FAQ: Common Questions
What is included in my registration fee?
Each participant’s registration includes a commemorative shirt, commemorative race bag, and commemorative medal. if you complete all 4 Super Races. You will also receive an additional medal for completing the Lucky Charm Challenge. A commemorative race glass will be given to those participants who complete all 8 races in the series. All participants will have access to the final award recognition event following the last BHRS race on 7-4-16. More event details to follow.
How do I know I’m registered for the BHRS?
Once your registration has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email from the Big Hammock Race Series. If you don’t receive an e-mail and are sure you have paid please Contact Us.
Is there a minimum age to register for the BHRS?
No, the youngest category is 8 and under. We even have a stroller Division for kids being pushed in Strollers! Scroll below to learn more about the rules & details for this special Division.
Does my entry into the BHRS include entry into all 8 races?
No, you must register for each BHRS race separately. Visit the "Races In Series" page for more information..
If I am injured, pregnant or no longer able to compete in the series or a race due to vacation, military leave, or illness, can I get a refund for my BHRS registration or transfer my entry to someone else?
BHRS entry fees are non-refundable and cannot be transferred. Transferring bibs up to the sole decision of each Race Director. Banditing races is prohibited. If found banditing a race, the participant will forfeit any race points accumulated for that race and will be disqualified from the series. Any allowed changes must be made prior to the race start to avoid disqualification from the series. Only Race # 5 & Race #6 in Season 2 can be run virtually (Learn more about virtual race restrictions), or credit given for a participants inability to complete the race. We're sorry, no exceptions will be made.
If I complete a race without a race bib, will I get credit for completing the race?
No. Each BHRS participant must complete the series races wearing their bib with chip. Your bib documents your participation in the race & allows your performance to be timed & ranked among those in your same gender. We recommend that you register before each race & take advantage of Early Packet Pickup or arrive extra early before the race to pickup your credentials. Race Directors are obligated to start each race on time and may close registration and packet pickup in order to remain on schedule. These planning tips will help you to not get left behind!
Can I get a refund of my race entry?
Entry fees for all races in the BHRS are non-refundable. If a Race Director allows a change, it must be made prior to the race start to avoid bib banditing and disqualification from the series.
If I join the Ocala Runners Club (ORC), am I automatically registered for the BHRS?
No, that offer was only available for Season 1 of the BHRS.
Can I register for the BHRS at any time?
After August 13th, the fee to sign up for the series is $25 by 12/31/16 and $50 after up to 3/31/17, when the BHRS challenge registration closes.
When does the BHRS begin?
The series begins with the 1st race in the series on September 24th, 2016 at the “Cornerstone Leads the Way 5K” and ends with the 8th race in the series, “Iggy’s 4 on the 4th” on July 4th, 2017.
Is there a pace requirement for the series?
There is no pace requirement for the BHRS challenge. But, please visit each participating BHRS race to view their individual requirements.
Do I have to run the half-marathon or full marathon for the fifth race?
No, you can choose to run any of the 3-races: the 5k, 1/2-Marathon (13.1), or the Full Marathon (26.2). Completing your choice of 1 of these 3 races at the 5th BHRS race, the Ocala Marathon, will satisfy the requirement of completing the 3rd of 4-Super Races in the BHRS. But, consider taking on one of the longer distances for a chance to earn giant points in this Super Race!
If I sign up for the Big Hammock Race Series after the 1st race in the series has started, will I get credit for the previous races in the series that I have already run?
Yes. You will get credit for the all previous races that you ran if you sign up after the series has begun. But, you will pay more for your registration. So, be sure to sign up sooner than later! The final deadline for signing up the BHRS is March 31, 2017.
Is the series walker friendly?
Please visit each individual race for pacing requirements.
How do I get my BHRS shirt and bag?
