Background
UKA requires courses to be measured according to World Athletics procedures by a measurer who is accredited for measurement in the UK.
The measurer will ride a bicycle along the shortest possible route, within the boundaries of the course and will use a special counter to record the revolutions of the front wheel. To get an accurate length the measurer has to calibrate the bicycle by riding along a short calibration course which has been accurately surveyed with a steel tape or an Electronic Distance Measuring machine.
The overall accuracy of measurement is normally a little better than 1 part in 1000, which is equivalent to 10 metres in a 10K or 42 meters in a marathon. To ensure the course is at least the advertised distance, the measurer uses a short course prevention factor when determining the official distance. For example, the measurer will aim to make a 10,000 metre course 10,010 metres long, and the official distance which appears on the certificate will be 10,000 metres, because the measurement has established that the course is definitely not less than 10,000 metres.
Training
To become an accredited course measurer the Association of UK Course Measurers (Scotland) can, subject to demand, arrange a 2 day training seminar which explains the method of using a calibrated bicycle, explains the necessary calculations, and gives practice in measuring courses. At the end of the seminar, the trainee has to write up a measurement report on one of their practice measurements. If trainees show an understanding of the methods, and the practical and written report is up to scratch, they will be appointed as grade 2 measuresr.
A training seminar was held at the Regioal Performance Centre in Dundee in March 2026, leading to three new measurers being accredited.
A further 2 day course will be held on 5 and 6 September in Forres. The provisional programme is shown below. If you are interested in taking part contact us.
