ROCHESTER RUNNERS GRAND PRIX

In the annual Rochester Runners Grand Prix (“RRGP” for short), club members score points at road races to determine the most successful runners each year. The objectives are to promote participation in road races, encourage improved performance, and to have fun. It is also a way to recognize the running achievements of all club members, not just the usual trophy winners.

The RRGP is for everyone, not only for fast runners. Unlike a typical grand prix, you are not required to run a specific set of races. You can earn points for any race that fits your personal goals. We measure running success on the basis of distance, team participation, and performance. Distance points are higher for longer races, rewarding the greater effort. Team points are awarded for running with the RR team in a New Hampshire Grand Prix race or in the Lake Winnipesaukee relay. The performance scoring, however, is what makes our grand prix unique. Instead of a scoring system based on how fast you run compared to other runners, your “speed” points are determined by how fast you run compared with your own past performance. This rewards consistency and improvement, placing runners of all abilities on an equal footing.

For races longer than 5K, we start by converting your finish time to a “5K equivalent” time by adjusting not only for the difference in distance, but also for the difference in pace between a 5K and a longer race. This way, if you run a new distance there is a way to compare it to your previous races. Your “baseline” is your best 5K equivalent time in the 365 days before the race that is being scored. The faster your time is in relation to your baseline, the more points you score. You score the maximum speed points if you come close to or beat your baseline. If you beat your baseline, then that becomes your new baseline to shoot for in future races. New in 2005: only races run on USATF-certified, records-eligible courses are eligible for speed points. If you would like to know what your current baseline is and what your speed point goals are for an upcoming race, just ask.

Everyone in the club who runs at least one race during the year is automatically included—all you have to do is go out and run some races. We look up the race times on the Internet and provide periodic updates of club members’ current point totals. Just let us know if we missed any of your races when you see the updates. If you run more than ten races in a year, your best ten races will count. The highest total by year’s end will determine the RRGP champion. Entry numbers into the Boston Marathon are awarded to the male and female who finish highest in our grand prix and have not already qualified for Boston. The top several finishers receive prizes at our annual awards dinner in February.

We frequently send out standings updates by e-mail. You can also check them on the club website, in our newsletter, and at club meetings. Look to make sure that all your races have been included and send any questions, corrections, and comments to Paul Lindsay at bplindsay@hotmail.com.

RRGP Scoring

Speed points per race (only races on certified courses up to 50K are eligible for speed points)

1 point if your 5K equivalent time is within 5% of your baseline, or

2 points if your 5K equivalent time is within 3% of your baseline, or

3 points if your 5K equivalent time is within 1% of your baseline

Distance points per race

4 points if it is at least 5K (3.1 miles), or

5 points if it is at least 10K (6.2 miles), or

6 points if it is at least 20K (12.4 miles), or

7 points if it is at least 40K (24.9 miles), or

8 points if it is at least 50K (31.1 miles), or

9 points if it is at least 80K (49.7 miles), or

10 points if it is at least 120K (74.6 miles).

Special races: Mountain races and some trail races are far more challenging than other races of the same distance. Duathlons or triathlons are also not directly comparable to typical road races. For races such as these, distance points are based on the difficulty of the race as reflected by the median time of the finishers as shown below. For the Winnipesaukee relay, every leg scores 5 distance points because you don’t always get to choose your leg.

4 points if the median time is at least 25:00, or

5 points if the median time is at least 52:00, or

6 points if the median time is at least 1:50:00, or

7 points if the median time is at least 3:50:00, or

8 points if the median time is at least 4:30:00, or

9 points if the median time is at least 8:00:00, or

10 points if the median time is at least 12:00:00.

Team points per race

3 points if you are on the Rochester Runners team in a New Hampshire Grand Prix race

1 point if you are on a Rochester Runners team in the Lake Winnipesaukee relay

Total points per race

The score for each race is the sum of the speed, distance, and team points. For most races, the maximum possible score is 10 points and the minimum is 4 points. A 5K or 5-miler, for example, earns from 4 to 7 points depending on speed points, or from 7 to 10 if it is one of the NHGP races. A New Hampshire Grand Prix race or a strong performance in a 5K can earn as many points as a slow marathon.

Final RRGP score for the year

If you run more than 10 races during the year, only your best 10 races will count in your final score (maximum possible =100 points for the year). Ties will be broken in favor of higher speed points, or (if speed points are equal) in favor of higher distance points.