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Road courses are measured using a Jones Counter attached to a bicycle's front wheel. It records wheel rotations, which can be converted to distance after calibration.
The device's story began with a suspiciously good race. In 1970, Alan Jones entered an event advertised as 20 kilometers. His result seemed too good. He checked the route and found it was considerably short.
Some people would just have logged a personal best. Jones started measuring. His device helped make course measurement more convenient and accurate. World Athletics history
One month to go: the Kobe Marathon is on November 15. Its theme is “Gratitude and Friendship,” reflecting the support the city received after the earthquake and its recovery. About the Kobe Marathon