Rules for the 2025 Cincy Chase the Crown Competition
Seeding (new for 2025). Runners will be grouped and seeded against runners of similar capabilities based on times submitted at registration. Runners have the option to submit a recent performance with their registration to determine their grouping and seed on the bracket. Performances must be from a race distance between the 1600m and the marathon, achieved within the last 12 months from time of registration, and be submitted with a link to the official race result to be eligible. Accepted times will be used to seed athletes. Seeding of runners will be determined at the race organizer's discretion.
Rounds. Runners will have one week to complete the segment assigned for the round. Each round will involve a specific Strava segment in Cincinnati. Rounds will increase intensity over the course of the tournament. All runs must be recorded on a GPS enabled watch and uploaded to Strava during the following weeks:
Round I: January 6 - 12
Round II: January 13 - 19
Round III: January 20 - 26
Round IV: January 27 - February 2
Runners will have one week to run the Strava segment assigned for that round. Runners may attempt the segment as many times as they wish during the round. Pacers and other non-registered runners are permitted to run the segment with you. To advance to the next round, the runner must run a faster time on the segment than their assigned opponent. The runner with the faster segment time at the end of the round will advance to the next round. Runners who are defeated may enter a separate pool called the "Gauntlet" for a second chance to win their way back into the main bracket's final round.
The Gauntlet. Runners defeated in the first or second round may choose to compete their way back into the bracket by entering a consolidated consolation bracket known as "the Gauntlet". Gauntlet runners run the same segments as the main bracket. Only the fastest time performed on the segment by a runner in the Gauntlet during Round II will advance to the Gauntlet's Round III with all eliminated Round II runners from the main bracket. The runner with the fastest time from the Gauntlet's Round III segment will earn a spot into the coveted final round against the last two competitors from the main bracket. These three runners will race for the crown.
The Final Round. Runners who beat their opponent in Round III of the main bracket, and the fastest runner from the Gauntlet will advance to the final round. These three competitors will face one final segment in the last week. The fastest time at the end of the final round is the winner.
Submissions (new for 2025). Each week, send your recorded times and segment performance from your GPS watch and Strava activity to tim@speedysyndicate.com no later than Sunday at 5:00pm (EST) to have your effort counted for that week's round. Remember - runners may complete multiple attempts on each segment during the tournament. The fastest effort performed by a runner will be counted for that round. There is no limit on the number of attempts you run the segment as long as it is completed during the round each week.
Eligible Submissions (new for 2025). All runs must be recorded with either a smartwatch or phone equipped with GPS and recorded on Strava's public segment leaderboard for all to see. All runs must show elapsed time in order to be considered. Runs that only show moving time are ineligible and will be rejected. The race organizer will verify all runs to ensure the integrity of the tournament is upheld. Anyone caught cheating will have their times rejected and be subject to disqualification and removal from the competition. The race organizer will review any issues with time submissions to verify segments are being recorded properly and will make any adjustments necessary to ensure the integrity of the competition. We understand that there will likely be flaws with this remote style of racing, but remember you will have one week to complete the segment if you experience any GPS data issues.
Non-submissions; Forfeits for Nonparticipation (new for 2025). Runners who fail to record an activity on the round segment and fail to timely submit their effort will be marked as “DNS” on the bracket. A result of DNS will be treated as a non-time and the runner will be moved to the Gauntlet in the next round. Any runner in the Gauntlet who receives a DNS designation will be eliminated from the competition.
Runners who fail to participate in the whole competition after the first round will forfeit their spot to their competitor from the previous round. In the event that a runner fails to record a segment effort during rounds II, III, or IV, that runner will be disqualified for ineligibility and forfeit their position to the runner they defeated from the previous round and sent to the Gauntlet, who will be lifted out of the Gauntlet and placed back onto the bracket, replacing the disqualified runner. Please notify the race organizer in advance if you will be unable to participate in any particular round week to limit last minute reshuffling of runners.
Ties during Preliminary Rounds (new for 2025). In the event of a tie between competing runners during rounds I, II, or III, the runner with the second fastest time on the round segment will advance to the next week’s round.
Ties in Final Round (new for 2025). There may only be one winner per bracket in the Cincy Chase the Crown tournament. In the event of a tie in the final round, the tied finalists will compete in one final head-to-head in-person run-off on the final round segment, at 5:00pm (EST) on the final day of competition, unless both finalists cannot compete at that time, then at another time mutually agreed upon by the finalists. The time of the in-person run-off must first be approved by the Cincy Chase the Crown Race Organizer. Once the time of the run-off is approved, the finalists will run against each other on the final round segment and the finalist who completes the segment first as verified by the Cincy Chase the Crown Race Organizer will be crowned the winner.
*Any issues not addressed above will be resolved at the discretion of the race organizer.