That certainly makes a difference. Still don’t get it perfect though!
Trailbreak used to run navigation events in the south, and although you got the map and checkpoint locations beforehand, you only got the checkpoint values once the clock was ticking.
There were always several checkpoints that were worth zero (dummies, in effect), so even if you were expecting a clearance you still couldn’t completely determine your route beforehand.
That also gave the organisers some flexibility with course difficulty once the CPs were laid out; if the weather was good the dummies would be nearby, and if it turned nasty overnight then some of the farthest flung might be scratched.
They used dibbers too, so you could see everyone else’s route and intermediate times. Sadly numbers gradually fell away and they stopped a couple of years ago. Well done Gorrick and Sid for sticking with the format, they keep it low-key, low-budget and family friendly.
Would love to go and do some on big hills up north. One day…