Semi-Circle Turnaround vs Single Point

Here’s how Bob Thurston laid out the turns for the UpDawg 10 mile course in DC. He’s done the same for Cherry Blossom 10 mile. It can be documented on the cert map like start finish detail.

There is a discussion of turn-around layout and descriptions starting on page 24 of the new version of the Procedures Manual.

https://docs.google.com/docume...xQU/edit?usp=sharing

Nothing wrong with including two descriptions of the turn-around. One for a single-cone TA and one for a semi-circle TA.

Documenting a turn-around arc doesn't seem to me to be necessary. As long as the TA point is documented, the course layout team can set up a semicircular TA as in the image Jim posted above. As long as everyone runs around this point, they aren't shortening, they are slightly lengthening the course, "of course". Some runners naturally take this kind of an arc at turn arounds - particularly faster runners.

In the 1983 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, Greg Myer tried to turn too sharply at a single point TA. He fell and opened a gash on his leg. It was astonishing to see him run past everyone with blood running down into his shoe. He still set the American record for 10 miles that day. 8 days later he won the Boston Marathon.

What you say is true. But if the RD is going to set up a semi-circle TA, you might as well tell him how to do it without adding distance to the course. Below is an example from one of my maps.

https://www.certifiedroadraces.../?type=m&id=1593

It's really not even necessary to provide a diagram of the semi-circle. You can just say in your description where a single-cone TA should be placed, and where the center of a semi-circle TA should be placed (like I did in the mile mark descriptions).

I see - it does make sense to show it that way to aid the course layout team.