scotth wrote:
If a certified course was run as measured, there's no reason for me to think it was inaccurate.
idunno, this is the key. If the course is certified and seems to be 390m short or long, the most likely explanation is that the race is not being run on the course that was measured and certified. Look up the map on the USATF website. There will be details about where the start, finish, and any turn-arounds should be relative to permanent landmarks. Compare to where they actually were on race day.
http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/search/
A single GPS unit telling you a course is the wrong distance is not good evidence the race was inaccurate. Several GPS units all giving the same reading telling you a course is 390m wrong, is.