Skip to main content

Reply to "When RDs Stretch The Truth"

Hi Michael. Good question. I wish we did have an enforcement arm -- but in honesty, in recent years, we have not needed it here in Western NY.

More than a decade ago, many races here would improperly lay claim to having a "certified course", "USATF certified course", or worse yet, a "USATF sanctioned course". That really troubled me. The misnomer was just as often an intentional subterfuge as it was an honest mistake.

I found a non-confrontational and very effective solution to this problem.

Since 2000, I have published on the web an ordinary continuously updated calendar of about 350 local road races. My races calendar has become the "go to" resource for local area runners and the RDs know it. I indicate on each listing the USATF Certified Course status. I either list the certification number, which is also a link to the USATF certified course map, or I leave the field blank. ( you can see our simple calendar here: http://buffalorunners.com/calendar_2018.htm Currently we only have 212 races since we dont list any event until the RD commits to a date/time/venue).

Having the course certified is a good thing to do. It means the distance run may be true, records may possibly be ratified, and the times collected by the timer will be meaningful. Its a technical hallmark of any "good" road race.

It's not for everyone. No non-championship race needs to have a certified course. But, no race may claim to be certified if they are not. We don't play games with the term "certified" Mark. In this context, it has only one meaning.

If a race falsely (or mistakenly) advertises that they are certified, via any means, I will then overtly indicate for the runners that the course is "NOT CERTIFIED". I also inform the RD what has transpired and what he can do about it. That's all I have been doing.

It was surprising to me how effective that became. As it turns out -- no race wants to be overtly labeled "NOT CERTIFIED". The suspected illicit practice has all but stopped here. We used to see this gambit 3 or 4 times every year! We even had a respected timer advising RDs to obfuscate their un-certified status by getting the sanction and then claiming to have a "USATF sanctioned course". That nonsense has stopped.

Jeff John
USATF/RRTC Certifier
AIMS/IAAF "B" Measurer
Buffalo, NY
×
×
×
×