We’re excited to announce that registration for the fourth season of the RUNColumbus Race Series opens on September 1! Secure your spot early at the lowest price available for both new and returning athletes.
The RUNColumbus Race Series is a competitive, point-based race series that celebrates runners of all paces. Our series is designed to challenge athletes, inspire participation, and recognize achievements. Whether you’re a seasoned runner striving for a championship title or new to the sport, there’s a place for you in our vibrant running community.
Mid-season, we actively seek participant feedback through surveys, our private Facebook group, and focus groups. We analyze this data and conduct beta testing to guide any necessary adjustments, ensuring the series meets our participants’ needs and expectations while staying true to our core purpose.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Season
New Races
While we’re keeping details under wraps until the 2025 Season is announced on September 1, you can expect an exciting lineup of races of all sizes. Most of the series races serve as fundraisers for local nonprofits that positively impact the Central Ohio community. The schedule will feature a mix of new and returning events.
Simplified Fixed Point Structure
Starting with the 2025 Season, we will be eliminating Age Group Points, leaving only Finish Points and Distance Points.
Why the change? Upon closely examining race results, we found instances where some runners earned more points than those who finished ahead of them due to Age Group Points.
Additionally, Finish Points will now be awarded in descending order on a fixed scale starting at 50, instead of a variable scale based on field size. Men and women will continue to be scored separately.
Why the change? The variability in field size has disadvantaged those who support smaller races and affected RUNColumbus’s representation at these events. Since our inception, we have been committed to positively impacting races of all sizes.
Finally, the Open Division will be split into two divisions, 20-29 and 30-39, with ten-year increments like the other divisions. To keep things simple, we’re eliminating the names (Masters, Grandmasters, etc.).
Expanded Awards and Challenges
In addition to expanding our current race and mileage awards, we are excited to introduce new challenges such as the Ultimate Endurance Award and the Distance Challenge. Most awards will remain stackable, allowing participants to earn multiple recognitions for their achievements. Furthermore, next season will feature a second peer-selected honor: the RUNColumbus G.R.I.T. Award.
New Challengers Series
We are thrilled to introduce the Challengers Series, designed to enhance the competitive experience and ensure a fair playing field. This new mini-series within the RUNColumbus Race Series emphasizes performance-based awards and encourages head-to-head competition. By minimizing variables that could skew results, the Challengers Series ensures a balanced and thrilling competition for all participants.
The Challengers Series features 12 races of varying distances, providing a level playing field for all athletes. To compete for the Grand Champion, Division Champion, or Age Group Champion titles, athletes must complete six of the 12 races. This format promotes head-to-head competition while offering scheduling flexibility. The 12 races in the Challengers Series will be announced on September 1.
Where Competition Meets Community
Since our inaugural season in 2022, we’ve been dedicated to providing a premier competitive, point-based race series. Equally important to us is fostering a welcoming and supportive community for runners of all paces. Our new tagline, “Where Competition Meets Community,” perfectly encapsulates this commitment.
Whether you’re joining us for the first time, returning after a break, or continuing your journey with us, every race is an opportunity to excel, and every participant is a cherished member of our running community.