Frequently Asked Questions
How do you qualify for the XTERRA Trail Running National and World Championships?
To qualify for nationals and worlds runners need to finish under three hours in 18-23k races, and under 4 hours in 24-30k events. BIG CATCH – IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO QUALIFY TO RACE IN NATIONALS OR WORLDS THIS YEAR!
If it’s not necessary to qualify for Nationals or Worlds, why set a qualifying standard?
Couple reasons. 1) we wanted to recognize those runners that completed an Xduro in the time allotted because that’s a great achievement 2) we wanted to tie-in all the Xduros (your race leads to U.S. Nationals and all of them lead to Worlds) so by the time we get to Worlds we’ll have this great international field of runners with good vibes and great competition 3) because this is just year 3 of the Series, and we believe someday the demand will be such that we’ll have to limit the number of runners in the Championship races (understand that at some parks there are limits to the # of participants you’re allowed to put on a trail). When this happens, qualifying for the Championship races will be necessary.
How did you come up with these qualifying standards?
We did some research looking at finish times for a wide variety of 18k-23k races and found that 3 hours is a reasonable allotment of time to finish a race of that distance. Clearly there are a number of circumstances where this could change – an incredibly tough course, super hot day; you’re 85-years-old, etc…). When qualifying becomes necessary, we will fine tune these standards. And, we are always happy to listen to suggestions. If you’ve got some ideas, share them with trey@xterraplanet.com.
What’s an Xduro?
Xduro stands for “endurance trail run” – which we figure to be in the 18-30k range. Both our National and World Championship title races will be roughly 21k Xduro’s.
How does the Series work?
Check out the “How the Series works” part here.
If there is a 5k and a 15k on the same day, do you get points for either distance?
No, just the longest-distance race of the day gives points. So if there is a 5k and a 15k then the 15k would be the points race. 5k would be just for fun. If there’s a 10k and a 21k, it’d be the 21k. The theory behind this is that rather than getting a distance-related champ (Best 10k runner or best 21k runner), you'll end up with a Series-based champ. Maybe one guy is more of a sprinter and another better at distance, and if they went head-to-head in a 10k, 15k, and 22k you'd have different individual race winners but ultimately the best guy over the course of the Series would end up on top.
Can I compete in just one trail run, or must I compete in the entire series?
You can do just one, or you could do all 50 (good luck!). The thing to know is that you score points every time you finish in the top 10 at a race. Points are added up within each Series, and if at the end of the year you’ve got the most points in your age group you’ll be declared the Series Champion and earn free entry into the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship.
Do I get any points for simply completing a trail run even if I am not in the top 15 in my age group?
Nope. Just the top 15 in each age group earn points towards their Series championship, but truly everyone who gets out there and races is a winner.
What if I have a really bad race? Is there any way I can drop those points?
Yes. If you finish all races in a 4+ race series, we will automatically drop your lowest points from one event. You must, though, complete all races offered within the series for this to apply. Please note, in a 3 race series this rule does not apply- all 3 races will count.
Can I sign up for any series or just the closest to my region?
You can race in any event and in any Series across the country that you want to. You can also win a Series crown even if it’s not near where you live. For example, if you live in California but raced in and did well at all four races in Philadelphia, then you could be the Philly Series champ.
Can I compete in more than 1 Xduro race?
Yup, race in as many as you like.
If I have to miss a race in my series, can I substitute a similar race in another region to add to my accumulated points?
No. Only races in the Series count for that Series title chase. The theory is you’ll be competing against the same guys/gals during the course of the year so by the end, a clear-cut Series champ emerges.
Can I run in only one series to accumulate points for the Championship or as many as I would like?
You can race wherever you want and in as many Series as you’d like. Remember that points you earn stay in the Series race you ran in (so if you finished 3rd in a Georgia Series race you’d have 61 points in the Georgia Series. Then you place 3rd at a SoCal race and get 61 points in the SoCal Series). As such, it’s possible to become a Series champ in SoCal and Georgia. Not likely, but possible.
What steps do I need to take to sign up for a trail running series, and what are the deadlines? Do I sign up for all races in the series at the same time?
Just go to xterratrailrun.com, find the schedule, pick your races, follow the links to the registration page, and sign-up. Some Series, like the Utah Series, offer discounts to racers who sign-up for all the races at once. It’s worth looking into if you plan on doing them all. Most races will accept race day, onsite registration, but some sell out so you should sign-up early. It just depends on the race.
Are there any training programs in my area for the trail runs?
Very good question. Almost all of the Series organizers have training runs prior to their races, and even if they don’t they’ll be able to point you in the right direction to find one. So, look online to see who the race director is for your Series/Region and drop them an email to see what they know.
Are maps of the course available ahead of time?
Many of the race organizers have course maps posted online, but not all.
If my series only has 3 races where some have 7, will they have more benefits going into the championship?
Nope. If you win your Series age group, you’ll get free entry into Nationals regardless if there were 3-or-7 races.
I noticed on the schedule that there are a couple trail runs that aren’t part of a Series, do you get points for those races?
Right now there are five unaffiliated runs – the XTERRA Chanoko Trail Run in Northern California (which will be part of a 3+ race NorCal Series in ’09), the XTERRA Richmond Xduro, the XTERRA James River Scramble, the XTERRA Oak Mountain Xduro, and the XTERRA Makena Beach Trail Run. There are no points awarded at these races, but you can qualify for Nationals or Worlds at the Xduro races.
Is there prize money for any of these races?
Yes, the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship on Dec. 7 at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is dishing out $10,000 to the top finishers. We are also hoping to offer up some $$$ at Nationals as well (stay tuned). Also, the XTERRA Austria Xduro (Sept. 20) has a 10,000 Euro purse.
Is there any extra requirement to race in a trail run abroad?
No, but how cool would it be to do a trail run in the Austrian Alps, or the Black Forest in Germany, on the shores of old Italy, in the jungles of Brazil or Japan, or the French countryside. After all, the XTERRA motto is … Live More!
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE XTERRA TRAIL RUNNING SERIES WE HAVEN’T COVERED, PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT IT IS AND WE’LL ADD IT TO THE LIST. EMAIL QUESTIONS TO EMILY@XTERRAPLANET.COM