Abstract
This study investigates how fractal complexity affects Trail and mountain running (TMR) race course measurements at varying GPS resolutions and emphasizes the need for standardized course measurement protocols. GPX files from 34 UTMB World Series race courses, including final events in Chamonix, were analyzed. Horizontal distance, elevation gain, km-effort, and fractal complexity were computed at varying GPS spatial resolutions (0.2–100 m). Elevation data were refined using a 20-cm resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to ensure consistency across the dataset. The courses were systematically resampled and compared to assess the effects of spatial resolution on race measurements and classifications. The findings reveal that a decrease in GPS spatial resolution significantly reduces measured distances and elevation gains. Discrepancies in kilometer-effort reached up to 14% (mean = 7.0%, SD = 3.8%), horizontal distance up to 6.3% (mean = 2.9%, SD = 1.5%), and elevation gain up to 32% (mean = 14.0%, SD = 9.5%). Adopting a 1-m resolution, chosen for its practical balance between capturing terrain complexity at a human scale and computational efficiency, would enhance the reliability of distance, elevation gain, and km-effort calculations, ensuring fairer race classifications and improved comparability across events.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.