In brief...

Each runner has their own 'performance index' which represents their running performance, from this each runner is predicted a finish time for each club race. The target is to finish as close as possible to, and preferably ahead of this predicted time.

For each race the percentage difference between the runners' actual time and predicted time is calculated, and runners are ranked accordingly. The runner who improves by the greatest percentage is ranked first, down to the runner who misses their target by the greatest percentage. Points are then awarded based on race position and the 'performance index' is re-calculated. Points are totalled over the course of the league to dictate the league & group winners.

Performance Index...

The performance index (PI) used in the Kenilworth Runners Club Race League is the pace at which the runner would be expected to race a 5mile course at, based on recent club race performances.

This pace is used to predict target times for races of varying distances – this is done by use of the Riegel formula, which takes into account the race distance and adjusts the pace accordingly (simplistically it allows for the fact that as race distance increases, the best pace that can be sustained for the race distance diminishes – see the bottom of this page for more detailed information).

The performance index is recalculated after each race performance as follows:

- The 'performance index' (PI) for a completed race is calculated.
- If a runner improves upon their performance index (i.e. they run faster than their predicted time), then this becomes their new performance index, and will be used to predict their next club race target time.
- If a runner fails to beat their PI then their PI goes back by 1 second for every 6 short of their target PI, up to a maximum of 10 seconds per mile. i.e:

- Someone who has a PI of 7.00 and then runs at a PI of 8.00, automatically has his/her PI adjusted to 7.10
- If that same person had run at a PI of 8.50, their new PI would still only be 7.10.
- If they had run at a PI of 7.30, their new PI would become 7:05

This system is used to ensure to ensure that a runners PI is not harmed dramatically if a runner has a poor run. (It also serves to prevent runners from deliberately running slowly to reduce their PI, giving them an advantage in the next event).

Scoring...

In each race runners are ranked in order of the percentage difference between their predicted time, and their actual time. The race winner is the person who improves by the greatest percentage on their predicted time, or in the event that no runners achieve their predicted time the winner is the person who finishes nearest to their predicted time. 1st place is awarded 50 points, 2nd place receives 49 points, 3rd 48 points, and so on.

At the end of the league, each runner's SEVEN best scoring races are totalled together. Runners completing more than seven races will be awarded 5 additional points for each race after their 7 top scoring races (this also holds true if any races were "qualifying races").

Five additional points are awarded for any runner who breaks an existing course record.

Runners may play their 'joker' in one race each league, which doubles their points for that race.

The Joker...

Runners may opt to play their joker for any race in the league by informing the Marshal / Time Keeper that they wish to do so when registering their entry and collecting their number.

Runners must declare they wish to play their joker before they run, and may not change their mind once the race has begun.

The joker will double a runners score for that race, excluding any bonus points for breaking course records.

A joker cannot be played by someone marshalling or time-keeping that particular race.

A joker can only be played once per league - anyone who hasn't played their joker by the final race of the season will have their joker played for them automatically on that final race (assuming they race).

Course Records...

Records are awarded in the following categories:

Senior Men – Males under 40yrs of age
Senior Females – Females under 35yrs of age
Male Vets – Males over 40yrs of age
Female Vets – Females over 35yrs of age.

A runner will receive 5 bonus points if they break an existing course record – no points are awarded for course records on new/revised courses.

Marshals...

Marshalls / Timekeepers are nominated at the start of the league; if you are nominated then please do your best to support the club race league. If you're unable to marshal then please arrange somebody to take you place and inform the race organiser. If you really are stuck, please contact the race organiser and the time-keeper so that something can be arranged to ensure the safe running of the event for its competitors.

Runners who marshal an event will be awarded 45 points for that race, it is rare that a runner will be required to marshal more than one race, but in the event that a second event is marshalled, this will be scored at 40 points. Any subsequent races marshalled will score zero points, (but will be eligible for the normal 5 points for each race over 5 raced).

Awards & Grouping...

Runners are grouped into 3 different groups with reference to their performance index, these groups are labelled A, B and C. The A group is first to start, with the B group starting 5 minutes later, and the C group starting 5 minutes after the B's. If you feel the group you are in is not appropriate to your current ability then you may choose to run with a different group - you MUST inform the time keeper of your intention to run with a different group to avoid errors in the race results. You may still be scored in the group you were originally placed in to maintain fairness and ensure runners do not change groups to increase their chances of an award at the end of the league.

At the end of the league awards are given to the overall league winner (the person scoring highest from all three groups), this person is then exempt from any further league awards. The highest scoring runner from each group also receives an award.

And For the Very Keen - Calculations...

This section is for anyone who's interested to know exactly how the Riegel formula is used to predict club race times – be warned though; it can be a little mind confusing (hence why a spreadsheet is used to perform all calculations).

The calculation used to predict race times from the performance index is the Riegel formula, which suggests that a runners pace will decline by 6% as the distance of the race is doubled.

Riegel Formula:
Predicted Time = Previous Race Time x (New Race Distance / Previous Race Distance) ^1.06

We use this to predict club race times using the "Performance Index" (PI) in place of the 'previous race' details, since the performance index is 5mi race pace.

Predicted club race time = (PI x 5) x (Club Race Distance / 5) ^1.06

note: (PI x 5) signifies 5mi race pace multiplied by 5mi (to generate a 'previous race time')

Once the race is complete, the same formula is then reworked to understand the performance index of each performance:

"This Race" Performance Index = (Race Time x (5 / Race Distance) ^1.06) / 5

For all of these calculations, the spreadsheet works in decimals... e.g. 7.5 = 7minutes 30seconds, the spreadsheet then converts the decimals into mm.ss format where times/paces are shown.

For any other queries or questions regarding race rules and scoring, please contact the race organiser.