The professional surveyor might take a page from the Japanese. Years ago I heard a fascinating presentation from a Japanese delegation to a measuring conference in Korea, where they explained how they measured a marathon using calibrated steel wires (100 m in length) and a huge working team (scores of engineering students I believe) to lay out an entire marathon.
They had 2 different 100 m wires sort of hopscotching I believe; a team of people to give line; recorders; and at any turn they would have a team of assistants to hold pikes at a 30 cm offset from the curb.
Perhaps long straight stretches could be more efficiently done now, with electronic measurement. You don't see surveyors pulling steel tapes that often any more.