Running city

In the Running City competitions, all participants are divided into several main categories ^{[6] [12] [13]}

• "Lions" go the route only on foot;
• Gryphons are allowed to run, but public transport must not be used;
• Atlantes and Angels are allowed to use public transport ;
• "Sphinxes" are also allowed to use public transport, but the passage of the route involves the solution of various puzzles;
• "Armored vehicles" have no restrictions on the transport used;
• "Riders" - a category for cyclists ;
• "Chimera" - a category for participants on roller skates , chilis , scooters , unicycles and other "alternative" vehicles.
• "Centaur" - a combined bicycle and transport category.

Each category can be divided into several subcategories, characterized by the length of the route and the presence or absence of puzzles.

Since 2000, the organizing committee is headed by the chairman (he is the author of the idea of ​​such a competition) Igor Golyshev ^[5] .

In the fall of 2000, the city ​​of orienteering “Running City” was held for the first time in St. Petersburg.

The project was based on the organizers' long-standing desire to share their city. Show it from an unexpected angle. To bind together those parts that might seem fragmented. Talk about the little-known or undeservedly ignored by the attention of the picturesque corners. Well, of course, to give the opportunity to “feel the city with your feet” - to study it in the dynamics of everyday life ^[14] .

At the first competitions, only one route was offered for the participants, with the classification in two categories: transport and pedestrian (prototype of the modern Atlanta ) and bicycle (prototype of the modern Rider ). The experiment was successful, people became interested.

In 2001, the second competition was held. Then the categories got their “names”, and to attract more participants, the category “Angel” was introduced - a light version of Atlanta.

In 2002, a fourth one was added to the above categories, and a pedestrian “Lion” was added. Unlike the modern "Leo", the passage time was also taken into account in this category.

In 2003, by popular demand, the Roller category was added, but it was always the most “sparsely populated” and in 2012 was merged with the Chimera category created in 2010.

In 2004, the list of categories was replenished with two more: “Sphinx” - actually the same “Atlant”, but all the control points (KP) are set by riddles, and “Armored car” - without restricting the use of vehicles (including your own car or taxi). In the Armored Cars, part of the KP was also riddled with riddles.

In 2005, no new categories were added, but this year a “breakthrough” was made outside of St. Petersburg. First, experimental competitions were held in Pushkin , and then full-fledged competitions in Moscow . Since then, "Running City" began to take place regularly not only in St. Petersburg, but also in the capital of our country.

In 2006, the running - “Griffin” was added to the list of categories. The rules for calculating results have also been changed. Previously, the main parameter was the time taken to complete the route, and for impregnated CPs, a temporary fine was imposed, established by the organizers of the competition. Actually, the last paragraph caused a lot of complaints. Since 2006, the main parameter was the number of KPs taken, and then the time taken to complete the route. In addition, the category “Lion” has turned from sports to cognitive, as the time taken to complete the course in it has ceased to be taken into account. Also, since 2006, participants in the transport categories were allowed to use commercial shuttle buses to move around the city.

In 2007 , inspired by successful competitions in Moscow, the PoBeGi project was launched as part of the Running City, which is actually the same Running City, but in relatively small cities in Russia and the near abroad. In addition, lightweight spring competitions “Day in the City” were held, as well as a walk through the interesting control points of past years “Deja Vu-2007”.

In 2008, as an addition to the “Day in the City” competitions, the night competitions “Night in the City” and the charity quest “Good Peter” were held. At the competitions in St. Petersburg, in order to accommodate everyone, the scheme of dividing the tracks in each category into even and odd was tested, but the experiment was found to be unsuccessful due to technical difficulties and the overlays that arise from this.

In 2009, at the St. Petersburg competitions, the scheme of dividing categories into subcategories was first tested. Unlike last year’s experiment, the two-minute interval between the starting participants was preserved, and the subcategories were slightly different from each other. So in the subcategories “light” and “pro” the categories “Horseman”, “Griffin”, “Sphinx” (distance lengths differed) and “Leo” (in “pro” some of the points were riddled) were divided. The experiment was successful, and further division into subcategories has been preserved. Among the subsidiary projects were Running City mini (for schoolchildren), Day / Night in the City and Good Peter.

In 2010, a new category of “Chimera” was added - for those traveling with “alternative” vehicles (scooters, chilis, jumpers, unicycles, skateboards, etc.). Of the subsidiary projects, as in the past year, “Running City mini” and “Day / Night in the City” were held.

In 2011, the Armored Car category was also divided into subcategories “light” and “pro”. The "Light" 'ohm became the traditional Armored Car, and in the "pro" all KP were asked in riddles. The subsidiary competitions included “Day / Night in the City”, thematic “500 Days to London” and “Petersburski spacer”, as well as charity competitions “Run for Good” held in Moscow.

In 2012, PoBeGi competitions were held only in Pechora , after their implementation it was decided to conduct all competitions under the name "Running City". There have been changes in the main competitions: the Roller category, which has always been not very popular, has been combined with the Chimera category, which has gained popularity. In turn, “Chimera” was divided into two subcategories along the length of the track - “light” and “pro”. Also, the already traditional Day / Night in the City events were held, as well as the Key to the City competition for schoolchildren and the Metropolis - orientation in the Metro; The last two competitions were held both in St. Petersburg and in Moscow. There were also several thematic competitions-games.

In 2013 , as in the past year, a number of thematic games-competitions, day and night rogains, "Key to the City", "Metropolis" were held. In St. Petersburg competitions, according to the numerous requests of the participants, the subcategory continued to multiply: in the "Riders" and "Sphinxes" a subcategory "middle" (that is, the middle between "light" and "pro") appeared, and in Leo - "extra" (all KP riddled). A new category has also been added - “Centaur” , which combines “Atlanta” and “Chimera” or “Horseman”, that is, the main movement is carried out by public transport, but you can carry a folding bike or scooter with you.

In 2014, in the St. Petersburg competitions, the “extra” subcategory for “Riders” was added - in it part of the KP were asked in riddles. As in previous years, a number of rogains, thematic games and competitions were held, the total number of which was 20.

Thus, over 15 years the project has evolved from local experimental competitions with one track and two categories into an exciting game for everyone with a large number of related projects, spread throughout the country, and even beyond its borders. And development did not stop there.

In 2015, in addition to city orienteering, a number of rogains, thematic games and competitions (“Warm Letters”, “Key to the City”, “Metropolis” and others) were also held, the total number of which was 22. In St. Petersburg competitions, a subcategory “Leo & Unicorn "- the same" Lion ", but all KP are set in English. The category was created to attract foreign citizens to the competition.

In 2016, 16 thematic games were held in addition to 11 major competitions. In St. Petersburg competitions, a sub-category “Leo-Mini” was added - the same “Leo”, but with a short (about 10 km) route. This subcategory was mainly created at the request of persons with limited mobility, as well as participants with prams. In addition, the categories “Angel” and “Atlas” were brought “under a common denominator”: the classic “Atlas” became known as “Atlant Pro”, and “Angel” received a new name “Atlant Light”. The “angel” was a new category, the rules of movement in which coincide with the “Atlant” / “Sphinx”, but part of the CP is set by riddles.

In 2017, the first competitions are planned in London , as well as New York and Washington .

Since 2007, the Running City competitions and its predecessor PoBeGi have already been held in more than 65 cities of Russia and abroad. The geography of “Running City” continues to expand annually.

• runcity.org - the official website of "Running City"