2024 Rules and Awards

You may enter any number of races in any of the three Series (Ultra/Trail/50K). When you enter your first race in a Series, you are automatically registered in that Series. There are no Series registration fees.

NOTE: For each race in which you register, please register using the identical name. If, for example, Pat Smith registered for one race using the name “Pat Smith” and registered for another race using the name “Patricia Smith” or “P Smith”, we might not know it is the same person; we might calculate a separate Series standing for each name.

Most of the races are “fixed-distance”, which means that you run a specific distance (e.g. 25 km, 50 km, 50 miles, etc.), and your race standing is determined by your finishing time. However, a few of the Ultra Series races are “fixed-time”, meaning that you run for a specific period of time (e.g. 6 hours, 12 hours, etc.), and your race standing is determined by how far you ran (Participants run laps around a short course while race officials monitor each participant’s distance).

Ultra Series races

You may enter any of the ultramarathons (> 42.195 km), consisting of fixed-distance races ranging from 50 km to 200 km and fixed-time races ranging from 6 hours to 24 hours. Each Ultra Series race is unique in terms of its design (loop, out-and-back), surface (pavement, trail, track), topography (flat, hilly), and technicality (smooth, rocky, rooty). The fixed-distance races ranging from 50 km to 58 km are a subset of the Ultra Series and comprise the 50K Series races (see below).

Trail Series races

You may enter any of the races ranging from 25 km to 34 km. These races are primarily on trail but may be partly on rural road.

50km Series races

You may enter any of the races ranging from 50 km to 58 km. Each 50K Series race is unique in terms of its design (loop, out-and-back), surface (pavement, trail, track), topography (flat, hilly), and technicality (smooth, rocky, rooty). These races are also in the Ultra Series since they are ultramarathon distance (> 42.195 km).

B Ultra Cup (Ultra Series):
Female any age.
Male any age.

C Norm Patenaude Ultramarathoner Award (Ultra Series).

D Trail Series:
Male & Female age groups
i 0-29
ii 30-39
iii 40-49.
iv 50-59.
v 60-69.
vi 70-79
vii 80+

E Trail Trophy (Trail Series):
Female any age.
Male any age.

F 50K Series:
Female any age.
Male any age.

For Series award categories A through E (Ultra Series, Trail Series):

a. Fixed-Distance Races (25km, 50 km, 50 miles, etc.):
Each entrant who completes the distance within the time limit for points shall be given percent points based on her/his finishing time relative to the 1st-place finisher’s time, plus:
i. 25 distance points for races of 24 km to 35 km (Trail Series)
ii. 50 distance points for races of 49 km to 59 km (Ultra Series)
iii. 1 distance point per km of race distance for races over 59 km (Ultra Series)

Multiple-Day Stage Races:
In order for a stage race to be included in the Ultra Series, it must meet the following three criteria:

1. At least half of the stages must be of ultramarathon distance (i.e. more than 42.195 km).
2. Any stages that are not more than 42.195 km must be more than 30 km.
3. The race must not contain more than 2 rest days total.

For the purpose of calculating points, a stage race will be considered a single race, i.e. points will be calculated for the stage race as a whole; points will not be calculated for individual stages. Each entrant who completes every stage within its time limit shall be given points in the Ultra Series only, using the method described above under “Fixed-Distance Races” (percent points plus 1 distance point per km of total distance for all stages combined). An entrant who does not complete every stage within its time limit will not be given points. Stage race entrants may be given points for completion of the stage race as a whole but will not be given points (in any series) solely for the completion of a particular stage.

The time limit for points is determined by the race director at her/his sole discretion. Each race entrant is responsible for knowing the time limit for points. An entrant who does not complete the distance within the time limit for points will not be given points, unless the race director exempts the entrant from the time limit for points. Race results for those who do not complete the distance within the time limit for points are provided as a courtesy only. Providing of an entrant’s result in no way implies that she/he will be given points.

b. Fixed-Time Races (6 hours, 12 hours, etc.):
Each entrant who completes an ultramarathon distance (i.e. more than 42.195 km) shall be given 1 distance point per km of distance that she/he completed plus percent points based on her/his finishing distance relative to the 1st-place finisher’s distance. (The entrant who runs the farthest is deemed to
be the 1st-place finisher). An entrant who does not complete an ultramarathon distance will not be given points (exceptions: entrants aged 60 to 69 who run more than 32 km will be given points; entrants age 70 to 79 who run more than 27 km will be given points; entrants age 80 and above who run more than 21 km will be given points). Race results for those who do not complete an ultramarathon distance are provided as a courtesy only. Providing of an entrant’s result in no way implies that she/he will be given points.

