Tuscaloosa Runners' Championship

The Tuscaloosa Runners' Championship is a season-long competitive series connecting seven local races from October through May, where runners earn points at each event toward a citywide leaderboard. Every finisher earns points — and the top runners in each age group compete for series titles at the Championship Finale 10K. Register for this series and start building your season. Full standings and series information available at https://runsignup.com/Series/tuscaloosarunnerschampionship.

• Oktoberfest 5K — October 3, 2026
• Freaky Friday 8K — October 30, 2026
• Rudolph Run 8K — December 5, 2026
• New Year Time Trial — January 16, 2027
• Tuscaloosa Mayor's Cup 5K — April 3, 2027
• Queen City Classic 10K — May 15, 2027

*This calendar is subject to change*

The Tuscaloosa Runners' Championship (TRC), presented by Fleet Feet Tuscaloosa, is a season-long competitive running series.

Across seven races from October 2026 through May 2027, runners throughout Tuscaloosa compete for points at every event. Finish positions earn F1-style points (25 for 1st, down to 1 for 10th), every finisher earns a participation bonus, and top age group placers earn bonus points on top of that. Your best five results of the season count toward your final standing.

The series crowns champions at the Championship Finale 10K on May 15, 2027 — with titles awarded across all age groups.

A live leaderboard can found at https://runsignup.com/Series/tuscaloosarunnerschampionship

Age Group Categories

The Tuscaloosa Runners' Championship celebrates competitors at every stage of life. Age group categories ensure that every runner — from teenagers to masters athletes — has a fair shot at TRC recognition and bonus points, regardless of where they finish in the overall standings.

How age groups work

Your age group is determined by your age on October 3, 2026 — the date of the Season Opener, the Oktoberfest 5K — and stays the same for the entire season. So even if you have a birthday mid-season, your category doesn't change.

Categories

Age groups are divided by gender: Male andFemale

Age Groups

19 & Under
20–24
25–29
30–34
35–39
40–44
45–49
50–54
55–59
60–64
65–69
70–74
75 & Over

Age group awards at individual races

Each TRC partner race awards their own age group prizes independently, using their own age-on-race-day calculation. Those awards are separate from the TRC series standings.

Age group awards at the Championship Finale

At the Championship Finale 10K on May 15, 2027, TRC series titles and awards will be presented to the top 3 points-earners in each age group category across the full season.

A note on overall vs. age group placing

Your overall finish position and your age group placement are scored independently in the TRC. For example, if you finish 12th overall but 1st in your age group, you still earn the full age group bonus — the two scores stack. This means the series rewards both raw speed and competitive depth within your category.

Not sure which age group you fall in? Your category will be assigned automatically when you register for your first TRC race.

How the Points Work

The Tuscaloosa Runners' Championship uses a season-long points system inspired by Formula 1 racing — where every race matters, every finisher scores, and the championship is earned over a full season, not a single day.

Earning points

Points are awarded at every TRC race based on your overall finish position. The faster you finish, the more points you earn:

Place - Points
1st - 25
2nd - 18
3rd - 15
4th - 12
5th - 10
6th - 8
7th - 6
8th - 4
9th - 2
10th - 1

Every finisher earns points

You don't have to be elite to compete in the TRC. Every runner who crosses the finish line earns a 5-point participation bonus — automatically, no matter where you place. Show up, finish, and you're on the board.

Age group bonuses

The TRC rewards competition within your age group, not just against the entire field. If you place in the top 3 of your age group, you earn bonus points on top of your finish placement:

1st in your age group: +5 points
2nd in your age group: +3 points
3rd in your age group: +2 points
That means a 55-year-old winning her age group earns the same bonus as the runner who won the race outright.

Your best 5 races count

Life happens. The TRC is designed so that missing a race doesn't knock you out of contention. Across the 6-race season, only your 5 best results count toward your final standings. Your lowest score IS automatically dropped — so you can chase points all season without the pressure of a perfect attendance record.

The Championship

Season standings are updated after every race and published at https://runsignup.com/Series/tuscaloosarunnerschampionship. At the end of the season, the top points-earners in each age group compete for TRC titles at the Championship Finale 10K on May 15, 2027 in Tuscaloosa.

The season runs October 2026 through May 2027.

*REGISTRATION FOR THIS SERIES DOES NOT PAY FOR YOUR ENTRY IN OUR PARTNER RACES*