Rhode Island Grand Prix

Overview

The Rhode Island Grand Prix is an annual road racing series for Rhode Island-based runners and running clubs. Over the course of several races, runners compete as both individuals and teams to accumulate points in the hopes of winning awards (and bragging rights!) at the end of the year. The series’ mission is multifaceted and focuses on the following:

• Encouraging and celebrating competitiveness at all ages
• Providing adult runners with an opportunity to compete as a team
• Supporting the state’s oldest and most iconic road races
• Connecting the many different members of the Rhode Island running community

2024 Schedule

The 2024 series will include the following four races:

July 4th - Arnold Mills 4 Mile Road Race
August 11th - Bobby Doyle Summer Classic 5 Mile Run
September 15th - IGT Downtown 5k
October 6th - Ocean Road 10k

Rules

Categories

Individual Categories

For males and females, individual competition will include an open category as well as two age group categories, Masters (40 – 59) and Veterans (60+), both of which will be age-graded. For non-binary runners, individual competition will only include an open category. Runners whose birthdays will take place during the series must compete in the age group category that corresponds to their age on the day of the first race.

Team Categories

Team competition categories will be male, female, and mixed.

Teams

All teams must be comprised of individuals from the same running club with a maximum roster size of 10. A single running club may enter multiple teams in the same category, but each individual may only compete for one team. Team rosters cannot be changed once the series begins (i.e. after the first race). Team members can be of any age and mixed teams must include at least 2 females.

Scoring

Individual Scoring

At each race, points will be awarded to runners based on their finishing place within their designated individual category and the total number of finishers in that category. For the Masters and Veterans categories, finishing place will be based off of age-graded results.

At the end of the series, each runner’s cumulative point total will be calculated by adding up the points from their three best performances. The runners with the highest cumulative point totals in each category will be eligible for awards. In the event that there is a tie for first place in a given category, the tie will be broken by comparing head to head performance at each of the races.

The equation used to calculate points is listed below.

points = 1000 – ((place – 1) * (1000 / # of finishers))

Team Scoring

At each race, teams will be awarded points based on their finishing place within their designated category and the total number of scoring teams in that category. Teams’ finishing places will be determined by adding up the individual finishing places of all scoring members and ranking the totals from lowest to highest.

For all three team categories, individual finishing places will be based off of age-graded results. The required number of scoring members is four for all races in the 2024 series. For mixed teams, at least two scoring members must be female at every race. Performances of non-binary runners competing on mixed teams will be age-graded using male standards unless otherwise instructed.

At the end of the series, the teams with the highest cumulative point totals in each category will be eligible for awards. In the event that there is a tie for first place in a given category, the tie will be broken by comparing head to head performance at each of the races.

The equation used to calculate points is listed below.

points = 1000 – ((place – 1) * (1000 / # of scoring teams))

Age-Grading

Age grading is a way to compare the performances of runners of all ages and both sexes. When a runner’s time is “age-graded”, it is calculated as a percentage of the “ideal” time for their age and sex at that distance. The most recent set of “ideal” times, also known as standards, were developed and approved by the Masters Long Distance Running Council (MLDR) of the USA Track and Field Federation (USATF) in 2020. More technical information can be found here while a calculator can be found here. 

Eligibility

Rhode Island-based Criteria

For a runner to be eligible for individual competition, their primary residence must be in the state of Rhode Island.

For a running club to be eligible for team competition, a majority of its members’ primary residences must be in the state of Rhode Island. Club members who live in Connecticut or Massachusetts near the Rhode Island border may compete as part of a team, but are not eligible for individual competition.

Running Club Criteria

Although a strict definition of a running club will not be applied (i.e. needing to be officially registered with USATF or RRCA), groups looking to enter the team competition should have some of the following characteristics:

• Host regularly scheduled group runs and training sessions
• Have a website and/or social media page where club information is shared
• Wear some sort of matching, team-branded gear at races
• Genuinely support one another in the pursuit of both individual and group goals

Launching a new running club so you and your friends / family / coworkers can compete as a team is certainly allowed. However, recruiting a bunch of top individuals and creating a sham club (i.e. one that exists only in name) for the sole purpose of winning violates the spirit of the rules and is therefore prohibited. If such a team is thought to have entered the competition, the RI Grand Prix Organizing Committee reserves the right to investigate the authenticity of their ‘running club’ and remove the team if necessary.

Awards

A combination of cash prizes, gift-cards, and merchandise will be given out to the top placing individuals and teams in each category at the end of the series. Please check back in at a later date for additional information.

Team Registration Instructions

1. The team captain (who is selected by their team) registers first.
2. During registration, the team captain creates a new team and sets up a team password.
3. When other team members register they use that team password to join the existing team.