You'll be able to get your hands on your shirt and race bag at early packet pick-up at the Cornerstone Leads the Way 5K, the Harvest Hustle 5K/10K, the TurkeyTrot 5K/10K or Reindeer Run 5K! Shirts & Bags for registrations prior to 12/10/16 that have not been picked up, will be forfeited. Any remaining shirts & bags will be offered to participants that signed up after 12/10/16 &/or offered for sale to everyone else for $5.00 [cash only] at the at the United Way of Marion County. Shirts & Bags are 1st come first served to those that pick them up.
How do I get my BHRS medal?
If you complete all four Super Races you will receive your BHRS super medal at the last Super Race, the Blueberry Horseshoe 5K.
How do I get my Lucky Charm Challenge medal?
If you complete all both the Blueberry Horseshoe 5K and the St. Paddy’s Day 5K you will receive your Lucky Charm Challenge medal at the St. Paddy’s Day 5K.
When and where are the Overall and Division awards given out?
Join us for Season 2 Wrap Up party, presented by Gateway Bank on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at Gateway Bank from 3:p - 5:p. This get together will bring all series participants together to have fun & award both the Overall & Age Division winners of the series. All BHRS participants will be notified via email about event details.
How do I get my BHRS Great 8 Glass?
If you complete all 8 races in the series you will receive your commemorative race glass at the Season 2 Awards Party, presented by Gateway Bank on Saturday, July 22, 2017.
What types of awards and prizes are going to be awarded?
Prizes vary for BHRS participants who earn the HIGHEST points in their BHRS Age Division will win an award that they'll treasure & enjoy using throughout the year as a reminder of their awesome win! Check out the Prizes page for more details.
How is the Overall Winner & Overall Masters category in the series scored?
All runners will receive an Overall score for each race. The maximum score you can earn is 100%. This score is not weighted by your age, but simply the position that you crossed the finish line compared to all participants of your same gender in a race. Throughout the series, the average of all Overall scores you earn will be calculated to determine your TOTAL OVERALL column. The Total Overall Category calculates the average of all 8-races from Day 1 in the beginning. If a BHRS race has not yet taken place, the Total Overall column will provide a 0% score. Therefore, at the beginning of the series, your Total Overall score will appear lower as you have not yet earned a score in the future races. Over time, your and all series participant's Total Overall scores will increase as you complete races & the 0% columns are replaced by your actual race scores.
Example: There are 100 females that cross the finish line in a race. If you are a female that crosses the finish line 1st in this race, you will earn a score of 100% in the Overall column. If you are a female in the same race & are the 25th to cross the finish line, you will earn a 75%. If you do do not complete the race, your score will be a 0%.
How are Points awarded & scored in the series?
All runners will be scored in the Points category for every race in the Big Hammock
Race Series (BHRS). Points are awarded when you place in the top 10 of your Age Division
in a race. Your Age Division for each race is determined by your actual age on the
day of the race. Age Divisions may vary from race to race & won't always exactly match
the Age Divisions in the BHRS. Simply put, we only link your name & the place you have
earned. The specific details about each race's Age Divisions don't factor into the equation.
Overall and Masters winners who have been removed from the race's Age Division scoring,
will be returned back to their original Age Division so that we can properly score the
Age Division. The result of this correction will be that the remaining participants from
each winner's Age Division will be bumped back down to their original placement.
The closer to 1st place you achieve, the more points you'll earn. Super Races, 1/2,
& Full marathon distances award BIG POINTS! If you place 11th+ in your Age Division
you will only receive participations point(s). If you don't participate in a race, you will
score 0 points.Use thePoints chart to see the exact points that are awarded for each race.
