10km Series - Handicap calculations

10km Series - Handicap calculations This page last updated: Saturday April 29 2006

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10k Handicapping

How the handicaps are calculated

The Striders handicapping system used for the 10k series has been around for many years and is in use by running clubs around the world. It is a robust system and has stood the test of time. It is difficult to beat (you can't "work" the system to your advantage), and as shown over the years, the winner of the handicap competition can be any member of the club.

It works like this:

The two key elements in each race are your race time and your handicap. The handicap competition places are decided based on how much better than your handicap is your race time in percentage terms.

If you don't have a handicap then you end up on the bottom of the results for that one race, but you still get points for running. You also get a brand new handicap for next time!

Once the Handicap results are decided, the new handicap is determined. There are 4 possible situations:

1) no previous handicap:
New Handicap = Race time + 1%

2) race time equals handicap:
New Handicap = Old Handicap

3) race time faster than handicap:
New Handicap = Old Handicap less (80% of difference between Race time and Old Handicap)

4) race time slower than handicap:
New Handicap = Old Handicap plus (10% of difference (to a max of 30 secs) between Race time and Old Handicap)

and finally....
At the end of each year everyone who has run a 10k in that year gets 2% added to their handicap for the new year, and anyone who has not run in a Striders 10k race in the past 2 years is dropped off the handicap list - they get to start all over again.

Key points to remember:

A handicap will only change if you run and complete a race (DNF does not count).

No matter how slowly you run, your handicap will only move out a maximum of 30 seconds per race.

Run at least once in a year to get the end of year bonus added to your handicap.

Consistency is more important than a once off great performance. Improving throughout the year has the best chance of doing well in the competition.

The points score competition is the best 8 out of 10 results, although your handicap will be recalculated every time you race

The last race of the season is for double points, so make sure you run a PB in that race!

The handicapping system brings your handicap crashing down fast, but it takes forever to move out again - and there is nothing you can do about it, so enjoy!