COVID-Cup Season 5

6 person Team Competition
Week One - 13.1 mile Team Relay*
Week Two - 18 mile Team Relay*
Week Three - 24 mile Team Relay*

*Teams can split distances however they want - 2 mile minimum distance per runner.

2 person Team Competition
Week One - 16 mile Team Relay*
Week Two - 20 mile Team Relay*
Week Three - 26.2 mile Team Relay*

*Miles are split equal amongst runners.

6 Person Teams
At the beginning of each COVID-Cup season, captains are selected and runners are assigned to teams of ~6 if they have not created their own teams during registration. The teams will compete for three weeks. Each week, runners must submit a time for that week's race distance. The "race" needs to be recorded with a GPS device or App and a screen shot of the results submitted for verification. Times are calculated and handicapped to create a  team time for the week. At the end of the season, the team with the lowest cumulative average time is the winner.

2 Person Teams
The teams will compete for three weeks. Each week, runners must submit a time for that week's race distance. The "race" needs to be recorded with a GPS device or App and a screen shot of the results submitted for verification. Team times are age/gender graded and added together to create a team time for the week. At the end of the season, the team with the lowest cumulative average time is the winner.

6 Person Teams
Each team will consist of ~6 runners, depending on total number of participants. Runners can create their own teams during registration, or be assigned to teams the day before the season begins. Each team will have a captain who is responsible for coordinating communication and ensuring the timely submission of weekly race results.

2 Person Teams
Each team will consist of 2 runners. Runners can create their own teams during registration, or can request to be paired up with another runner. Please identify your teammate by name during registration. There will be a question asking if you have a teammate during the registration process.

Week 1 will have no handicapping applied, as it needs to be the baseline for the next few weeks. For the 2nd week, a handicapping percentage is created based on your 5k time as compared to the fastest 5k time in the group. So, if you are 20% slower than the fastest, next week your handicapped time will be reduced by 20%. All times will have age and gender grading applied to try and create parity. From week 1 to week 2, each team will also be handicapped with the difference in time between them and the fastest team. 

For further incentive, there is a time adjustment for performance relative to predicted time. Week 1 times are used for week 2 and week 2 times are used for week 3. We use the formula developed by Pete Riegel to calculate each runner’s predicted time for that week’s distance and then calculate the team’s predicted time. Then, based on the actual performance against prediction, the team is either rewarded or penalized. For example, if the overall team time for the week was 98% of the predicted time, their team time will be lowered an additional 2% or increased 2% if it was 102% of the predicted time. Finally, there is a slight time bonus for the top three teams with the fastest gender adjusted times.

To enhance engagement and team interaction, we are implementing the use of the Group messaging app, GroupMe. GroupMe is free to use, is available on every device, and can even be used over SMS, which means you don't need the app in order to participate (although it is encouraged that you use the app). We will primarily communicate with all participants via GroupMe, and will set up groups for each team, so everyone can easily communicate, encourage, and banter amongst each other. While we have no choice but to run alone, hopefully a little group chat can make us feel more together.