USATF Minnesota recognizes
Minnesota Runners of the Year for the best runners by gender and age
divisions each year.
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Records were compiled 1986-2005 by Jack Moran, 2006-2019 by Mike Setter,
canceled during 2020 pandemic, and restarted 2021 by Tom Ruen.
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How does it work?
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Runners compete as open and within 5 year age divisions for runners 35 and
older.
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Only runners with a Minnesota address are evaluated, whether permanent or
temporary residence. Race result information determine residency.
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Up to 5 distances can score total points per runner. If more than 5 distances
are run, the lowest distance scores are ignored.
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Open runners assign points for the top-20 performances by distance.
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Age divisions assign points for the top-10 performances by distance.
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If there are fewer qualifying performances for a distance and division, the
highest points will be reduced to that number.
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New 2022: Runners with a qualifying time at a given distance will
always earn at least 1 point. (This is designed to motivate all runners to
try to meet the qualifying time.)
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New 2022: The top time will always get at least
half-top points for a given distance (and 10 for marathon),
even if fewer runners have qualifiers. If 3 open runners qualify at a distance,
their points will be scored as 10,9,8, while 3 age division qualified finishers
would get 5,4,3 points. (This makes uncommon distances more valuable, even
if rivals don't show up.)
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If a runner has 2 or more qualifying times at a distance scores, the faster
time while score, while the lower times blocks others from scoring at that
ranking.
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If there is a tie in the score, both runners will be recognized as Co-Runners
of the Year.
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Sex vs scoring categories
Sex |
All Gender
category |
Female
category |
(M)ale |
Yes |
- |
(F)emale |
Yes |
Yes |
(N)onconforming
or Non-binary |
Yes |
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(U)nknown
Uncompetitive |
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Scoring categories (new 2022): There are 2 sex-based categories for
competition, All-gender and Female.
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Runners of any sex or gender, who make the all-gender open or age division
standards, are eligible to score points and win the All-Gender Runner of
the Year divisions.
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Only biological females who register as female will qualify for female
competition.
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Gender nonconforming runners (transgender and nonbinary) are encouraged
to register in races as nonbinary (N) where available.
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While trans-identified males may be allowed to register at some events
as female, but if their biological sex is publicly verified as male, they
will be (retroactively) reclassified as "U" and removed from competition
and historic records.
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Race results without sex specified are labeled as "U" (Unknown) and are not
eligible for any rankings.
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Gender Identity versus biological sex
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Many races don't clarify whether registration is based on biology or identity.
I have 4 classes of gender/sex and initially map Male-to-Male, Female-to-Female,
Unknown (prefer to not specify)-to-Unknown, and Nonbinary-to-Nonconforming.
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Any runner may be temporarily moved to the Unknown Sex category, until biological
sex is verified.
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Runners can be restored to Male, Female upon validation, or choose to be
moved to Nonconforming if they are comfortable with that.
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Division transitions
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Runners who have a birthday that crosses a 5 year division will have their
events scored at two different divisions. The age you are on race-day determines
your division.
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Runners may choose to strategize to get in more events before or after a
birthday depending on where they hope to be more competitive.
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Early results
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(Unofficial) early race results may be added if I have reason to believe
they will be submitted, but these must be considered provisional and may
be removed later.
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State Records
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Runners who make their open or age division standards are eligible to break
single year state records. Runners age 4-17, or 90 and older can make state
records without making the standard.
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What are the standards?
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Time standards define the slowest time by sex, age division and distance to
qualify.
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The 2021 standards are based
loosely on 2015
Age grading for the youngest age within a division. The percentages go
down gradually with age to allow for fewer participants.
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NOTE: The least common distances have somewhat easier age-graded standards.
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New 2021: Net or Chip times (if available) are used for finishing
order and qualifiers.
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NOTE: Starting behind the start line shouldn't be used as a strategy against
rivals, but seen for safety reasons for older runners so they don't need
to line up near the very front.
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Minors: Runners under 18 can score if they make the (difficult) open standard.
Since this is an adult competition, there are no (easier) standards below
age 18.
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Which distances?
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Top time performances are give points for up to 12 distances:
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1-mile, 5k, (8k=5-mile), 10k, 12k, [15k, 10-mile], 20k, half marathon, 25k,
[30k, 20-mile], and marathon.
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The 1-mile distance was added in 2008.
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8k and 5-mile races are scored together. This means a slight time-disadvantage
for 5-mile courses.
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Two pairs of distances (15k/10M) and (30k/20M) are scored separately BUT
if a runner does both distances, only the higher will score.
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How to help?
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Runners: Submit consistent spelling for your name AND city on all
race applications during a year. This will make it easier to to identify
you as a single individual between difference events and distances.
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Runners: Ask race directors if their course is certified and if so,
request submission if it wasn't submitted in past years!
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Race directors: Include a statement about course certification to
help runners know, and give the course number you plan to use.
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Errors happen. Tell me by email,
tomruen@gmail.com, if something is
missing or wrong and I'll help look into it!
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A most common error is wearing the wrong bib, like if a 50-something father
accidentally swaps his bib with a speedy 20-something son, results may appear
to be a qualifier that is inaccurate and will be removed once identified.
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Courses may be mis-marked and run somewhat short, which may invalidate the
entire race, unless a very small adjustment time factor is determined to
make it fair for MNROY scoring. (Accidental long courses will NOT be adjusted.)
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Which races?
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Only Road races (road and hard surface trails) can be scored.
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Courses must be certified. For active Minnesota Certified Courses see:
www.run-minnesota.org/mnroy/mncourses.htm
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Race Directors must be willing to submit a form verifying course and event
quality information and email results.
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Past year submissions can help you identify which races will likely be submitted,
as well as which races have the most qualifiers
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Races submitted are used to recognize new Single Age Minnesota State
Records for Minnesota and non-Minnesota runners.
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Places to search for upcoming races. (Listed events don't gurantee courses
will be certified nor that results will be submitted.)
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https://www.raceberryjam.com/mdraschedule.php
Jack Moran's Raceberry Jam.
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https://www.run-minnesota.org/events/
Run-Minnesota
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https://minnesota.usatf.org/about/usatf-minnesota-team-circuit
USATF-Minneasota Team Circuit events road courses are certified and will
have the best competition.
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Event organizers and timers
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National calendars for Minnesota
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