Over 2000 courses Certified in 2009!

Many thanks, Gene, for the yearly stats. I know it’s not a five-minute job to put them together and I, for one, appreciate the effort. It’s essential to see how we are doing.

When RRTC got off the ground thirty years ago, the list of previously-certified courses was wiped clean, as the SCPF had just been mandated. We started with zero courses. The number climbed to 1100-1200 in a few years, and then stayed there for two decades. Now, in the last five years we see a significant upturn. What happened to cause this happy circumstance?

I believe it was our online presence that did it. When Mike Wickiser was RRTC Chairman, he and Keith Lively, USATF’s webmaster, worked out the beginnings of having course maps online. The existence of this resource became known. The Road Course Measurement Bulletin Board came into existence at about the same time, and between the two, knowledge of course measurement spread.

We’re seeing an accelerating increase in the number of certified courses. Let’s hope it continues.

Gene,

I echo Pete's "Thanks".

I agree that awareness is helping to increase the number of races using certified courses. While some dismiss runners' preference for certified courses, I think more race directors are being asked if their course is certified.

I know I like not having lots of free time on weekends. I have 5 courses to measure in the next few weeks, if the snow melts sufficiently. Hopefully this pace will continue!

Duaner:

I agree that all courses should be certified and that the race will be better if it is. However, I'm sticking to my belief that we won't get there until runners vote by not running uncertified courses. My timing company (not Guido Brothers) does 40 races, 29 are uncertified. Most are small races and the race directors see no reason to certify unless it will bring more runners. We should be preaching to the runners as much or more than to the race directors.