Is The RunningLane Course 5K? Or Is It Short?

3 feet

I can't wait to see some of you heads explode when you try to figure out how to measure over logs or through streams.

not a name wrote:

I can't wait to see some of you heads explode when you try to figure out how to measure over logs or through streams.

Luckily that is a non issue on the courses that matter for comparison.

not a name wrote:

I can't wait to see some of you heads explode when you try to figure out how to measure over logs or through streams.

You pick up the logs, lay them over the stream and run over them. That was too easy.

Got any more escape room puzzles?

not a name wrote:

I can't wait to see some of you heads explode when you try to figure out how to measure over logs or through streams.

There are several of those situations to be figured out I am sure. A course created temporarily with cones. A course that has no border lines (down a trail) should be another good one. Etc, etc.

coachy wrote:

not a name wrote:

I can't wait to see some of you heads explode when you try to figure out how to measure over logs or through streams.

There are several of those situations to be figured out I am sure. A course created temporarily with cones.

the 30cm or 3 feet - whatever we agree on from the cones

A course that has no border lines (down a trail) should be another good one. Etc, etc.

same thing, you measure 30cm or 3 feet or whatever we agree on from the inside edge of the trail

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I wasn't looking for specific responses but if you are talking steel tape measurement, courses with cones are often setup right before the races so you couldn't really "certify" them before the are run.

The "inside edge of the trail" isn't always easy to find, easy when it's a white painted line though. There is really only one course that anyone wants to check.

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Now you say that you only care about a national course. Earlier you said, "I do, and the kids I coach do, and the other kids that attend the meets I go to do, and many people in this thread do.

If my teams average is 16:00 the first meet of the year on a hilly, traditionally slow course, then the following week we go to a big invite on a golf course that traditionally runs 30 seconds quicker than our first meet, but we end up running 40 seconds slower on average. Wouldn't it help to know the actual course distance to see why the times are slower than in the past?"

not a name wrote:

Now you say that you only care about a national course. Earlier you said, "I do, and the kids I coach do, and the other kids that attend the meets I go to do, and many people in this thread do.

If my teams average is 16:00 the first meet of the year on a hilly, traditionally slow course, then the following week we go to a big invite on a golf course that traditionally runs 30 seconds quicker than our first meet, but we end up running 40 seconds slower on average. Wouldn't it help to know the actual course distance to see why the times are slower than in the past?"

No, what I'm saying is precision in course measurements isn't needed to ensure that every single course is exactly 5000m. But if someone claims a course to be 5000, it should be very, very close using approved course measuring methodology. I don't need to steel tape every course I attend to know if it is perfect, long, or short. I can gather that info in less than an hour, and consistency in process results in consistency in reasonable accuracy...

Stick with SPR and wheel.

not a name wrote:

Stick with SPR and wheel.

We need to define the SPR

No we don't. 100,000 meets have been held utilizing that language and state championship were crowned and kids went off to college and the world continued to turn. Leave SPR up the meet director.

I think 3 feet is extremely generous. If this would hypothetically become NFHS standard than that means it needs to be applicable to all courses. A state meet might have spectators lining most of the course sure, but smaller meets might not.

3 feet would be almost running in lane 2 of a track.

I think 1 foot/30 centimeters would be realistic. If you think about it, at most courses kids run on the lines themselves or even over the lines if they’re able to. 1 foot would give enough space where maybe it would be a little long if spectators are leaning over, but that’s the fault of the spectators, not the course or the athletes running.

not a name wrote:

No we don't. 100,000 meets have been held utilizing that language and state championship were crowned and kids went off to college and the world continued to turn. Leave SPR up the meet director.

Then we can not claim National Records or verify course distances, right?!?

Do you know what that word means? Letsrun declared that records were set so obviously they can.

Every reader of Runnersworld knows that Hutchins is the record holder.

not a duck wrote:

I think 3 feet is extremely generous. If this would hypothetically become NFHS standard than that means it needs to be applicable to all courses. A state meet might have spectators lining most of the course sure, but smaller meets might not.

3 feet would be almost running in lane 2 of a track.

I think 1 foot/30 centimeters would be realistic. If you think about it, at most courses kids run on the lines themselves or even over the lines if they’re able to. 1 foot would give enough space where maybe it would be a little long if spectators are leaning over, but that’s the fault of the spectators, not the course or the athletes running.

Yes, 3' might be a little generous, but think about the old language - measuring the center of the course!

At the Gibson course in Terre Haute if your left foot is a foot out from the fencing your elbow or shoulder would be hitting it and you would be ducking cameras.

I'm right side dominate and can do a great job wheeling with my right side, but not so much with my left hand. I would not be able to do an accurate job if I needed to stay within 12" of the fencing on the left turns.

With that being said, maybe David can answer this? If the course has some terrible slants on the trail edge to the point that most people wouldn't run along that slope, do you measure in on the more level surface? How about at a similar scenario at a road race? If the edge of the road has some pot holes, do you measure around them, or right over them - pulling the tape tight as if everyone was leaping over those bad spots?