Course Measurement
Course measurement
Athletics Canada believes that every runner deserves to run on an accurately measured course. Our course certification program confirms that the advertised race course distance has been accurately measured according to international standards and the measurement data is reviewed by an accredited certifier.
Course certification provides an opportunity to be able to conduct meaningful comparisons between different race courses for the achievement of personal best performances, as well as ensuring the fair administration of qualifying times and establishment of records. A properly measured course also helps timing companies to position timing equipment at the appropriate location.
The standards for course measurement are jointly established by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and World Athletics (WA). The system is managed by experienced course measurers. In Canada, this service is managed under the authority of Athletics Canada.
On-line course certification application is available in the Manuals & Forms section below. Contact Maxim Chiasson with questions.
Validity of Certification
Athletics Canada National Course Measurement Certification: 10 years
- Performances must be achieved on a course which holds a valid National Course Measurement Certificate established no more than 10 years before the date of the race in order to be valid for:
- Entry standards (for senior events only)
- Legal top lists
- National rankings
- National records
World Athletics International Course Measurement Certification: 5 years
- Performances must be achieved on a course which holds a valid International Course Measurement Certificate established no more than five years before the date of the race in order to be valid for:
- Entry standards (for senior events only)
- Legal top lists
- World rankings
- World records
*Should a course be changed in any way from one year to the next, it must be re-measured and a new certification issued.
The Certified Courses directory can be found HERE.
To find a course measurer in your area contact your provincial/territorial branch.
Measurers can charge a variety of rates depending on the complexity and length of the course. Here are some guidelines of what you can expect from expert measurers:
5k or less | $375 to $550 |
10k: | $750 to $1000 |
Half Marathon | $1250 to $1750 |
Marathon | $2000 to $3000 |
In general, $60 to $100/km with a minimum of $375
World Athletics Sanctioned Events
If a race wishes to be recognized as a WA sanctioned event and to have its results recognized by World Athletics for purposes of rankings and records, they are required to have their course measured by a “A” or “B” Grade Measurer. Race Directors should contact their Provincial/Territorial Branch, or their relevant International Measurement Administrator, who will arrange for a measurer to be appointed.
A measurers:
- Bernard Conway
- Dave Yaeger
- Geoffrey Buttner
- Laurent Lacroix
- Marcel LaMontagne
- Paul Adams
B measurers:
- Cliff Cunningham
- Chris Fagel
- Gary Duncan
- John Halvorsen
- Perry Abriel
- Peter Pimm
National Certifier and Course Registrar
WA/AIMS Measurement Administrator for the Americas
The WA and AIMS recognize four ‘International Measurement Administrators’, each responsible for the administration of measurement matters in one of the following geographical areas. Canada falls within The Americas Region.
The Americas | Bernard Conway |
English-speaking Europe and Africa | Hugh Jones |
French & Spanish-speaking Europe and Africa | Jean Francois Delasalle |
Asia & Oceania | Dave Cundy |
The measurement administrators:
- appoint measurers for road race courses within their areas
- set up, or are otherwise involved in, course measurement seminars held in their areas
- recommend re-grading of course measurers
Bernard Conway
67 Southwood Cres.
London, Ontario N6J 1S8
Phone+Fax: (519) 641-6889
measurer@rogers.com
In Canada, anyone can measure a course and apply for certification, it is not necessary to enroll in formal training. The measurement manual is designed to guide a novice measurer through the steps, lists the necessary equipment, and provide the forms for completing the paperwork.
Higher level races including Provincial, National, Area, and World Championships, as well as World Athletics Sanctioned events and Athletics Canada Road Race Label events require that measurement has been completed by a graded measurer. If you are interested in progressing to measure these level of races, you must become a graded measurer under the WA/AIMS Measurement System.
- See “Measurer Grading” section to learn more about grading
- See “Seminars” to find a course measurement seminar
- See “Manuals & Forms” to access course measurement resources
- Submit a measurement for certification
Read the slides for the Oct 17-18, 2015 Course Measurement Seminar in BC.
World Athletics (WA) and AIMS recognizes three grades of course measurers as competent to measure specific types of courses. While in Canada anyone can measure a race, race organizers are encouraged to seek the services of a graded measurer to ensure quality and accuracy of measurement. All Provincially/Nationally Sanctioned events, and all events sanctioned by World Athletics, require measurements to be completed by graded measurers.
- Grade C – Local Courses
- Grade B – Local Courses, National & Area Championships, World Athletics Sanctioned Competitions
- Grade A – Local Courses, National & Area Championships, World Championships, Olympic Games, World Athletics Sanctioned Competitions.
