In a normal year, an army of volunteers diligently measures out the Saskatchewan Marathon race courses using a Jones Counter — a device that attaches to the front wheel of a bicycle and counts the revolutions of the wheel to precisely measure distance.
Most people don’t have access to a Jones Counter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t map out an accurate course for your virtual race. Greg Fenty, a volunteer with the Saskatchewan Marathon, spoke with the Brainsport Times this week to share tips on how to do this.
BT: Can people simply trust GPS watches to measure distance?
GF: It is difficult to rely totally on a GPS watch if you are looking for a PB. For a regular training run, or a virtual event where a PB is not at stake, then by all means you can use your GPS watch. GSP watches suffer from a small antenna, so the satellite signal can be (frustratingly) disrupted by things like cloud cover, trees, and buildings. They do not sample the satellite signals full time, but rather take a sample reading anywhere from every few seconds to once a minute. If you are running a course with a lot of twists and corners, the GPS will miss the finer details. Most runners using a GPS watch have probably experienced this when they run the identical route out and back. The route tracked and the distance measured can vary by as much as 10 per cent.
BT: If Garmin is not the best option, what other tools can runners use to map out a route?
GF: My advice for runners looking for a PB would be to map your route in advance using a distance measuring application like “Map My Run” or “gMaps Pedometer/Miler Meter“. I use these applications to rough in a route before measuring with a Jones Counter. These applications are surprisingly accurate. Once you have your route planned out, your GPS watch becomes a valuable back-up tool. Plus, you will need that ever important proof from your GPS watch that you actually ran the distance.
BT: Besides mapping out a route, what else do runners need to do to set themselves up for success in a virtual race?
GF: One of the big differences between a real event and a virtual one is aid stations. When you plan your route, consider things like hydration and nutrition breaks, and plan for any possible visits to the washroom. Sure, I’d like to do my marathon from point to point in Prince Albert National Park, but what do I do about hydrating along the way? And how do I get back to my car? Unless you want to do a bunch of little loops in your neighbourhood, you need to do a little planning and involve some of your friends to help out.
There are drawbacks to doing a virtual run by yourself compared to having others around you in a real event. Running a virtual event by yourself requires a certain degree of mental toughness. That mental toughness (or lack thereof) can be one of the biggest challenges to obtaining a PB in a virtual event. Personally, my PBs thrive on having people around me in an event. I love the tactics involved in racing. Whether you are in fourth place or 4,000th place, there are always other runners around in a race, and using those runners to pull you long is a big part of PB strategy. I’m a big fan of “negative splits;” running the first half at a pace that allows you to run the second half at a quicker pace. I think every runner needs to experience the absolute dread of realizing you have started out too fast in a race and the agonizing death-march shuffle to the finish in the second half to appreciate the beauty of negative splits. Running comfortably in the first half and then experiencing the PB-inspiring motivation of staying strong in the second half can make the difference when a runner is looking for a PB. That important “people factor” is missing in a virtual event, making a PB a little more difficult. One way around this is to get your friends to help out. Besides providing water and nutrition, they are also an invaluable cheering section. A little inspiration can go a long way.
BT: What are some of the advantages to a virtual race?
GF: There are some real advantages to doing a virtual run. You are not usually tied down to a specific day or time. So if the weather is inclement or your body isn’t 100 per cent on the day of the event, you have the option of postponing for a few days. You can choose your own route as well. Most running events in Saskatoon are limited by things like crossing major streets and railway tracks, and trying to avoid disrupting churches and places of business.
When I plan a (real) route the major limiting factor is the number of volunteers available for road marshals and water stations — which makes for a lot of (boring) multiple loops and out-and-back sections. It would be much more fun to do a city-wide, tour-style loop, but that takes a lot more volunteer power. With a virtual event, you can run the route you want.
BT: Where would you like to run a virtual race?
GF: There are some great places to include in your virtual event: A loop of Ashworth Holmes Park or Woodlawn Cemetery; circumnavigate the Northeast Swale; check out the running trails through the parks in the newer parts of town; tour Montgomery place.
Most Saskatoon events tend to run along the river. A virtual event gives you the option to run somewhere new. I’ve always wanted to run a marathon from Sandy Lake to Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park. A virtual event gives me that opportunity.
