How are race distances certified?

In article said:

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 pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

David said:

Just wondering... does anyone know how races are measured
in order to be=

=20

Quoted message said:

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: rrtc.netjonesOpen ↗
history.html
sullivanstriders.orgusatf course accuracy.htmOpen ↗
aims-association.orgcourses.htmOpen ↗
rrtc.netbookOpen ↗ --=20 E-mail: [email hidden]

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 said:

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

"David" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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:

seaa.org.ukFAQs.htmOpen ↗

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

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

Donovan Rebbechi said:

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

rrtc.netrrtc.netOpen ↗

At this is how USA Track and Field does it.

"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <user-

Quoted post said:

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 pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

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 said:

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

--
Nova Scotia, Canada