Members
The handicap system explained
Most races reward whoever is fastest. We reward whoever runs best on the day. Here is how that actually works.
Why we do it
The fair start
The rationale is the same as a golf handicap: level the playing field for people with different abilities, so everyone competes on equal footing.
After assessing your performance on a course, we adjust your start time so that a casual jogger and a dedicated athlete have the same theoretical chance of winning. Slower runners leave first; faster ones chase. The whole field is supposed to converge on the finish line at the same moment.
In practice, it creates genuine suspense at the finish. On any given Sunday, the trophy is genuinely up for grabs.
Sunday start board
3K · this weekFaster runners leave last. Run to your handicap and you all arrive together.
Step by step
How it works
Your first run is a time trial
You start at the suggested time for your distance and run at your natural pace. We record your actual finish time, then work backwards to calculate your handicap.
We set your start time
Your handicap is the gap between the target finish time for your distance and your actual time. That gap becomes your weekly head start.
Check the board before every race
Handicaps are updated weekly. Look for your name under your distance on the Handicap Board. The time shown is exactly when you leave the starting line.
Run to your handicap
Leave the line when your time is called. If everyone runs to their handicap, the whole field arrives at the finish line within a breath of each other.
Target finish times (after scratch)
| Distance | Target time |
|---|---|
| 1K | 26 minutes |
| 3K | 38 minutes |
| 6K | 44 minutes |
Example: a 3K time trial of 30 minutes gives a handicap of 8 minutes (38 − 30). The following week you start 8 minutes after the clock begins.
How handicaps adjust
Ready to check yours?
Your start time is in the app
Live handicaps, results, and points for every member. Updated after every race day. Check before Sunday so you know exactly when to leave the line.