Short course prevention factor
Encyclopedia
The short course prevention factor (SCPF) is a multiplicative factor or coefficient
used in the sport of athletics, specifically road running
, to ensure that the measured length of a course is at least as long as the desired length of the course. The International Association of Athletics Federations
, the international governing body
for athletics, as well as USA Track & Field, the national governing body for the United States
, specify the numerical factor of the SCPF to be 1.001. The SCPF has important implications when verifying world record
performances.
However, just because the SCPF has been added to the measurement calculation, that does not mean that a 10k course is 10,010 meters in length. The SCPF is designed to make sure that, in spite of wobble of the bicycle used for measuring, or small curves to avoid potholes or other obstructions, the course will still be at least as long as the advertised distance. All certified 10k courses should be longer than 10,000 meters, but will normally be less than 10,010 meters, depending on the measurer, and obstructions/hazards present during measurement.
Coefficient
In mathematics, a coefficient is a multiplicative factor in some term of an expression ; it is usually a number, but in any case does not involve any variables of the expression...
used in the sport of athletics, specifically road running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
, to ensure that the measured length of a course is at least as long as the desired length of the course. The International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
, the international governing body
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for athletics, as well as USA Track & Field, the national governing body for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, specify the numerical factor of the SCPF to be 1.001. The SCPF has important implications when verifying world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
performances.
However, just because the SCPF has been added to the measurement calculation, that does not mean that a 10k course is 10,010 meters in length. The SCPF is designed to make sure that, in spite of wobble of the bicycle used for measuring, or small curves to avoid potholes or other obstructions, the course will still be at least as long as the advertised distance. All certified 10k courses should be longer than 10,000 meters, but will normally be less than 10,010 meters, depending on the measurer, and obstructions/hazards present during measurement.