parkrun league & cup

'Parkrun league' and 'parkrun cup' return from May-October 2025 with a different parkrun each month and then a ‘wildcard’ on Sat 4th October open to those who have volunteered twice in this period in none-running roles. 

Changes for 2025 for those who have done it before:

• Fastest league is now sub 17:30 and all leagues moved down by 30 seconds

• Now have the 'Locus League' for 31 minutes plus runners

• There is now an age graded league (in addition to the standard parkrun league).

• The method in which runners may get promoted to a different league has changed from previous years

• Leagues where there are 15+ runners the 4th place will get a trophy (10+ 3rd place will, less than 10 runners just 1st and 2nd)
  
  

Great! Though what is ‘parkrun league’?

STAC members (1st, 2nd claim & club only) are split into groups based on previous 5k / parkrun times (or estimates) over the last 12 months. There is one parkun venue chosen each month and members can run that venue as many times in the month as they like with the best time counting. There will be a league table produced and the first and second place of each group will win a trophy (third place also for leagues 10 participants or greater, fourth place for 15+ participants)!

Which parkruns are we doing?

• May – Rothwell

• June – Wetherby

• July – Nostell

• August – A parkrun with a lovely hill (we will put this to a vote nearer the time)

• September – Roberts Park

Which league will I be in?

• The Assembly League  (under 17:30 mins)

• The Gascoigne League (17:30-18:59 mins)

• The Devon League (19:00-20:29 mins)

• The Woodman League (20:30-21:59 mins)

• The Wykebeck Arms League (22:00-23:29 mins)

• The Cabellero Lounge League (23:30-24:59 mins)

• The Brown Cow League (25:00-26:29 mins)

• The Barnbow League (26:30-27:59 mins)

• The Station League (28:00-29:29 mins)

• The Leodis League (29:30-30:59 mins)

• The Locus League (31:00-onwards mins)

How is it calculated what league i will be in?

• As a starter an individual will be allocated into league based on their quickest parkrun (or 5k) time in the preceding 12 months

• Other races will be used and times adjusted for the different distance, if the runner has relatively few parkrun times or none in the last 12 months

• If they have not run any parkruns or other races a best guess will be made based on training performance or social runs

• No adjustments are made for runners recovering from or impacted by injury

Can you get promoted or demoted if the estimation is wrong?

Yes, and a change in the rules for 2025:

• An individual may be moved into a "faster league" if they run parkrun times quicker than their expected time bracket

• An individual may also be moved into a "faster league" if they run other races quicker than the adjusted time for their parkrun time bracket

• The parkrun admin committee will meet each month and decide and communicate which if any runners will be promoted before the next parkrun month starts

• The names and reason why (race / time) will be communicated to all as part of the parkrun results comms

• Promotions can occur at the end of Month 1, 2, 3 and 4 (unlike previous years where they only occurred after Month 1)

• A runner can be promoted multiple times

• No demotions will occur during the parkrun league - for those runners not able to run in their "expected" time bracket we wish them a speedy recovery

How does Scoring work?

Points will then be awarded for each venue / league as follows:

1st In that league that month: 100

2nd In that league that month: 95

3rd in that league that month:  90 

Etc.

A runners’ best four scores out of the five months count. 

Results will be updated regularly and sent out on Facebook / WhatsApp / email

What awards will there be for league winners / runners-up?

At the STAC awards evening, the following will be awarded:

• Winners and Runners-up in all leagues

• 3rd place in leagues where 10 or more runners have ran at least once

• 4th place in leagues where 15 or more runners have ran at least once

What’s the ‘Wildcard’ and how do I qualify for it?

On Saturday 4th October those who qualify for a ‘wildcard’ can do any of the 5 parkruns again. This could be as you missed it the first time around, or because you believe you can get a faster time.

Those who did 2 non-running volunteer roles between May and September at a senior parkun will qualify for the wildcard.

Even if you cannot make the wildcard date we would encourage all to volunteer when they can as parkrun relies on its volunteers and the local events do struggle to fill the roster from time to time.

What's the 'parkun cup'?

This will run parallel to the league and everyone taking part will be in both the league and cup.

You will be drawn at random against another runner and then assigned a handicap time. You have that month's parkrun (e.g. Rothwell for May) to beat your opponent. The winner goes through to the next round / month's parkrun. The loser is eliminated out of the cup.

The handicap times for the second month onwards will be based on the previous month's parkrun time and perceived difficulty of that course. 

There will only be one winner of the 'parkrun cup'

Rounds as follows:

• May - 1st round (48+ ties / 96+ runners)

• June - 2nd round (16 ties / 48+ runners)

• July - 3rd round (8 ties / 16 runners)

• August - Quarter final (4 ties / 8 runners)

• September - Semi final (2 ties / 4 runners)

• 30th September - Final (1 tie / 2 runners)

If 2 runners in a tie have the same time, the 'slower' runner goes through - the 'faster' runner needs to beat the handicap time.

If you don't do a parkrun for that month your opponent goes through on a bye. If both participants in a tie do not do the parkrun the 'fastest loser' from that round goes through in their place (the 'fastest loser' is the losing runner from all other ties who was closest to their opponent on handicap time).

Dependent on the amount of entries, there may be some 3 way ties in round 1 and round 2.

On the final (wildcard week) the finalists need to tell the handicapper which parkrun they are doing so the handicap time can be calculated in advance. If either of the finalists cannot do a parkrun that week then an alternative date will be arranged.

What is the new 'Age graded league'?

We will use an age grade calculator which takes into account your age and gender to produce a percentage score for your run.

A table will be produced and updated and there will be an award for top female and top male.

The age category you will be in will be what you are on May 1st for the whole duration. So if you are a male who is is 50 on May 2nd, you would remain in the M45 category.

You may notice that the percentage score on our results is different from your parkrun results. That is because we won't be using the same calculation method.

Anything else I need to do?

Just say you’re interested in taking part on Facebook or email (when asked) and you’ll be added to the appropriate league and cup draw.

Also if you could please add ‘St. Theresa’s’ as  the club (group) in your parkrun profile as this will really help us do the results. To do this:

• Sign-in to parkrun https://www.parkrun.com/signin/

• Go to ‘groups’

• Search for and join ‘St Theresa’s AC’ and make sure it’s your primary group

For 2nd claim members we will make a note of,  but again would be easier if you have your club in your profile.

'Parkrun league' has been going in STAC since 2017 and 'parkrun cup' since 2023. Previous winners: