About the Rankings
The Rankings Formula
As featured in the issue of Running Times Magazine
Ranking Updates
The rankings on the Running Times website are updated weekly.
In addition, each month Running Times print edition gives short descriptions of events that produced changes in the rankings, as well as extensive reports of significant road races around the world.
Rankings Formula
Competitive rankings are based on a point exchange system whereby runners take points from runners they beat and lose points to runners they are beaten by. If Runner A has more than 100 points more than Runner B, Runner A is expected to beat Runner B (no real competition) and so does not take points from Runner B. However, if Runner B upsets Runner A, Runner B may take as many as 10 points from Runner A. If Runner A and Runner B have the same number of points, the one who beats the other will take as many as 5 points from the other. The exact number of points exchanged depends on the race distance (more points for longer distances since they are raced less frequently) and the number of runners in the race. A runner may gain a maximum of 100 points in any one race and may lose a maximum of 50 points in any one race. All races (road, track, and cross) are included in the point exchange systems.
An inactivity penalty of three points per week is assessed after twelve weeks without a race involving point exchanges. Runners with penalty points may work them off by demonstrating a return to form. Runners are dropped from the point exchange system after one year with no point exchange races.
NOTE: You can also view these on Ken Young's website at www.arrs.net/CompRank.htm. There you will find competitive rankings for world and USA that are 200 deep. They provide point levels and tracking.