The 2025 Point system

Slightly convoluted, we know. But it may make sense someday…

How it works

What is the point system?

This is a system to find the “best” Northwoods team member. “Best” does not mean fastest… it means best. And since best is a subjective term, the point system was designed to objectify “bestness” in our own incoherent terms.

okay… so how does that work?

Northwoods members earn points throughout the year by completing (or competing in) various things. Below is a chart of all the possible ways one can earn points. The member(s) with the most points wins. To break potential ties, the member with the best head-to-head match up wins. If no head-to-head match up exists, or there is a tie in the head-to-head match ups, then the tie is broken by a virtual, sanctioned (by Northwoods) Strava race at the end of the season.

Cool, so what do we win?

You mean besides bragging rights? For the 2025 team, the prize for the member with the most points at the end of the year is a free team membership for 2026. With discounted memberships for 2nd through 5th place. We may be sweetening the pot as the year goes on, stay tuned. The final day to earn points will be December 29th, 2024, with the winners announced the followed day.

I’m confused, but also… intrigued?

Yeah, that happens. The point system will live on the private Northwoods Discord channel and updated regularly. There will be links to see the current standings throughout the year.

So, How do i submit points?

Point submittal is entirely self reported, so the onus is on you. Click the button at the top of this page to submit your points with an explanation of why you earned a point. Point requests must be submitted within 20 days of earning them, or else the points are forfeited.

How to earn points

Most forms of point earning are capped per year. Thus if it says [max of 3 pts] it means you can earn up to 3 pts through this method each year (unless those points were earned at a Multiplier Race).

1 pt for any race run in a Northwoods Singlet [Max 10 points]
1 pt for new PR run in Northwoods Singlet [NO Max]
- Conditional: if a road race, must be on a USATF/WA certified course and pass the “straight face” and “I can sleep at night” tests (aka, the Millennium Mile or similar type races do not count towards PRs). Must also be a bettering of a previous mark to count (running a new distance for the first time does not count towards PR points).
- Conditional: if a trail race, must be bettering a previous course PR from the same course.
- Conditional: if a track race, must be a normally recognized distance (aka, no PRs count in the 1850m race).
1 pt for winning age group in a Northwoods Singlet [Max 3 points]
1 pt for being a member of a Northwoods Team scored event [Max 3 points]
- Conditional: you don’t have to be a scoring member, just a listed team member for the event (USATF licenses must be affiliated with Northwoods to count)
2 pts for volunteering at local race [NO Max]
2 pts for finishing on the podium (top 3) in a Northwoods Singlet [Max 6 points]
2 pts for referring people to join Northwoods [Max 6 points]
2 pts for any marathon or ultra (trail, mountain, or road) run in a Northwoods Singlet [Max 10 points]
- Conditional: only 2 pts are awarded– you don’t get the 1pt for “any race run” plus 2pts additional for a marathon/ultra.

The Multiplier Races:

Earn any available points at any of the races listed below and multiply your points earned by 2, while simultaneously not having any of the earned points count towards your points cap.