An Unusual Race Format, Explained

In most races, everyone starts together and the fastest runners finish first. But not our winter race series.... We start runners individually based on their predicted time, so that everyone will finish at the same time (almost). The end is a mad dash! This race format is unusual, so hopefully these details answer all your questions.

Check-in & Bibs on Race Day Morning

Check-in at least 15 minutes before your race start time. Keep your bib for the entire series. Lost it? No problem, check-in a few minutes early and we’ll get you a replacement.

Check-in with our volunteers the morning of every race, even if you have your bib or are walking without a race bib. If you don’t check-in each race morning, you will not be loaded into the timing app and will not get a time or points.

Predicted Times

We use an algorithm to predict your time for each race based on your time in the last Catch Me race (even if that was last year). First time runners will predict their own pace. We use this formula developed by Peter Riegel: Time2 = Time1 x (Distance2 / Distance1) ^ 1.06

Race Start

Runners will start based on their predicted time. We'll email your start time and corral assignment Friday night before each race. We begin at 9:00 AM with runners predicting 15:00 min/mile or more, then release additional corrals every 30 seconds, working up to the fastest runners last.

A volunteer will help gather the next corral "on deck" so corrals start on time. Please start with your assigned corral so we can accurately record individual times. You cannot change the start time we provide because our timing system is based on this race format.

No dogs. Strollers welcome. Headphones discouraged.

Race Finish

See that runner in front of you? Chase them down to the finish! Everyone is predicted to finish at approximately the same time, so the racing gets really fun towards the end. 

Please stay in the order you cross the finish line and proceed through the finish chute so a volunteer can record your bib number. Leaving the chute before your bib is recorded makes timing very difficult for our volunteers and may result in no recorded time or points. If you’re unsure who finished first, just let us know—we'll review finish-line video for any close calls.

Points

Points are awarded based on how much you improve on your predicted finish time—so you’re racing against yourself. While this often matches finish order, corraled starts can affect placement. To keep scoring fair, we use each runner’s actual time (from corral start to finish). First place earns 25 points, second 24, and so on down to 5 points. All first-time racers and volunteers receive 5 points. The more races you run, the more points you can earn over the series. The top 5 point holders at the end of the series win a prize.

Is this your first Catch Me race? 

You will predict your own time for your first race. All first time racers earn 5 points, regardless of race finish place. Everyone needs to have at least one official Catch Me race on the books for us to calculate your predicted time and earn the big points.