In This Issue - Michigan Runner

By Doug Kurtis
Runners who compete in races
should have a right to expect an
accurately-measured course. Race
directors who plan to keep their courses in
existence more than one year should plan
to have them certified for accuracy by the
sport's governing body, USA Track and
Field.
After completing a race, runners want
to know their time to compare it with others
in their age group, with their previous
best time or against their time from past
years on the same course. Without an
accurately-measured course it's difficult to
make a comparison.
Every year Michigan Runner magazine
publishes a Best of Times list for state runners
(Note: A practice suspended for 2007-
08 for the very reasons of course-uncertainty
here mentioned). The only way they
can fairly compare times is by using certified
courses.
Runners may complain that some of
their times haven't been included from
races that have been in existence for years.
I would suggest that runners demand that
those courses be certified.
Runners should understand the difference
between races that advertise their
event as USATF-sanctioned and one that
has a certified course. Races are often
sanctioned for liability and medical insurance
purposes. It's also a promise to follow
national and international rules and
regulations. A certified course is one that
has been measured according to USATF
regulations.
Demand
Certified Courses
There are currently 261 Michigan
courses that are certified. Half are 5K
courses. Some of these are no longer used.
Certifications expire automatically after
ten years. You can go to
www.usatf.org/events/courses/search to
find any certified course and print a map.
Anyone can certify a course. USATF
provides a free download of information
required to certify. It takes a fair amount
of work to calibrate the measuring tool,
measure the course and provide the proper
documentation. It's a lot easier to hire
someone who has experience in measuring.
Most course measurers use a Jones
counter on a bike to provide an accurate
measurement. This must be calibrated
each time a measurement is taken.
Courses need to be measured more than
once for accuracy.
There are currently eight course certifiers
listed on the USATF Web site. I've
been most impressed with Mark Neal's use
of the latest software and also his digital
work to determine the exact location of
mile and kilometer markers.
Scott Hubbard is the official road
course certifier for Michigan and in
charge of the certification program.
He can provide guidance for any measurer
by contacting him at
runningshorts@aol.com.
Here's what he said about certifying
courses:
“I can think of a handful of fundamental
things each race should have and
an accurate course is right near the top of
the list,” Scott said.
“There are only a couple ways I know
of to ensure a course is as accurate as
advertised, and they involve measurement
with a calibrated bike or wheel. The calibrated
bike is faster, safer and more accurate
than the wheel.
“Domestic certified course guidelines
adopted by USATF have been improved
upon and streamlined for about 40 years.
“In my experience, every course I've
been asked to measure has been previously
laid out short. This is not a good thing
regarding previously-run races.
“It should make runners wonder what
their PRs are worth if run on an uncertified
course.” MR
Pictured Rocks Run for Shelter, Munising
State’s
Toughest Road
Half-Marathon
Tests Soles,
Hearts
By Ryan Towles
MUNISING (6/24/07) - The 32nd annual Pictured
Rocks Run for Shelter - one of the most-storied
races in Upper Peninsula history - again featured
a half-marathon in place of the traditional 11-
mile race.
As always, it attracted a great field of competitors
from across the state, with the core traditional
figure-8 road and trail course intact -
including both 300-foot-plus climbs.
Extending the distance only extends the challenge.
The infamous Stink Hill - a half-mile of
steep, deep sand - now comes about 10 miles into
the half-marathon, instead of eight miles into the
former 19.76K course.
Nathan Martin, 17, of Three Rivers, was
the first to circle the Munising High School
track at the finish of this year's long run, bringing
home the overall title in 1:18:42, 90 seconds
shy of Tracy Lokken's year-old course
record.
Martin improved from last year's 1:22:43
fourth-place showing. Liz Hendershott, 41, of
Ortonville, was the top open woman in 1:45:13
(25th overall).
Kevin Deyo, 48, of Traverse City, collected
the men's masters title, placing fourth overall in
1:25:55.
Doug Goodhue of Milford, one of Michigan's
most-enduring competitive runners at age 65,
made the trip north and finished eighth overall in
1:30:20. That's a sub-seven-minute-mile pace over
unbelievable terrain.
At the younger end of the spectrum, Nebel
Chase, 10, of neighboring
Christmas, traversed the 13.1-mile route in
2:48:15, good for 96th out of 96 runners.
In the flat 5K - the “easy” option for those not
up to the state's hardest road half-marathon - youth
prevailed with two 15-year-olds taking top spots.
Jake Bennett of Berbeau was the first to complete
the short circuit of Munising proper in
17:44. Abbey Kelto of Munising defended her
backyard as the first female in 21:41.
The top 5K masters were Yoopers Rob Fox,
44, of Negaunee (18:45, second overall) and Barb
Cole, 49, of Au Train (24:56, 21st overall).
For complete results, visit
http://www.prrfs.com. MR
20 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 7