Q: It is generally accepted that the “new course” is about 9 seconds slower than the “old course”. Is there a reason for that?
A: Our data does not show this. The pre-2003 and post-2004 courses are approximately the same length. In fact, some of the changes to the course would tend to make the current course faster than the 2002 course. The start and finish aren’t as far up the hill, which essentially makes the course flatter. And the changes also smoothed out some of the turns, especially in the north loop, which should also facilitate faster times. Our preliminary data on the 2003-2004 course shows that it was about 20 meters (0.0125 miles) longer than the course that came before or after, or 3.5+ seconds slower.
Q: So, did Chris Derrick and/or Craig Virgin run a full three miles?
A: It’s hard to say for sure, but most likely neither did. Someone running far enough ahead that he or she sets a course record probably isn’t running in a pack after the half mile mark and has his or her choice of lines. It’s doubtful that they would have consistently run a radius on the corners large enough to approach the line that would be necessary to make this a full three-mile course.
Q: Who ran faster, Derrick or Virgin?
A: Your guess is as good as ours. The data shows the courses to be about the same length, and one definitely can’t conclude that the course was significantly longer or shorter in 2007 than it was in 1972.