How are race distances certified?

[David]

Just wondering... does anyone know how races are measured in
order to be a "certified" distance? For instance... in order
for a marathon to be a Boston qualifier, does it have to be
measured by a specific method... I'm guessing maybe
handwheel? Are other methods such as bicycle computer, GPS
or 3D mapping software accurate enough for such a task?

--
Nova Scotia, Canada

[Donovan Rebbech]

In article <user-BAF4D7.17321006052004@news.hfx.eastlink.ca>, David wrote:
> Just wondering... does anyone know how races are measured
> in order to be a "certified" distance? For instance... in
> order for a marathon to be a Boston qualifier, does it
> have to be measured by a specific method... I'm guessing
> maybe handwheel? Are other methods such as bicycle
> computer, GPS or 3D mapping software accurate enough for
> such a task?

Calibrated bicycle computer last I checked. Too lazy to
search, find it yourself. I think it's somewhere on the
usatf website.

Consumer grade GPS or a handwheel would probably be
inadequate.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

[Kevin]

On Thu, 06 May 2004 17:32:10 -0300, David <user@host.com> wrote:

>Just wondering... does anyone know how races are measured
>in order to be=
=20
>a "certified" distance? For instance... in order for a
>marathon to be a=20 Boston qualifier, does it have to be
>measured by a specific method...=20 I'm guessing maybe
>handwheel? Are other methods such as bicycle=20 computer,
>GPS or 3D mapping software accurate enough for such a task?

Jones Counter. See these for more info: http://www.rrtc.net/jones-
history.html
http://www.sullivanstriders.org/usatf_course_accuracy.htm
http://www.aims-association.org/courses.htm
http://www.rrtc.net/book/ --=20 E-mail: kevjay@attglobal.net

[Robert.Clark]

There is a website out there somewhere that explains it - I
recall reading it a few years ago. A bit of judicious
'googling' should find it. Individual doing the measurements
has to be qualified by the certifying body, there are rules
about how far out from curb or other edge-of-course
obstacles the line must be measured, assorted other rules
about determining the shortest runnable line, and allowable
error rates, etc.

Rob.

David wrote:

> Just wondering... does anyone know how races are measured
> in order to be a "certified" distance? For instance... in
> order for a marathon to be a Boston qualifier, does it
> have to be measured by a specific method... I'm guessing
> maybe handwheel? Are other methods such as bicycle
> computer, GPS or 3D mapping software accurate enough for
> such a task?
>
> --
> Nova Scotia, Canada

[Ian Rutson]

"David" <user@host.com> wrote in message
news:user-BAF4D7.17321006052004@news.hfx.eastlink.ca...
> Just wondering... does anyone know how races are measured
> in order to be a "certified" distance? For instance... in
> order for a marathon to be a Boston qualifier, does it
> have to be measured by a specific method... I'm guessing
> maybe handwheel? Are other methods such as bicycle
> computer, GPS or 3D mapping software accurate enough for
> such a task?
>

This seems quite comprehensive:

http://www.seaa.org.uk/coursemeasure/FAQs.htm

(UK, but I'm sure it's pretty standard)

[David]

A handwheel (Jones device?) is less accurate than a bike
computer???

Donovan Rebbechi <abuse@aol.com> wrote:

> Calibrated bicycle computer last I checked. Too lazy to
> search, find it yourself. I think it's somewhere on the
> usatf website.
>
> Consumer grade GPS or a handwheel would probably be
> inadequate.

--
Nova Scotia, Canada

[Sam]

http://www.rrtc.net/

At this is how USA Track and Field does it.

"Donovan Rebbechi" <abuse@aol.com> wrote in message
news:slrnc9l8hc.437.abuse@panix2.panix.com...
> In article <user-
> BAF4D7.17321006052004@news.hfx.eastlink.ca>, David wrote:
> > Just wondering... does anyone know how races are
> > measured in order to be a "certified" distance? For
> > instance... in order for a marathon to be a Boston
> > qualifier, does it have to be measured by a specific
> > method... I'm guessing maybe handwheel? Are other
> > methods such as bicycle computer, GPS or 3D mapping
> > software accurate enough for such a task?
>
> Calibrated bicycle computer last I checked. Too lazy to
> search, find it yourself. I think it's somewhere on the
> usatf website.
>
> Consumer grade GPS or a handwheel would probably be
> inadequate.
>
> Cheers,
> --
> Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

[David]

My mistake... a Jones Counter is indeed a type of bike
mounted cycle "computer"... counts wheel revolutions just
like a modern Cateye computer. Before visiting the links
posted in one of the replies, I assumed a Jones Device
was the proper name for a hand wheel measure. Thanks sooo
much for those links BTW... they are exactly what I was
looking for.

David <user@host.com> wrote:
> A handwheel (Jones device?) is less accurate than a bike
> computer???

--
Nova Scotia, Canada