remove events, but leave them published and available.
- Even if the event initially had a PIN to keep it confidential, the PIN is normally set to expire after the initial run.
- Events in your immediate vicinity can be identified with the "Events Near Me" button on the home screen of MapRun6.
- To participate you can use the MapRun6 App on your Android or iPhone, or a Garmin Watch with the MapRunG App, or any GPS watch.
Stage 2: Set a Quick Start Event
- Sometimes the impediment to getting started is not having a copy of an Orienteering Map in the right format.
- QuickStart lets you create a very simple course to get the feel for GPS-based Orienteering.
- You can do it simply on the MapRun App without needing a Map or Course file.
- See the QuickStart Page
- See a video here
Stage 3: Setup your own Personal Event
- In the past, to publish an event to the server has required Administrator access (which is normally provided to event organsiers in Clubs)
- With MapRun6 you can publish an event yourself using the CheckSites feature.
- To do this, you need to create a course file ... the locations of your controls ... in KML format. This can be done by dropping pins on locations in Google Earth.
- You would also normally use an Orienteering Map. This needs to be as exported from OCAD in KMZ format, buy it is NOT essential that you have a Map file.
- For the details on preparing Maps and Courses see: Step by Step Guide
- Follow the instructions on the CheckSites page to publish a "personal" event.
- If you are using an Android, there is also the option to "import" the files into MapRun6 from the SD card in your phone.
Stage 4: Setup a Public Event
- Please try a couple of events in CheckSites first before asking to setup a Public Event. Make sure you can create KMZ and KML files and that your CheckSites events are working for you when you test run them. You can share the 6-digit CheckSites code with other people to have them test your course, or even to run a simple event for your friends or Club.
- Once you have done this:
- If you would like to become a regular user of MapRun, contact us at [email protected]
- You should send us the following information:
- Send us a current CheckSites 6-digit code or two. This is to show that you have been able to setup events. The sample event(s) need to consist of both a Map (KMZ) and Course (KML). (For published events, a Map is needed.)
- Where are you located?
- Are there already MapRun events in your location?
- Do you represent a Club or Association?
- Can you suggest a folder name for events you create. We normally use geographic names (not club names)?
- Confirmation that if you become a regular user, your Club is prepared to pay 50c (USD) per individual participant run through the system.
- We need to determine which "folder" your events will appear in on the server. We normally like to use geographic names for folders rather than Club names as this helps newcomers find events. Please let us know what country and region you are in (and whether that region already has a folder). In some countries we have overall Administrators who help determine the best arrangement of folders for that country.
- Administrators are able to manage events within a folder and any sub-folders they create. This includes creating, moving, deleting events and editing, deleting and exporting results.
- For Clubs who become regular users of MapRun, payment of the order of 50c (USD) per individual participant run through the system is required to cover costs. See more info here.
- Feel free to post questions/comments on the MapRun Forum, and existing experienced users are usually happy to respond and provide advice.