like the elevation analyses we see for Ironman races?
- With an altimeter (most accurate)
- With GPS (less accurate)
- Using topo software + an X/Y coordinate file from GPS or by laying out the route by hand if you know all the turns (pretty accurate)
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I think you can rent gps units (if you don’t have one) at REI if I’m not mistaken. Just drive the course and import the data into one of several tools. I like topofusion because it gives you tons of geeky stats along with some really cool 3d rendering. It also will correct the gps elevation inaccuracies by cross referencing topo data. You can also use the tool to just draw on the map if you are patient and get the same type of information in .25 meter ressolution satellite photos, usgs topo maps or both.
Ride or run the course with a Garmin Forerunner. Use free software provided by Motion-base (google motion-based.com. ) You get map and elevation profilles
The Topo USA software that comes with Computrainer does a good job of this. You draw the course on the map and it generates the corresponding altitude profile. The software only covers the USA so if you are interested in Europe, Australia, etc another option might be necessary.
The most accurate method is also the most expensive method, that is, hire an engineering firm to survey the course. With the survey, you get a digital profile view and plan view in whatever scale you like, in what ever color you like. This should be the standard for any half ironman and ironman distance triathlon race director. If participants pay what they pay, they should have access to excellent profile maps, the ones currently shown are of medium quality at best. This will cost a race director peanuts compared to the revenue generated by the race.
If you are not a race director, then all of the comments above are valid. I have a friend who superposes his Garmin readings onto topo maps and it comes out absolutely magnificent.
How much would you expect a survey of a 56 mile course to cost? What about 112?
HH
Is it really that important that the elevation be exact? I would think there are other things the RD could spend $$ on to make for a better event. Do you really care if you climbed 1836’ instead of 1828’?
A professional survey of a 56 one-loop bike course will easily cost between $5,000 to $7,000 if you go with the description that Fasttwitch mentions. This is the most expensive and most accurate profile you can generate. This is not what 99.9% of the races do half IM or full IM. This is also assuming a one loop, no-out-and-back course. A full 112 mile course would easily be double that since you can’t double up on any of the survey. They’d could use engineering grade GPS and get the course x/y/&z down to an accuracy under a foot.
No race director (IM included) is going to dish out that kind of money for this kind of survey. Most of the profiles are generated from topo software. The accuracy is going to go down in quality, but for what you’re wanting to see does not justify an expensive survey. Like kdw says ‘do you really care if you climbed 1836’ instead of 1828’? You’re not going to be able to tell the difference over a 112, 56, 24, or even 10 mile course.
RE:
- With an altimeter (most accurate)
- With GPS (less accurate)
- Using topo software + an X/Y coordinate file from GPS or by laying out the route by hand if you know all the turns (pretty accurate)
- With a barometer (eg., Polar 720) less accurate
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I agree. I have made courses with the topo s/w and it works great
dave
I don’t do that many triathlons, but, if I am going to pay USD 200 for participating in a half ironman race along with 2000 of my closest friends, I expect a top quality profile of the bike course and the run course. I expect filet mignon (medium done please) as part of the post race dinner. I expect Guiness at all aid station. Hell, I expect a profile view of the swim course as well, with tides, predicted swell height and water temp measured to the one hundreth degree. Along with the sponsorship that half ironman and ironman distance race directors receive, their revenue is amazingly lucrative, thus they constant increase in races around the world. INA is the big company with the highest market share, they could afford a well done engineering survey of their race course in, for example, Kona and that survey would be valid as long as the course did not change, or there were no capital improvements to the course which would cause elevation changes. It is a capital investment that will pay off during years to come. Again, participants pay prime dollars, so they should get prime quality profiles to the foot. If the race costs USD 200 and you pay them USD 195, I bet they will ask you for the remaining USD 5 or you will not get in.