Example: In a 5k Super Race, there are 15 men in "Age Division 50 - 59". Notice this series race does not use this same Age Division break down as the Big Hammock Race series as our comparable Age Divisions are 50-54" & 55-59. But, this does not factor as these 15 men will earn their points based off of this specific race's Age Division in which they are placed for this particular race. Jack is one of these 15 men and has fabulously won the race's Master's Division. So, the race has moved Jack from 50 - 59 Age Division & has placed him as the Master's winner. Michael is also in Jack's same Age Division & has placed 1st. To score the results in the BHRS, we will move Jack from Masters Winner back into his original Age Division in which he placed 1st giving him a score of 20-points. This shuffle will now move Michael from 1st place back to 2nd place earning him 18-points. Jack's Big Hammock Race Series Age Division is 60 - 64 because he is now 59, but will be 60 on July 4th.
How does the Lucky Charm Challenge work?
Participants in the BHRS only have to participate in two races to qualify for the Lucky Charm Challenge medal. Register and complete both the Blueberry Horseshoe 5K on February 19 and the St. Paddy's Day 5K on March 18 and you will receive your Lucky Charm Challenge medal after the St. Paddy's Day race.
My official race results are incorrect. Will you change the BHRS results to show my correct time?
Big Hammock Race Series results are based on each individual race's official timing company results. It is each runner's responsibility to make sure that their race results are correct before each race concludes. If you notice your results are missing or incorrect on the official online race results, you must contact the Race Director with your proof of time. Then, if the Race Director agrees with your proof, they will contact the timing company with your data. If both the timing company & the Race Director determine that an adjustment in the Official Results should be made, the race's official online results will be updated. At that time, please contact BHRS & we will gladly update the official series results to reflect your newly corrected results.
Can I win both the Overall Competition & my Age Division?
Sorry, while that would be awesome to win both, there is no double dipping. The Overall winners will be moved out of their BHRS Age Division and the next series participants will move up in the ranks to fill the Overall Winner's space.
What if there is a tie?
If there is a tie in the Age Group category the Overall placement will be used as a tiebreaker. If there is a tie in the Overall category, we will score the runners head to head through 8 races. The runner with the highest number of “wins”
will be considered the overall winner. If there is still a tie, we will have a dance off.
Is there a Handcycling / Wheelchair Division in the Big Hammock Race Series?
Yes, we do have a Wheelchair division which includes all ages & genders. Look for the BHRS Age Division named, "H". Since 2 of the races, the Harvest Hustle 5K/10K/Duathlon and Blueberry Horseshoe 5k include off-road portions, these races are removed from the Wheelchair Division in the series. Due to the off-road race route limitations of both the races, the 3rd race, the Turkey Trot and the final 8th race in the Big Hammock Race Series, Iggy's 4 on the 4th, can be substituted for the Harvest Hustle and Blueberry Horseshoe 5K Super Race ONLY in the Wheelchair Division. Please contact each race in the series to discuss their ability to provide a Wheelchair Division. When signing up for the Big Hammock Race Series, please contact us to advise us that you are in the wheelchair division.
Can my young child participate if I push a stroller?
This important Tots Division named "S" will help to encourage the love of fitness as well as reward the participation. Tots must be entered into the series and each race to qualify. This division is only eligible for medals and series glass, not points and awards.
Where will the Series standings be posted?
The standings after each race will be calculated and displayed on the Results page as each of the races progress through the season. Please allow up to 2-weeks post race to allow us time to gather, calculate & publish the results. Be sure to like us on FaceBook to ensure that you received the latest announcements & the first word as soon as results are posted!
Can I submit Virtual Race Results for my BHRS time?
At this time, only the Lucky Charm Challenge races in Season 2 are available as Virtual Races. Please visit the Virtual Race FAQs page to learn more about the unique restrictions of opting to participate in a virtual vs. live races.
How are the races in the series selected?
Races are selected based on feedback from our participants, date of race, surfaces, distance offered, theme, course, and location to make the perfect blend and unique features for series participants.
Can I volunteer to help at any participating BHRS race?
Please contact each participating BHRS race director to inquire about volunteers.
What is the best way to contact the BHRS if I have additional questions?
Please Contact Us or leave your question on our Facebook page.
