CARA Resources

 

 

   
    2004 Individual Circuit Rules

 

  1. Runners will compete for circuit points in the same age group the entire season. Your age on August 1 (the half-way point on the Circuit) will determine your age group for the entire year of Circuit competition. Your age for the Circuit competition may not always be the same as your age in each individual race.

  2. Age Groups: 14 and under, 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 and over.

  3. How many ways are there to compete? Points will be scored in three separate competitions: Age Group, Overall, and Age-graded formula.

  4. Who is Scored? All Illinois residents who compete in any of the races on the Circuit schedule will be considered to be part of the Circuit competition and will be awarded race points, whether or not they are CARA members. Out-of-state runners will only score points if they are CARA members. All other runners will be removed from the finishing standings before circuit points are calculated. Runners who join CARA during the year will receive Circuit points for their finish in all Circuit races in which they competed, including those prior to their joining CARA. This system is necessary to ensure uniformity and fairness in scoring, so that all runners compete against the same group during the entire year.

  5. How are Points Determined? Age Group: In each race, the first 15 runners in each circuit age group will be awarded points based on their finishing position. Fifteen (15) points will be awarded for first place, fourteen (14) for second, etc. Overall: Points will be awarded to the first 15 overall finishers of each sex, in the same manner as age group points are awarded. Age-Graded Points: Points will be awarded based on a mathematical formula which takes into consideration the runner’s age and sex, the race distance, finishing time, and the national age group record.

  6. How many races do I have to run? Age Group and Overall: You must run at least seven (7) Circuit races to qualify for year-end awards. Final age group and overall point totals are based on your ten (10) best finishes. Runners in the 14 and under age group must run at least three (3) Circuit races , with their six (6) best finishes determining their final age group score. Runners in the 15-19 age group must run at least four (4) Circuit races, with their seven (7) best finishes determining their final age group score. Age-Graded: Points will be taken as the average of the best three age-graded scores in the 14 and under age group and the best seven scores in all other age groups.

  7. Are all races counted equally? Yes. Scoring for all races is the same, regardless of the race distance.

  8. Must young runners compete at long distances? No. Runners in the 14 and under and 15-19 age groups will not be scored in races of 10 miles or longer. When a race of less than 10 miles is run in conjunction with a Circuit race of 10 miles or longer, the shorter race will be scored as a Circuit event for the 14 and under age group only, provided the race is run on a USATF-Certified course and age-group awards are given three-deep.

  9. Who is eligible for awards? Runners must be CARA members to qualify for year-end awards. Non-members who score points will be dropped from the final standings at the end of the season (but scores will not be recomputed) and will not be eligible for awards. Runners have until the day of the last Circuit race to obtain membership.

 

CARA-Registered Races

  1. Runners qualify for year-end awards by doing either of the following: a) complete a total of 104 kilometers in any combination of CARA Circuit and CARA-Registered races; OR, b) complete one race at each of the following distances in any combination of CARA Circuit or CARA-Registered races – 5k or 4-miler; 8k, 5-miler, or 10k; 10-miler; 20k or longer.

  2. Only CARA members are eligible for awards. You must complete a registration form
    (it will be posted August 1) and return it to CARA to be eligible for an award.

 

CARA Long-Distance Series
  1. All runners who complete five (5) races on the CARA Long-Distance Series, including at least one race of a marathon distance or longer, will receive awards at year’s end.
    No other races may be substituted.

  2. Only CARA members are eligible for awards. You must complete a registration form
    (it will be posted August 1) and return it to CARA to be eligible for an award.

 

NOTE: All CARA Circuit Races, CARA-Registered Races, and CARA Long-Distance Series races are in Chicago Runner magazine and in the CARA Race Info section of the CARA web site – www.CARAruns.org.

 


Chicago Area Runners Association · 203 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 1104 · Chicago, IL 60601
Phone 312.666.9836 · Fax 312.781.1736 · info@cararuns.org · www.CARAruns.org