c. In the Ultra Series, a participant’s Age Award Points shall be equal to her/his total points for up to
(4) completed races in that Series. If the participant completes more than (4) races in that Series, her/his Age Award Points shall be the total for her/his (4) highest point value races.

d. In the Trail Series, a participant’s Age Award Points shall be equal to her/his total points for up to
(4) completed races in that Series. If the participant completes more than (4) races in that Series, her/his Age Award Points shall be the total for her/his (4) highest point value races.

e. For the purpose of calculating points, age group is based on the participant’s age as of July 31.

f. For the purpose of calculating points, for races that provide gun times, the entrant’s finishing time will be based on gun time. Otherwise, the entrant’s finishing time will be based on chip time.

g. At an event that offers more than one Ultra Series race (e.g. 50 km and 50 miles), the entrant will not be given points for completing a race other than the one in which she/he was registered at the start of the event.

For Series award category B (Ultra Cup):

The female and male, regardless of age, with the most total points (Ultra Cup Points) for all completed races in the Ultra Series will be presented with the Ultra Cup. The top three finishers (female and male) will each be given a plaque which they may keep permanently.

For Series award category C (Ultra Series):

Each participant who finishes (7) or more races in the Ultra Series will receive a Norm Patenaude Ultramarathoner Award. For the fixed-distance races, finishing a race means completing the distance within the time limit for points. The time limit for points is determined by the race director at her/his sole discretion. Each race entrant is responsible for knowing the time limit for points. An entrant who does not complete the distance within the time limit for points will not be deemed to have finished the race, unless the race director exempts the entrant from the time limit for points. For the fixed-time races, finishing a race means completing an ultramarathon distance (i.e. more than 42.195 km). An entrant who does not complete an ultramarathon distance will not be deemed to have finished the race (exceptions: entrants age 60 to 69 who run more than 32km will be deemed to have finished the race; entrants age 70 to 79 who run more than 27 km will be deemed to have finished the race; entrants age 80 and above who run more than 21 km will be deemed to have finished the race).

For Series award category E (Trail Trophy):

The female and male, regardless of age, with the most total points (Trail Trophy Points) for all completed races in the Trail Series will be presented with the Trail Trophy. The top three finishers (female and male) will each be given a plaque which they may keep permanently.

For Series award category F (50K Series):

a. For races in the 50K Series, each entrant who completes the distance within the time limit for points shall be given 50 distance points plus percent points based on the entrant’s finishing time relative to the 1st-place finisher’s time. The time limit for points is determined by the race director at her/his sole discretion. Each race entrant is responsible for knowing the time limit for points. An entrant who does not complete the distance within the time limit for points will not be given points, unless the race director exempts the entrant from the time limit for points. Race results for those who do not complete the distance within the time limit for points are provided as a courtesy only. Providing of an entrant’s result in no way implies that she/he will be given points.

b. In the 50K Series, a participant’s 50K Cup Points shall be equal to her/his total points for up to (4) completed races in that Series. If the participant completes more than (4) races in that Series, her/his 50K Cup Points shall be the total for her/his (4) highest point value races. The female and male, regardless of age, with the most 50K Cup Points will be presented with the 50K Cup. The top three finishers (female and male) will each be given a plaque which they may keep permanently.

c. There are no Age Award Points in the 50K Series.

d. For the purpose of calculating points, for races that provide gun times, the entrant’s finishing time will be based on gun time. Otherwise, the entrant’s finishing time will be based on chip time.

Series Prizes

An appropriate and worthy prize will be given to each of the top three finishers (female and male) in each age group in categories A and D. The top three finishers (female and male) in categories B, E and F will each be given a plaque which they may keep permanently. Winners in category C will each be given a plaque which they may keep permanently. The 1st-place finishers in category B (Ultra Cup) will be presented with a shared trophy. The 1st-place finishers in category E (Trail Trophy) will be presented with individual trophies. The 1st-place finishers in category F (50K Series) will be presented with a shared trophy. Cup/Trophy winners may keep the cup/trophy for one year and return it to a Series official prior to the following year’s awards ceremony. The OUTRace Series Awards Banquet and Ceremony be TBA. See website for details. www.outrace.ca
Exceptions to the methods described herein of determining points, awards and prizes may be made at the sole discretion of Series officials. The decision of Series officials in this regard is final.

Errors in race results happen occasionally, which could affect point calculations. If you think there is an error in a race result, please notify the race director. Errors can be corrected if reported to the race director within 21 days of completion of the race in question. Errors in race results that are not reported within 21 days of completion of the race might not be corrected. The decision of Series officials in this regard is final.

Got questions awards? Contact racekeeper@outrace.ca.

Updated December 22, 2023

Ultra Series races

Trail Series races

50km Series races

Series award categories are as follows: