Here's an article about the Redding Marathon that you may find interesting. It was posted Nov 26, 2009 at the this link.
http://www.redding.com/news/20...ers-to-serious-runn/
I included the text below. Enjoy. -- Justin
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Marathon certification matters to the serious runners
By By Marge Dunlap Contributing writer
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Editor's note: This is part of a series of articles leading up to the Jan. 17 Redding Marathon.
What is course certification? To best understand the term "certified," it is essential to understand who provides marathon course certification. USA Track and Field (USATF) is the national governing body of track and field sports in the United States.
Redding has two certified running events. One is the Redding Marathon on Jan. 17 and the other is the NorCal John Frank Memorial 10-mile race on March 6, 2010. The purpose of certifying a course is to produce a race with accurately measured distances. For any running performance to be accepted as a record, it must be run on a USATF-certified course. Most of us will never run a marathon at a record pace, but certification has a useful purpose for average runners as well. Many of us run marathons hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Why Boston? It is the oldest and most prestigious marathon, but also enticing because to officially run it, runner must have a qualifying time. Here are the current qualifying times for Boston shown in hours and minutes:
18 to 34 years old: 3:10 for men; 3:40 for women.
35 to 39 years old: 3:15 for men; 3:45 for women.
40 to 44 years old: 3:20 for men, 3:50 for women.
45 to 49 years old: 3:30 for men, 4:00 for women.
50 to 54 years old: 3:35 for men; 4:05 for women.
55 to 59 years old: 3:45 for men: 4:15 for women.
60 to 64 years old: 4:00 for men: 4:30 for women.
65 to 69 years old: 4:15 for men: 4:45 for women.
70 to 74 years old: 4:30 for men: 5:00 for women.
75 to 79 years old: 4:45 for men: 5:15 for women.
80 years and older: 5:00 for men: 5:30 for women.
The certification program is also important to average racers as a means of comparing performances of like distances on different courses. Runners like to talk about personal records. Even though the courses may vary in difficulty, if the distance is the same, it provides a valid form of comparison. Is Redding a personal record course? Probably not, even though it declines 900 feet in elevation from start to finish, it is run on varying surfaces: paved roads, groomed gravel trails and black-top trails. It also has some rolling hills in the middle section of the course adding to the difficulty. Can you qualify for Boston on the Redding course? Definitely! Last year 28 runners qualified for Boston out of the 171 finishers. Several area runners compete in Boston each year. The next Boston Marathon on April 19 has reached its capacity of 25,000 runners. However, achieving a qualifying time now will carry over to the 2011 event. Boston allows a qualifying "window" of 18 months.
Another plus about the Redding Marathon being certified is that it adds to the chances of marathoners getting to run the New York City Marathon. It too has qualifying standards similar to Boston. These will guarantee an entry into the event. Other spots are filled by a lottery and other special categories. Several Redding runners were part of the almost 44,000 finishers this year. Exciting also was the fact that for the first time since 1982, an American, Meb Keflezighi, was the first-place finisher in the New York Marathon with a time of 2:09:15.
How is a course certified?
The approved method for measuring a course is to use a calibrated mechanical bicycle device because of its speed and accuracy. Automobile and bicycle odometers, aerial survey maps, and electronic distance meters, such as GPS devices, are not suitable for measuring courses for certification. The standard counter in use is known as the Jones Counter - model JR. The basic method of measurement is to record the beginning and ending numbers on a standard calibration course.
The standard calibration course in use in our area consists of a distance of 1,000 feet, measured for accuracy by a local engineering firm, and located on the Shasta College campus. After averaging several measurements on the calibrated course, the proposed race course is measured and recorded in miles. The course is measured to ensure the shortest possible route. In the case of a marathon, the exact distance is 26.21875 miles. Thus, when measuring a course, all corners are cut, S-turns are straightened.
Running the tangents ensures a participant will cover the shortest distance to the finish.
Sanctioned events must take precautions to provide for the safety and medical needs of the participants.
Runner safety can be provided by USATF. For an annual fee, anyone can join USATF providing that individual with insurance to, from and during running events. Added benefits include individual and team points and prize money at certain certified and sanctioned events.
A series of races is provided by the Pacific Association of USATF in Northern California for road races, track and field, ultra runs, and cross-country events.
We have local runners who are still competing in their 80s - you too, may want to compete in such events.
Marge Dunlap is the co-race director for the Redding Marathon.
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