Saying repeatedly that the 70s and 80s were "notorious for short courses" doesn't make it true. Have you any evidence for this? And don't say "everybody knew" or "we always talked about it back then." Can you, for instance, point to specific performances from somewhere in those decades that demonstrate obvious short courses? GPS watches are great for calculating approximate distances run in training and getting a good sense of your rough pace during workouts and races. But they're not 100% accurate. True, they weren't available in the 70s. But that has nothing to do with the accuracy of course measurement back then. I've used tools like MapMyRun and a Garmin to measure the routes I ran in high school in the late '70s and early '80s. I was surprised to learn that my bread and butter five mile loop and six mile out-and-back are, apparently, 5 and 6 miles. I agree with you that people exaggerate, especially when waxing nostalgic about their athletic feats in the good old days. But that too has nothing to do with courses short or otherwise.
Trex wrote:
Why does everyone on here turn small molehills in the point into mountains and disregard the main point? I know courses are not measured with gps now and never were, I never said they were and I know gps doesn't accurately measure courses run either but it does have some validity on courses which are 400 metres short and the 70s and 80s were notorious for short courses never measured by jones counter.
I also know they were faster and ran more mileage in that era but it takes nothing away from the fact that most of them exaggerate the facts and that many people from that era claim prs on known short courses. The nostalgia is strong in them which is why I take all these claims with a pinch of salt.