TCC Expedition Run: Team Rules and Race Strategy (3-6 Runners on a Team)
Rules: At least 3 team members on every Expedition Run Team MUST complete each stage AND make designated time cut-offs on at least two stages in order to remain ranked as an Expedition Run team. These cutoffs will be listed in your Race Guide and are created primarily for safety and logistical reasons. These cutoffs are based on keeping a CONSISTENT pace of no less than 3.75 mph over a variety of terrain.
If the team becomes no longer ranked in the Expedition Run they may continue as a team in the Adventure Run category so long as at least 3 team members are still in good standing (have not been issued a DNF). Team members who remain in good standing will also continue to be ranked as individuals in the Expedition Run if they make all time cut-offs or Adventure Run if they miss a cut-off.
Those who fail to complete a stage (DNF) will be taken off the long course and no longer ranked in Expedition or Adventure but can continue on the short course (Adventure Run). (This will allow the stronger runners on a team to continue on the Expedition Course if they choose, even if the team itself is no longer ranked in the Expedition Category)
Important to note: There are only two official rankings: Expedition Run or Adventure Run. Any individual or team member in the Expedition Run category who does not make a cutoff will fall back to the Adventure Run category. Any failure to complete a stage either in Expedition or Adventure will result in a DNF. If you DNF on any stage you may continue to run subsequent stages but you will remain unranked.
Strategy:
- We have two courses at TCC. Expedition is the full course (200-225k) and Adventure is the shorter course (130-150k) We typically have 2-3 ultra days (longer than 26.5 miles) in the Expedition course. Historically the longest stages have been on Days 2 and 5 but that can vary due to course design changes.
- If you have more than 3 people on your team you may choose to keep a runner in reserve or allow part of the team to relax their pace but you then risk that if less than 3 members make the time cutoffs on any stage the entire team is then knocked out of the Expedition Run as a team.
- The following is IMPORTANT for both teams and individuals who start out in the Expedition category: If you fail to meet a time cut off, you drop to Adventure and your cumulative daily times are now counted toward your overall time in the Adventure Category. In practical terms this means the longer you stay in Expedition the harder it will be to get a good ranking if you do eventually fall back to Adventure because some days you may have been on course 1 or 2 hours longer than someone running in the Adventure category the entire time. In terms of rankings the worst possible thing is to DNF at any point. While the next worst thing would be for a ranked Expedition Runner to miss the time cut off on Stage 4 (or final ultra day)
- As the race progresses, with item (3) to consider, you may voluntarily choose to switch from Expedition to Adventure by stopping at a time cutoff or at the end of any stage. You must notify timing officials or race management of your decision ASAP.
** Being part of a team won’t affect your individual ranking since individual times and rankings are calculated independently of team rankings.