Eligibility for Awards
- General Eligibility
- To be eligible for awards, runners must complete at least six series races and record their official finish time in the RUNColumbus Team Portal.
- Championship Titles
- Grand Champions: These awards are presented to the top male and female.
- Division Champions: These awards are given to the top male and female in each age division, including 14U, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.
- Age Group Champions: These awards are given to the top male and female in each age group, including <9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.
Points and Scoring
- Points Accumulation
- All races are scored, and points accumulate throughout the season.
- A runner’s top six scores in the Challengers Series determine the Grand Champions, Division Champions, and Age Group Champions.
- In case of a tie, head-to-head competition serves as the tiebreaker. If the tied athletes win the same number of head-to-head races, the cumulative time difference in those races will be considered. The runner with the greatest total time spread across the tied races will be declared the winner.
- A runner’s total score for all series races determines other awards.
- Reporting Finish Times
- Runners have 14 days to record their official finish time in the RUNColumbus Team Portal.
- Times must match the race’s published results.
- Race times cannot be accepted after the 14-day window.
- Runners may correct their time entry during the 14-day window.
- Runners may only record one finish time per event with multiple distances.
- Points may fluctuate during the 14-day reporting window as other runners report their times.
Points, Races, and Mileage
- Types of Points
- Distance Points: Each finisher receives one point per full race mile.
- Finish Points: These are awarded to the top 50 male and female finishers in descending order, with first place earning the most points.
- If two runners finish a race in a tie, both receive the same points.
- Race Score: Distance Points + Finish Points = Race Score
- Age-Based Scoring
- Points are awarded based on the runner’s age on the race date.
- Final standings are based on the runner’s age on the date of their last race in the top six scores.
- Virtual Races: Athletes who complete a race virtually receive Distance Points only.
- Mileage and Races: A runner’s cumulative mileage and races count toward mileage and race awards.
Awards and Challenges
Awards are stackable unless noted otherwise.
| Award Name | How It’s Earned | How Many Are Awarded | Applicable Series Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finisher | Complete 6 Series Races | Unlimited | All Series Races |
| Grand Champion | Top Six Scores | 1 Male, 1 Female (not eligible for Division or Age Group titles) | Challengers Series |
| Division Champion | Top Six Scores | 1 Male, 1 Female Per Division (not eligible for an Age Group title) | Challengers Series |
| Age Group Champion | Top Six Scores | 1 Male, 1 Female Per Age Group | Challengers Series |
| Ultimate Endurance Award (Grand and Division Champions are not eligible for this award.) | Total Score | Top 3 Males, Top 3 Females (not eligible for Points, Mileage, or Race Champion Awards) | All Series Races |
| Mileage Champion | Most Miles Raced (not eligible for Mileage Challenge Award) | Top Male, Top Female (except in the case of a tie) | All Series Races |
| Mileage Challenge | Complete 50, 100, 150, or 200 Miles of Series Races (only eligible for one) | Unlimited | All Series Races |
| Races Champion | Most Races Complete (not eligible for Race Challenge Award) | Top Male, Top Female (except in the case of a tie) | All Series Races |
| Races Challenge | Complete 12, 24, or 36 Series Races (only eligible for one) | Unlimited | All Series Races |
| Distance Challenge | Complete Six Race Distances: 1 Mile, 5K, 4 or 5 Mile, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon | Unlimited | All Series Races |
| Spirit of RUNColumbus | Peer Voted Based on Criteria | 1 | All Series Participants |
| RUNColumbus G.R.I.T. | Peer Voted Based on Criteria | 1 | All Series Participants |
| Founders Award | At the discretion of the Founders | 1 | NA |