The Shenandoah Valley Runner newsletter “Steppin’ Out” is published four times a year, bringing news, results, announcements, race flyers, and running related articles to SVR members in the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. “Steppin’ Out” is being sent out electronically to members. Members need to submit their email addresses to the membership chairman Dave Black
at jdavidblack@verizon.net. If you have a problem receiving the email newsletter, please contact Dave; however, all other questions should be directed to editor Colleen Snyder at csnyder123@comcast.net. Please note that the membership email list is not the same as the googlegroups discussion list which requires a separate sign up at Google Groups.

SVR members may submit articles, race reports, or other news to the editor for inclusion, and race directors may request that their race flyers be included in the newsletter by contacting the Colleen Snyder at csnyder123@comcast.net or 540-636-7785. Photos from races are particularly welcome. If you have any questions about the newsletter, inclusion in the newsletter, or suggestions for things to cover in the newsletter, please contact Colleen Snyder. (Inclusion of any material is at the discretion of the editor.)

Race Directors: Please contact the editor as soon as you decide you would like to have your race flyer in the newsletter so that arrangements can be made to obtain the race flyer via an electronic file. It is the responsibility of the race director to be aware of the deadline schedule listed below so that a race can be included in the newsletter in a timely manner.

Newsletter Schedule

Target Publication Date Submission Date
Feb. 1                                    Jan. 25
May 1                                    Apr. 25
Aug. 1                                   July 25
Nov. 1                                   Oct. 25

By Colleen Snyder

As more and more people get GPS devices to use while running, it seems that there has been increased discussion about discrepancies in distances between GPS readings and course markings. I recently received some information about course certification provided by USA Track & Field (USATF), the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. I thought I would pass this policy on as part of the dialogue about how to best obtain accurate course markings since so many of SVR’s courses are USATF certified courses. In addition, I would like to point out that the certification procedures manual is available online at www.usatf.org/events/courses/certification. Click on “Procedures Manual” and then “Statement of Requirements” for details on how a course is certified through USATF.

From Gene Newman USATF/RRTC Chairman/Course Registrar
“Policy on GPS Measurement: In response to requests to formulate an RRTC policy on use of GPS (Global Positioning System) for course measurement, Gene Newman announced the following: GPS is never acceptable for measuring a race course. GPS may be used for measuring a calibration course, provided that the GPS device used is a professional surveying-quality instrument (these typically cost $30,000 to $60,000), and is actually operated by a licensed surveyor. Coordinates determined by GPS may be useful in documenting positions of points along a race course, although only as a supplement to the distances from landmarks which are specified conventionally for documenting point locations.”

For an ongoing discussion on the use of GPS, the USATF Road Running Technical Council (RRTC) has a section on its bulletin board (http://measure.infopop.cc/eve under Electronic Measurement) that goes into more depth on the use of GPS measurement. As the use of technology increases and more mapping tools become available (check out google earth, mapmyrun.com or the USTAF’s own America’s Running Routes at www.usatf.org/routes/map for cool tools to figure out distances), I am sure the discussion will continue on how best to determine course distance.