New Measurer

Philip,
Before you travel you would benefit from reading about how it’s done. If you go to www.rrtc.net you will find a load of reference material. For measurement on the human, rather than theoretical, level, check out the back issues of Measurement News. There is also a historical archive of technical articles. Lots of good reading.

Our basic tool is the Jones Counter. You can read about it at www.jonescounter.com. If you click on “contact Tom Riegel” you will reach me (I do the shipping for Tom), and we can correspond if you wish. I can likely answer any specific questions you may have.

Or, just wait until you get some replies from others on this bulletin board. Either way, you have made initial contact.

Hi Pete:

Thank you for your suggestions. I have been reading as time permits and I anticipate that I will have more free time on the weekends during my sabbatical than I do currently.

I have read the AIMS "The Measurement of Road Race Courses" (2008), most of measurement-related posts on the forum, much of the information on the UK measurement site (I have yet to complete the on-line tutorial), and started on the RRTC documents. I will continue with these documents and as you suggest read the MN issues.

I am still formulating specific questions about equipment. I borrowed a 5-digit Jones counter for the Queen Street / ITU Triathlon course and could possibly have the counter long term but the duct tape indicates the counter is in its autumnal years. The person in New Zealand mentoring me suggested I get a 6-digit Jones counter that mounts on the handlebars. I have decided not to use an electronic counter until I get more experience measuring.

Philip

Philip,
When you are in London, I can try and fix you up to meet some measurers.

I am located an easy train ride away 60 miles West of London. You would be very welcome indeed to come down for a day and I can lend you my son's bike with a counter attached, and I can take you through the practical measuring day which I offer to new/trainee measurers. It consists of:

• Several rides of a 2km loop to practise riding the SPR and dealing with obstructions.
  
• Measure a 3 mile course
  
• Steel tape a short calibration course

Many measurers, including Pete, have tried their hand on the 4.7km loop that is used for the 3 mile course so you can compare your result to many previous results!

I am the main tutor for the on-line tuorial which you found on the UK web site - so I will mark your answers if you decide to do that. It is not an any way fundamentally different from what you will have read in the AIMS booklet or in the RRTC documents. The basic measurement procedure is universal. Differences are mainly minor aspects, e.g. associated with certification paperwork /procedures etc.

Philip,

Be sure to take Mike up on his offer when you are in London. He is the most technically adept person currently in the game. This is obvious from what you see in his online material.
Your mentor’s suggestion about the handlebar-mounted counter is a bit dated, and no longer correct. The handlebar-mounted unit is no longer available.

The 6 digit counter, in my view, is in no way superior to the 5 digit. I believe that its use leads to more recording errors, since 6 digits must be written down instead of 5. Still, it really comes down to personal preference. Of the counters presently sold, 75 percent are 6 digit. The counter cannot be reset to zero.

One of your obstacles will be lack of any interest by a governing body in certifying your course once you have measured it. We are fortunate in the US that our federation, USA Track & Field, recognizes road records at many distances. It took a long time for the present structure to evolve. I’ve looked at Athletics New Zealand’s web page and see nothing there to indicate that they have a road course certification process.

AIMS and IAAF have a certification scheme, but neither is supportive of the small mom and pop races which are the real backbone of the sport.

It could well be that you will be able to measure courses, but getting them certified by a recognized body will be chancy.

Mike:

I greatly appreciate your offer to provide practical guidance at measuring, particularly laying out a cal course and dealing with obstacles. I'll send you a pm with my travel details to see if we can find a suitable day.

Best wishes.

Philip

Pete:

Thanks for letting me know that the handlebar-mounted unit is no longer available. I'll update my mentor tomorrow when I see him at a cross country meet we are officiating at.

You could will be right that Athletics New Zealand (ANZ) has no certification scheme, that is something I will check into over the next few days. As for the ANZ website, my understanding is that the main role of the website is to publicise the sport and hence I usually get the information I require from other sources.

Best wishes.

Philip

I'd like to second Pete's comment about counters. I've tried both and I do think it's true that I've made more transcription errors when using the 6-digit counter. I'm happier with the 5-digit I'm using now.

I wonder if Bernie Conway could help out for a Canadian contact. He may also be able to give you names for any part of the world through his work with IAAF/AIMS measurers.

Philip,

Let me know when you will be in Toronto. I have several races in Toronto and will probably be measuring one of these while you are visiting Toronto. I am also scheduled to measure the PanAm Marathon but don't know the date as yet. I live in London, Ontario which is 200 km west of Toronto. My email address is measurer@rogers.com and my phone number is 519-641-6889. Hopefully our schedules may overlap.

Bernie Conway

Bernie:

Thank you for your offer and contact details. I lived in Toronto for 7 1/3 years and visited London, Ontario during that time. I will PM you with my travel dates and other information.

Best wishes.

Philip