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| The Trophy Series is a monthly race series featuring a handicap scoring and starting system. Participants are given different starting times based on ability. In theory, everyone finishes at the same time. Racers of all abilities have an equal chance of winning. |
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| The Trophy Series consists of 12 races, held once each month, from January to December, throughout the Denver Metro area, with distances from 2 to 10 miles. |
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| The Trophy Series is open to runners and race-walkers. Race-walkers are expected to follow USATF rules. The races are free for members. Non-members are always welcome. Registration is $5 for nonmembers, race day only (no T-shirts). Please arrive 30 minutes early to register. |
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| If you are not able to race, we encourage you to Volunteer. We can always use additional help. |
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| The Race |
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| At each race, participants are sent off at different, pre-assigned times. The slower runners and race-walkers start first. Increasingly faster racers are sent off at specific intervals over time. At the longer races (10 miles), the last starter may go off as long as 60 minutes after the first ones. |
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| In theory, everyone finishes at the same time. This makes the finishes fun and exciting as the early starters try to hold on while the later starters try to pass. In reality, those who improve the most finish first. So, the races reward those who show consistent improvement over time. |
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| After each race, awards are given to the top 15 finishing runners, top 3 race-walkers, and the fastest (net of the handicap) female and male. |
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| Handicap System |
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| Each racer is assigned a handicap (HCP) based on performance at previous Trophy Series races (see below for first time racers). The HCP is used to determine your start and predict times at the various distances. |
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| If you beat your predict time, your HCP will go down. If you go slower than your predict time, your HCP goes up (within limits). The HCP is just a number that is plugged into formulas to calculate your start and predict times. It has no intrinsic meaning in itself. |
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| Keeping Score - the Series |
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| Members earn points in various categories at each race: |
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 Trophy Series (including handicap) Runners |
| Trophy Series Race-Walkers |
| Scratch (net of handicap) Male and Female |
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| The first place racer in each category earns 100 points. The following racers earn lesser points based on their finish, depending on the number of finishers, down to 20 points for the last finisher. Only members are included in the scored results. |
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| You accumulate points at each race throughout the year towards the series titles (runners, walkers, scratch). The series titles are based on your best 10 of 12 races. So, we drop your scores from your worst 2 races, which may include races you miss. After the end of the year, trophies are awarded to the high scorers in each of the above categories -- typically the top 20 for the Trophy Series runners, top 3 for race-walkers, and top 5 for each of the scratch categories. |
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| In addition, there is the Ric Robinette (so named because he's won it so many times)
Resolute Runner
award. This goes to the person with the most Trophy Series points accumulated over the previous 4 years. For this award, we count all 12 races (i.e., we don't drop your lowest 2 scores). This is sometimes called the "Get a Life" award, because the winners have usually managed to show up for every Trophy Series race for years. |
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| Getting Started |
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| If you haven't run a Trophy Series race before, just show up on race day. You don't need to pre-register (race day registration only). You don't need a HCP. You don't even need to be a member. The races are open to the public for $5. Please arrive 30 minutes early. |
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| At your first race, we will estimate your HCP and assign you a start time. We usually use a recent 5k or 10k time to assign you a start time for that day's race. The starter will read off start times beginning with 0:00. When your time comes up, off you go. |
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| Don't worry if you are faster or slower than your estimate. This won't affect your initial HCP, which will be based on your actual time in the race. It won't affect your Trophy Series score. All first time racers earn 60 Trophy Series points in their first race. By estimating your start time, you get to experience the fun and excitement of the Trophy Series race format. |
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| Benefits |
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| It's free for members |
| You don't have to be an elite to win a race |
| Track your improvement over time using the HCP |
| Race in a fun and friendly environment |
| Learn proper pacing. Instead of starting in a pack with others to follow, you may start alone. The starting intervals are designed for you to gradually gain on earlier starters throughout the race. You have to learn how to properly pace yourself so that you are still strong at the finish, instead of trying to catch everyone early on. |
| Meet new friends |
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Rocky Mountain Road Runners