Running game idea

[ikweethetniet]

I was thinking about a possible game involving running that could go as follows (Disclaimer: I am not especially competent at either thinking or running):

- Choose a location/terrain that is suitable for running but unfamiliar to participants
- Set a distance (e.g. 5 miles)
- Runners are given some kind of GPS tracking chip
- Runners hand in smartphone, watches etc. so that they cannot assess distance/speed or time elapsed.
- When the game starts, runners try to cover the specified distance as quickly as possible. When a runner thinks she is done, she gives a signal (not sure yet how).
- Each runner's time is penalized for deviations from the specified distance.
(By what factor? I don't know yet.)
- The runner with the shortest (penalized) time wins.
Numerous practicalities would still have to be solved. This is just a rough idea I had this morning (after running).

A few questions for you:
- Does something similar already exist?
- Is this really stupid?
- Could this be fun?

[EvilDuckie]

It sounds a bit like Orienteering with the main difference being that in orienteering participants get a map and a clue sheet. Sounds like it could be fun, especially as a way of showing how difficult it is to guess distances.

[Echo244]

Yeah, could be interesting - my practical objections are that, as a pampered runner, I'm used to a finish point full of goodie bags, bag drops and toilets. Running five miles to a point that you can't have anything near to clearly mark... and then running back? Presumably the orienteering crowd are a hardier bunch. Maybe a finish one mile on from the unmarked point would work.

Also if it's done by competitors together, then watching everyone else make the signal at what-they-think-is-five-miles turn it into something more about psychology than running. Which still could be fun but I'm not sure how much that matches the initial idea.

[LadyLand]

This idea is really great and funny.

[Twitchkidd]

So runners could be penalized for finding the shortest distance between the two points? I must have misunderstood, maybe. I love the idea of an "unsolicited redesign" of the running race. I have a few domains and hosting if you want to develop a web app for it. Field.gareth@gmail.com, hmu