Grading of Measurers
Grading of measurers is at the discretion of the International Measurement Administrator, who will make recommendations for the approval of the annual joint meeting of AIMS and WA. The basic guidelines for grading measurers are as follows:
“C” Measurers
C measurers are C graded on successful completion of a bona fide WA/AIMS course measurement seminar which was managed by an A grade measurer, plus the completion of several independent measurements with full documentation.
Grading as a “C” measurer is a recognition that the person concerned has skills appropriate for measuring road race courses in Canada, for races on the national or provincial calendar. This requires two things:
- the basic technical knowledge of how to measure a course.
- the ability of the measurer to produce a measurement report that can be easily and unambiguously understood by an informed reader.
Grading as a “C” measurer is confirmed after the candidate has performed several measurements and sent documentation of these to the responsible International Measurement Administrator, who will use them as the basis for assessment of criteria (ii) above. At least two measurement reports must be forwarded to the Administrator within 12 months of the seminar for a candidate to be considered for grading as a “C” measurer.
“B” Measurers
Measurers seeking B grading should send the documentation of their measurements from at least four courses to the appropriate International Measurement Administrator, who may then organize a further measurement under the observation of an A grade measurer. If the International Measurement Administrator is satisfied with the candidate’s suitability, the Administrator will recommend that the candidate be upgraded to a B grading, at the annual joint meeting of AIMS and WA, subject to later ratification by the WA Council.
Grading as a “B” measurer recognizes that the person concerned is able to measure courses and document their measurements to the standard required for races on the international Calendar, excepting only global championships. It is important that the person concerned is able to demonstrate his or her ability to measure on open roads and/or city streets.
There are several differences between what is required of a national measurer and an international measurer.
Linguistic and cultural differences may make it more difficult for the measurer to communicate. In unfamiliar surroundings the measurer will need to take time to assess local conditions and to listen to advice from local personnel. The measurer will also need to take time to explain what is required for the measurement and what they will be doing during measurement (in particular, any police escort must be warned that the concept of “following the shortest possible route” will in practice mean that the measurer may occasionally be riding into oncoming traffic).
Technical differences arise through working under unfamiliar conditions. The measurer will be using an unfamiliar bike, but as long as the counter fits onto the front fork this should not be a problem. The bike may have no gears, which may make riding steeper sections a problem. There may be no existing calibration course convenient to the start and finish of the course to be measured. The measurer should always take a steel tape with them on international measurement assignments so that they can measure out a calibration course of their own, or check any existing calibration course. The measurer should not rely on local personnel to set out a calibration course, but should always either do this personally from scratch or make a careful check of an existing calibration course.
“A” Measurers
An individual is eligible for “A” grading if they are already “B” graded for at least two years within which time he/she has measured eight courses, two of which are recognized as WA sanctioned events. One of the two courses must have been measured under the supervision of an “A” grade measurer who should send a report to the International Measurement Administrator.
The paperwork for all eight measurements must be sent by the relevant Member Federation to the International Measurement Administrator and, if all proves to be satisfactory, the International Measurement Administrator will upgrade the measurer, subject to later ratification by the WA/AIMS Council.
Grading as an “A” measurer means that it is more likely that the measurer will be called upon to measure championship events, including walks courses. The main differences in such events are that they may start and/or finish in a stadium, they are usually made up of multiple laps, and they are likely to feature “designed” turns, defined by the placement of cones. The design of turns is dealt with in Appendix 2 of the Measurement handbook on page 38.
In championships all walks courses and many marathon courses are designed as multiple laps. The measurer must be careful to take account of competitors joining the lap in a different location to which they depart from it. This means that the final lap is in practice slightly shorter than the others. A counter reading should be taken as soon as the lap is joined, and again at this point after completion of the lap, but before then another reading is required at the point where competitors will depart from the lap.
Measurement on a stadium track is best done by a combination of taking the track surveyor’s measurement of the track length on trust and steel-taping. The reason for this is that the accuracy of the calibrated bicycle method depends upon consistency. Calibrating on a road surface and then measuring on a rubberized all-weather track is not consistent procedure and will lead to significant inaccuracy in results.
Tracks are marked out at regular intervals in each lane. It is not difficult to calculate the distance between any two points on a track by simple addition and subtraction. Measure by steel tape to the nearest recorded mark on the track (these marks are often labelled with small steel plates on the inside curb). The only difficulty arises where runners depart from the track to exit the stadium and vice-versa. At these points the shortest possible route from the curb of the track to the exit tunnel should be steel-taped. Be careful to identify exactly what part of the exit tunnel will be available to the competitors on the day of the race and what may be sectioned off for service or security purposes.
The calibrated bicycle measurement can usually start from the edge of the track, but if construction is still in progress then it may be better to start from outside the stadium and use a steel-tape to measure from the track to this point.
