One of the out and back 10ks I did this year had the cone placed further back than normal. It felt long. Several other racers thought the course was long.
Normally, my GPS measures short on this course, which follows pathways in the trees. It has heavy tree cover and there is no way GPS is accurate. Yet, somehow my GPS read 6.20 after the race! My time was also way slower. Previous years my GPS would say 6.05 on this course and my time seemed about right.
I'm wondering if the RD listened to pas GPS complainers ("My GPS said your course was short") and then re-measured the course with their GPS watch.
I just read the LRC article on course measurement and disagree with the comment about GPS making RD accountable. GPS is making courses less accurate because people are complaining the courses are too short because their GPS says so. Apparently Race Directors are listening, but taking the wrong action.
Race directors need to educate and stick with the wheel measurement. GPS on a tree covered course will ALWAYS measure short!