If a run is advertised as a 5k and is actually not, is it false advertising?

Again missing the point there is not one race we are talking about here. In general when did it become ok for a 5000 meter run be kind of close to 5000 meters or not close at all but we can still call it a 5k?

I agree that the course should be 5k if advertised as 5k. That being said, if the course is not advertised as certified, then you should not expect it to be accurate. As mentioned earlier, if you want to test yourself over a "true" road 5k, find an historically competitive certified 5k that is operated by a RD with a solid reputation.

If it is a new race on a course that is not certified, refer to the "You Know You're at a Local Fun Run When...." thread for further guidance.

I am not too big on comparing times from one road race to another, so I don't see why everything has to be a 5k or 10k. I would prefer if more races were for odd distances, similar to Falmouth, Manchester, etc.

If it is a 2.85 miles loop from the firehouse, around Smallville and back again, then that should be the race distance for the Smallville Pie Run. There is no need to throw in a loop around the Elk's Lodge parking lot to try to make it a 5k.

If more courses were designed that way, nobody feels that they were short changed or lied to. Your time is only comparable to other people in that race and to the Pie Run legends of days gone by. There is no desire to compare it to your time for the Springfield Dog Shelter 3.3 Miler.

As David alluded to, caveat emptor, buyer beware. If the application lists a USATF certification number, you can be assured it is accurate. In addition, the map and specs are probably on line somewhere. Look at the map and see if they are doing everything they say they are. (start, finish, turns, etc.) If you are serious about your racing you should never run on a non-certified course or in a non-sanctioned event. There are more than a few runners around here who made their names and reputations by running on notoriously short courses.

Er... wrote:

Life must be very difficult for those of you who never make mistakes.

Boom!!!!

Butterg wrote:

Again missing the point there is not one race we are talking about here. In general when did it become ok for a 5000 meter run be kind of close to 5000 meters or not close at all but we can still call it a 5k?

If they called it a 5000m then that's what it should be, 5k could be anything from 4.9-5.1. As someone else said if you want to run an exact 5000m run on a track! It's like XC there's no reason to run standardized distances it's meaningless.

Unless you find the USATF certification # here --

http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/search

just assume the course is not accurate.

For real? wrote:

In all seriousness at what point does one call a race director out and ask for a refund?

When you don't win a race b/c it's off by less than 200 meters? In all seriousness, REALLY??

I don't get it...how many of you run the times you allegedly claim you run when you have your butt clinched together as tight as you do?

Yes really. It is amazing how many people are demonstrating the OPs point. Why do we not care if a run or race is the advertised distance?

Risen wrote:

Yes really. It is amazing how many people are demonstrating the OPs point. Why do we not care if a run or race is the advertised distance?

Because it's literally always been like that. Even on a precisely measure track you aren't running an exact distance if you make a single turn.

Normal people accept that. Other people apparently freak out if their 17:20 5k could have been 17:17 if properly measured.

The real question is, how much of a needledick are you? Show up, shoe up, run the race, and pick up your prize money.

As a race director and volunteer at hundreds of races, it seems to me that your lawyer will quickly learn that the organization, school booster club, homeless shelter, or whoever is putting on the race have no money left after passing it along to the charity of their choice, usually advertised on the flyer. Your lawyer will wish you better luck next time. Go get hit by a city bus or someone with deep pockets.

As a race director and timer, I'm tired of hearing from people that their $100 Garmin watch measured the course out to be 3.103 miles instead of 3.1 as advertised and their time according their wonderful watch was 19:33.4 instead of the chip timed 19:35.04.

Guess what my $30,000 timing system beats your $100 watch

OK - I'll pay the $1000 fee (or more) that a USATF course measurer will charge us and pass that along to the customer. So with permit fees and all the other charges that people want - tech t-shirt, awards in 5 year age groups, finishers medals, etc etc etc- the runners just saw their entry fee go up a minimum $5 per person. With sponsors not dropping out of the sky - and there being ten 5K/10K races in the area every weekend - unless the race can get 500 people - you're paying 35-40 to get into the race.

$1000 fee?

Call me

:)

Wow $1000 to certify a course??? I know a few very qualified people that will fly to whatever part of the country your in, certify your course, have a nice meal, stay in a really good hotel and be quite please for less than that. And by the way, I'm really tired of "race directors" who care only about how much money they can pocket, complain about rising costs, and not even bother to get their race certified or sanctioned. You are the ones giving the whole RD schtick a bad name.

What the hell is the difference is the race is certified or sanctioned. Not every freaking race is a "I've run a 15:30 5K - so I should get in for free" race. I like racing. I like good food afterwards and a fun time. I run 16:30 5K's. I'm tired of the holier than thou wannabe pro's thinking their s**t doesn't stink and deserve a free entry.

RD's pocket money? Do you work for free or for $2.00 an hour?

Meh, most 5k/10k races tend to be slightly (.05 miles) long just to make sure they're long enough and occasionally some races are really poorly measured and end up short or even much too long. I realize this going in and you should too.

David Katz wrote:

$1000 fee?

Call me

:)

David - do you know anything about the Red Hook Criterium course in brooklyn? Cause they said it would be USATF certified but it isn't on their list, and it sure seemed long to me.

I really hate these GPS-based arguments, but I just wondering if you knew anything about it.