Running handicaps based on age, sex, weight, height etc.

HeavyRunner

Can anybody recommend a system to calculate handicaps for running races based on age, sex, weight, height etc. I have found some information here http://masterstrack.com/blog/archives/000785.html.

dna_leri

HeavyRunner wrote: »

Can anybody recommend a system to calculate handicaps for running races based on age, sex, weight, height etc. I have found some information here http://masterstrack.com/blog/archives/000785.html.

A more user-friendly version of the above tables is here:
http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup06.html

Does not take weight/height into account, you could try
http://www.runningforfitness.org/calc/weighteffect.php
but I would think its very difficult

HeavyRunner

Thanks for that. That has pointed me in the right direction.

What I really am looking for is the formula used. I want to create by own software to do it to use in handicap races in my club/area.

o Some races based on age handicap alone. I could use the WMA grading for that.
o Then a best permormance league using times from different races to compare athletes, again WMA grading could be used.
o The final one is a race based on handicaps from age weight etc. This one is the difficult one.

--amadeus--

You'll probably need to create your own.

One suggestion would be to use the BMI (fairly easy calculation if you have height & weight). The BMI could then be used to assign a % handicap in teh same manner as the age tables do. AFAIK they work off a % of teh world record pace so you could take a "normal" BMI as 100% and for every point over that increment time up by x% and for every point below increment time down.

It's not perfect - BMI is a flawed measure for a start and there comes a point where less weight does not equal more speed but for a recreational club race it would be a good ready reckoner.

TFBubendorfer

A few years ago I read a book called "programmed to run". I didn't like it, but if I remember correctly, there is a table in there to calculate weight and age handicaps.

I can check it tonight when I get home, if you want.

robinph

There is also the system that Stupid_Private used on the RaceLeague365.com site. But that just uses age and gender to compare peoples times:

http://raceleague365.com/agegrading.aspx

HeavyRunner

Thanks to all for the inputs. I have contacted one or two race organizers in the States who have used various systems. One of them is sending on a spreadsheet that they used to generate handicaps for a 'Tortoise & Hare' race that they ran. When I receive any more info I will post it here.

tunney

HeavyRunner wrote: »

Can anybody recommend a system to calculate handicaps for running races based on age, sex, weight, height etc. I have found some information here http://masterstrack.com/blog/archives/000785.html.

Would strongly disagree with weight being included. Total weight - (total weight*BF%) yes, but not plain old weight, if someone is overweight due to indiscipline then they should be punished for it.

tunney

HeavyRunner wrote: »

Thanks to all for the inputs. I have contacted one or two race organizers in the States who have used various systems. One of them is sending on a spreadsheet that they used to generate handicaps for a 'Tortoise & Hare' race that they ran. When I receive any more info I will post it here.

The yanks love pretending being a fattie is an illness and making excuses and exceptions for it though

HeavyRunner

I know what you mean. It's not really the 'fatties' I am thinking about.

My thinking is that it a lot harder to bring 15 stone around a 10k race than it is to bring 10 stone. I know the 15 stone runner may have a bigger build, longer legs etc. That is why height comes in to the calculation. Some people are natually heavier than others and there is nothing they can do about it. This handicap would hopfully even things out a bit

It is more for a fun run and just adds another element to running that might encourage a few extra people to start running.

shels4ever

HeavyRunner wrote: »

I know what you mean. It's not really the 'fatties' I am thinking about.

My thinking is that it a lot harder to bring 15 stone around a 10k race than it is to bring 10 stone. I know the 15 stone runner may have a bigger build, longer legs etc. That is why height comes in to the calculation. Some people are natually heavier than others and there is nothing they can do about it. This handicap would hopfully even things out a bit

It is more for a fun run and just adds another element to running that might encourage a few extra people to start running.

You could jsut run a handicap based on peoples times, that can be fun . not sure on the need to bring weight into it at all once you have peoles times then work out the handicap?

Its one thing I like about running when compared to boxing etc is that everyone races each other.

HeavyRunner

I agree that running is great from the point of that everyone runs in the one race.

However, it is good to put in a bit of variety. In my area you need a magnifying glass to find the coverage in the local papers given to running compared to other sports like GAA, Soccer, Badminton ....

Sometimes if you throw in a race that captures a little bit of extra interest then you may get new runners starting. Many people are apprehensive about joining clubs or organized running groups and the more that do it the better.

I was looking for a handicap with a little bit of science behind it. There are formulas for age, there are rough reckoners that tell you how many seconds faster you can go for each kilo lost etc. I'm not proposing that it be a serious guage in racing or anything like that. Just for a one-off race or two ... If it works great, it not fine.

We have had leagues based on times and will continue to do that.