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Reply to "Cross-country Participation"

Jay’s post Wight Post pointed out a number of things that make RRTC certification of cross-country courses problematical.

The biggest problem, in my view, is that making a map of the course is usually quite difficult. Our standard for roads is that the course description must be good enough that a validation measurer could ride in the tracks of the layout measurer, perhaps years later. Roads have established boundaries. Golf courses and open country do not. Without a definitive map any statement of course accuracy is meaningless. Would any sane person buy a property with a deed that states the acreage but not where the lot boundaries are?

Another factor at play is the uncertainty of whether the race organization can actually set up the course in accordance with the map. We know from experience that people will fill out forms with statements that are not true, sometimes unintentionally. How can the actual race-day path be verified?

Optimistically assuming that a map can be produced, we then are faced with various methods of measurement. We seem to have two standards to follow – middle of the course vs shortest possible route. We have calibrated bikes as our principal tool, with steel taping and uncalibrated measuring wheels also in the mix. Of these, the steel tape is the most accurate. The accuracy of wheels on rough ground is presently unknown.

The US cross-country sport has at least two organizations which oversee it. Neither has any rigorous measurement standard. Even IAAF’s World Cross-country championships are laid out to a standard (if it exists) which is unknown to me. Perhaps there is such a standard. If there is, it would be helpful to know it.

Those seeking certification of cross-country courses should seek help from whatever federation oversees them. I doubt they will get it. We can certainly help with the measuring, but should avoid implying that the measurements are accurate to our road standard.

I don’t believe our road measuring techniques are up to the job unless we are willing to admit up front that we are ignorant of the resultant accuracy. That said, my feeling is that we should not be issuing USATF certificates of accuracy to cross-country courses. It is a can of worms.
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