Maintenance of “A and B” Grades and Downgrading
All measurers are required to send a copy of their paperwork for each course recognized as a WA sanctioned event that is measured to the relevant International Measurement Administrator and the WA General Secretariat in Monte Carlo. They must also send a report to their International Measurement Administrator every two years listing their activity in course measurement. If they have not measured a course within two years, they will be downgraded.
Measurement procedures outlined in this booklet are those prescribed by World Athletics/AIMS for the measurement of World Athletics and AIMS races. World Athletics will only recognize times on courses measured by this system for world records, qualifying times for Championships, etc. All races wishing to apply for an World Athletics Road Race Label must have been measured by an approved A or B Measurer.
Forms:
Online application for Certification of a Road and/or Calibration Course (How to use the online form)
Course Measurement Data Sheet (with example sheet) (Download)
Calibration Course Data Sheet (with example sheet) (Download)
Bicycle Calibration Data Sheet- v.2023 (with example sheet) (Download)
Who can register a course for certification?
Course certification is available to any individual/event organizer wishing to have a course certified. Fees collected are used to cover the cost associated with maintaining the registry of certified courses, review course applications and the training and upgrading of course measurers. Fees are currently $50 for a road course and $15 for a calibration course.
Measurement Costs
Certification fees must be paid for the registration and validation of all course measurements. Measurement costs are above and beyond the cost of registering a course measurement for certification and are negotiated directly between the course measurer and the race organizer.
Some provincial/territorial branches offer course measurement services to race directors.
Measurers can charge a variety of rates depending on the complexity and length of the course. Here are some guidelines of what you can expect from expert measurers:
5k or less | $375 to $550 |
10k: | $750 to $1000 |
Half Marathon | $1250 to $1750 |
Marathon | $2000 to $3000 |
In general, $60 to $100/km with a minimum of $375
Who sets the standards for course certification?
The standards for course measurement which form the basis of course certification are jointly established by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and World Athletics (WA). In Canada, the issuance of certification in managed under the authority of Athletics Canada.
Who can certify a course?
In Canada, anyone can measure a course and apply for certification, it is not necessary to enroll in formal training. The measurement manual is designed to guide a novice measurer through the steps, lists the necessary equipment, and provide the forms for completing the paperwork. Elite level races including WA sanctioned events and Athletics Canada Championship events may require that measurement has been completed by a graded measurer.
All measurements are validated by an accredited course certifier prior to granting certification. The instruction manual can be downloaded here.
What is the difference between course certification and race sanctioning?
Course certification provides a guarantee with regards to the accuracy of the course measurement including distance and changes in elevation, while sanctioning formalizes the agreement of the race director to abide by guidelines relating safety, the adherence to stipulated racing regulations and other guidelines put forth by the governing body for road running in the designated region.
Different sanctions will provide different guarantees based on the nature of event being sanctioned and may or may not include a requirement that the course be certified. All sanctions within Canada have three primary requirements proof of insurance on the part of the race organizer; demonstration of application of minimal safety requirements for race participants and acceptance to abide by other regulations tied to the granting of sanctions.
For more information on sanctions visit the website of your provincial/territorial branch or contact them directly.
How do I know if a course is certified?
Until an event is included in the national certification database, it isn’t certified – regardless of the claims made by the race organization. The size and prestige of an event do not ensure a certified course.
View the list of certified races here. We are in the process of transferring the certificates to the new site.)
What qualifications are required to become a course measurer?
Anyone can measure a course and apply for certification, it is not necessary to enroll in a seminar. The measurement manual is designed to guide a novice measurer through the steps, lists the necessary equipment, and provide the forms for completing the paperwork.
Seminars are offered from time to time and they allow a measurer to gauge his or her riding ability against that of experienced measurers. Though they are helpful in boosting a measurer’s confidence, they are not mandatory unless a measurer seeks WA or AIMS credentials.
Courses that are measured for the WA or AIMS must be measured by an “A” or “B” level measurer.
What is the maximum allowable net change in elevation between the start and finish for a point to point race?
A “standard” course will have a drop of no more than 1 m/km, or 21.1 m for a half-marathon. This eliminates downhill aid to the runner. Also, the start and finish must lie no farther apart than 30 percent of the race distance – 6.3 km for the half-marathon or 3 km for a 10k. This mostly eliminates aid due to wind. Only runs made on “standard” courses may qualify for records.
There is no prohibition against races that exceed the “standard” limits. One may put on a race at any distance along any route. The only thing different is in the potential for records. This is not in the measurement manual because it has little to do with measurement – it’s a standard set up to facilitate record keeping and to allow meaningful comparison between race results.