Race Format

The first time you run this event, you’ll establish a base time for yourself. This base time is used to generate a handicap time. The handicap time is calculated using an algorithm developed by Bob Royse, and it’s geared to favor a beginning runner and the slower runners. Click here for an explanation of the handicap algorithm.

Once you have an established handicap, you are racing against your handicap time. The person who improves the most from their handicap time is the winner. Each month the results are sent off to Bob Royse and he fires up his Nielson algorithm and regenerates all of the handicap times based on the latest result data.

As mentioned before, the handicap does favor a beginning runner or a slower runner who is putting in a lot of quality training time, as it’s these types of runners who tend to have significant time improvements running the same course. But the race is also good for established runners and the swift of feet because it gives those runners a good indication of their fitness level. It’s the same 2 mile course each month. Thus given similar weather conditions, you have a very good basis to check out your running fitness from month to month.

Awards

At each monthly race, the person who improves the most over their handicap earns a Nielson shirt.

The shirts are generously donated by Michael Schenk of EON Studios, located at 836 N Institute in Colorado Springs (633-7986). Visit EON Studios for all of your screen printing needs.

Entry Fees

None. Yes, there is a free lunch. Your dad was wrong ;)

Course Information

The course is a flat 2-mile course in North Monument Valley Park. The first mile is an elongated loop, first heading north on the middle trail and then south on the main trail parallel to the creek. The second mile is an out-and-back, heading south on the main trail and then back north again.