Ultra Course Measuring

There's certainly no issue with measuring the course in segments, but I don't see what you gain by certifying it in segments unless you want to run shorter events using those segments.

All of the drop and separation data is based on the entire course or the split in question, and it will all have to be reconciled for the 100 mile course, so that course will require a separate certification, anyway.

I'd recommend using Google Earth. What you propose is a horrendous job, and Google Earth is close enough for government work.

Are you suggesting this multiple certified courses approach because you think you have to measure the whole thing at one time in order to be certified? You can do what you're suggesting (measuring in segments) without having to certify each segment.

Guys, thanks for your replies, you have actually helped a lot. No I do not have intentions of using the 100-mile splits for other races, I used poor terminology, I just plan to measure the course in multiple sections. There is a back story here.

I am the RD of the Graveyard 100 (2 road races 100-mile & 100k respectively) and I also measure courses. While this course wasn't set-up with any intention of being a record race we had someone run the 100k last year who had a time nearly fast enough to qualify for the 100k world team and we were asked "is this course certified". Fortunately it didn't matter last year when I answered "no it's not", but I didn't ever want to be in such a position again, which is why I apprenticed with an experienced measurer in NC and learned how to do so.

Next year we'll be hosting Mike Morton at the GY100 who recently set a new 24-Hour AM record of over 172-miles in 24-hours. Obviously it would be prudent for me to get the distance of this course certified. Of course there are many things potentially working against a record being set on a point-to-point course in which the start & finish are 100-miles apart, but I still plan to have the course certified & sanctioned as a matter of prudence & diligence.

Since measuring course isn't how I make a living I wanted your feedback on planning how best to do that efficiently. To that end you've helped a great deal.


Thanks,
Brandon

I measured a 100 km ultra a few years ago. It was actually a combined 8 leg relay and a 100 km ultra. I measured it over one weekend. Saturday I measured to the half way mark recording the relay exchange points accurately and then road back to the start to get my second ride. Sunday I drove to the half way exchange point where I had left off the day before rode to the finish and back to the exchange. I then only had to recalibrate and adjust the start line as needed.

I was lucky they didn't care how long the legs were only that the exchanges were in the right spot.

It was a pleasant weekend for a long ride.

Paul, thnaks for your reply. This is exactly how I have been looking at measuring. I did some work on a local Ultra course this weekend, a 40-miler. I did exactly what you described, from middle out and back in both directions.

"Generally" where it comes to ultras it doesn't matter that is's exactly 100k etc. as long as it's at least that long. It's just a matter of measuring and saying "the start to finish is exactly this distance".

Road ultras are making a comeback, and we're working diligently to promote it, it's my favorite format. I expect more measurers will see requests to measure 100k & longer courses for certification as it comes back into popolarity.