Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation. It is closely related to orienteering and many people enjoy both sports. For all participants, compared to an orienteering meet, a rogaine:

• is a much longer event, usually 6, 8, 12 or 24 hours
• is a team sport (important for safety, given the long duration)
• has checkpoints (controls) assigned point values reflecting the distance from other checkpoints and the technical difficulty (terrain, navigation) of visiting them
• requires each team to plan the order in which to visit checkpoints, so route choice is a very important element

For event organizers, a rogaine differs from an orienteering meet in that:

• it requires a far larger map area, but not necessarily a highly customized orienteering map
• a 24-hour rogaine benefits from being scheduled during a full moon, and needs an organized food service and space in which participants can sleep

The name ‘Rogaine’ was originally coined as the first few letters of the founders’ names (Rod, Gail and Neil).  More information is available from the Australian Rogaining Assoication.

See more definitions in the Definitive Guide to Running Terms.

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