A couple of times a month I hear a complaint from someone that the mileage we did or are doing is not “exactly” 10 miles (or 8 miles or 14 miles).

There are two sides to this: part of me absolutely gets the complaint… and part of me wants to say, “So what?” Both sides of this are very important and they speak to some critical issues in this sport of ours. I want to explain why precision is both important and in some sense meaningless.

First, you should know that when you do a marathon or a half you’re going to be surprised at what you see on your watch at the end. I can almost guarantee you that your watch will not read “26.2” when you cross the Finish Line. I’ll bet you’re going to see a number much closer to 27.

Did the organizers screw up? No. And if you were an “elite” runner you’d probably see something very close to 26.2. The fact is that when you’re running in the pack you’re not running like an elite. They “run the tangents,” which means they run the course in the most efficient way possible. If there’s a curve ahead of them they run a straight line and don’t stick to the middle of the street. This, by the way, is the way the course officials measure the course as well: they measure it just as the smartest and most efficient runner would run it.

If you’re like me you are wandering all over the road all the time just trying to avoid people or get a drink of water or whatever. Each of those zigs and zags might only take you a few feet off of “perfect” but it adds up and before you know it you’re hitting 26.5 miles and still have no medal!

By the way, there are cases where organizers DO screw up and boy do people get mad. Just this past summer the second half of the San Francisco Marathon was off by more than half a mile! The 12.6 mile “half” was discovered by angry runners when they crossed the Finish. I don’t think it affected the full marathon, but of course those who ran the second half wound up with an asterisk next to their names. Those people paid for a half and they didn’t get it. They had every right to be furious.

Of course in that case it’s mostly about bragging rights, but there are cases where precision is really important. If you’re running to try and qualify for another race (like Boston) then you want the course to be legit. And for elites this is particularly important because their records and reputations and paydays mean everything to them.

But what about our average Saturday? What should you do or think about heading out for 10 miles and coming back to the Start having only done 9.75 miles?

First off, apologies on behalf of the Training Committee if that’s the case and you’re upset. The LA Marathon is actually certified (by USA Track and Field, I think), but your humble training committee is trusting mapping software to do the trick. And besides, the paths we travel aren’t really broken up into precise units. We do have to do a bit of fiddling to get you to a round number.

Really, it’s those “round numbers” that are the issue here. Does it matter if you do 9.75 or 10? Well, as the saying goes, when you get back to your car you will have done at least 10! So don’t beat yourself up about it if you put in the time. It’s just a number, and if it’s not a round one that’s OK.

But on the other hand: distance walking and running is really a mental game. I do appreciate and understand the folks who keep going to make up that extra .25 if they come up “short.” If that helps build your confidence about your race, more power to you!

In the end it’s the fact that you showed up and did the miles (98% of them anyways). That is the most important thing.

John Flynn
Mentor Coordinator