Our Blog
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Measuring Trail Courses Using GPS Technology
Accurately measuring trail running courses has historically been a challenging task, particularly on rugged and mountainous terrain. However, the advent of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has made it easier for runners to obtain precise distances, even on challenging courses. In the Tucson Trail Run Series (TTRS), for example, runners now have the ability to…
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On the Effects of Wind on Road Performances
About two decades ago, I developed a model showing that runners could benefit from a tailwind on courses where the starting and finishing points were more than 30% apart from each other, relative to the race distance. This model became the basis for the current USA regulation, which defines a road race course as “point-to-point”…
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The IAAF Takes a Giant Step Backwards
The IAAF has made its recent decisions on world road records, focusing on a few key criteria. Out of the eight rules detailed, two seem reasonable. The first is that the course must be measured by an “A” or “B” IAAF/AIMS approved measurer. The second is that the course must not have an elevation drop…