Frequently asked questions

What is TruRace?

TruRace is a racing league layered on top of existing running events. You run the real event, and TruRace adds a second competition inside it so runners at every level can have something meaningful to beat.

What are the three TruRace competition choices?

Race Your Pace means beating a personal target locked before the race. TruRace Heat means letting TruRace build your competition. Crew means creating or joining your own group. TruRace Heat and Crew can use Straight or Equalizer scoring.

How is this different from a normal race?

Your official race stays the same: same course, timing, results, and organizer. TruRace uses that official result to score the Pace target or competition you selected.

Does TruRace replace racing for a PR?

No. A PR or season best still matters. TruRace gives that performance another meaning: it can beat your Pace, beat matched rivals, win your Crew race, and earn leaderboard points.

Do I register separately for the underlying race?

Yes. Register for the event through its organizer as usual, then add TruRace separately. TruRace does not replace the organizer registration or waiver.

What is a Race Pass?

A Race Pass is another event entry: it adds TruRace competition to one participating race for a free-account runner. The standard planned price is $5 per race, though access may be complimentary or sponsored. You are paying for competition access, not a chance at a jackpot. Race Pass runners use the same competition formats but win non-cash rewards rather than cash.

How does Race Your Pace work?

TruRace locks a performance target before the race. Beat the target with a verified official result and you win. Eligible paid-member Pace cash is capped at $100; Race Pass Pace winners receive a published non-cash reward.

Why does Pace get harder when TruRace has less data?

Weak data creates more uncertainty. TruRace intentionally starts with a difficult target and becomes progressively better calibrated as recent, relevant performance data improves. High-confidence targets are designed to converge toward a challenging but attainable level rather than handing out easy wins.

What is Straight competition?

Straight competition uses actual race performance against runners TruRace believes are reasonably similar in ability. If a prize-eligible Straight field cannot reach at least 3 suitable runners, TruRace can fall back to Equalizer.

What is Equalizer competition?

Equalizer lets different ability levels compete together using performance relative to a locked expectation. It can be used in TruRace Heat or Crew competition.

How large are prize heats?

Prize-eligible heats are designed for 3 to 10 runners. Larger verified fields produce larger winner multipliers, up to the heat prize cap.

What is Crew?

Crew is self-selected competition: get your friends, teammates, family, or rivals together and race. The group chooses Straight or Equalizer. Verified groups up to 10 can be prize eligible under the published rules.

Can I enter Pace and a heat in the same race?

No. Each runner has one primary TruRace prize competition per race: Pace, TruRace Heat, or Crew.

What are Race Credits?

Race Credits are a paid-membership benefit TruRace uses to determine the published cash opportunity attached to an eligible race result. They are not cash, cannot be withdrawn or transferred, and the runner does not choose an amount to stake.

What does my payment buy?

Payments buy access to structured competition: race access, matching, scoring, verification, standings, Race Credit benefits, Prize Boost opportunities when awarded, and leaderboard participation. Rewards are outcomes under published rules after verified performance; they are not the product being purchased.

How many Race Credits do paid members receive?

Do unused Race Credits carry forward?

Yes. Unused Race Credits and progress can carry forward on the account, though cash-prize use requires an active paid membership and published race eligibility.

How does annual billing handle Race Credits?

Do I need available Race Credits to compete for cash?

Paid members can always race and TruRace will still place them in the best available competitive position, even with 0 available Race Credits. Available whole Race Credits determine the standard member-funded cash opportunity: with 0 usable Race Credits, you can still compete and earn qualifying leaderboard points, but there is no member-funded cash prize for that race. Any available whole Race Credits can unlock a cash award tier up to the applicable Pace or heat cap. Separately published sponsor or event prize boosts may apply under their own rules.

What happens to Race Credits after the race?

Race Credits attached to the race resolve with that race opportunity. If you compete and lose or DNF, the attached credits are consumed. A DNS or approved race cancellation releases them back to the runner.

What happens if I cancel my membership?

Unused Race Credits can remain on the account as an incentive to return, but they are not active for cash competition while the membership is inactive. Refunds, chargebacks, or rule violations may reverse related credits or progress.

How large can paid cash prizes be?

Pace cash is capped at $100 per race. Verified heat cash is based on the winner's attached Race Credits and the final field-size multiplier, capped at $500.

Do Race Pass runners win cash?

No. Race Pass/free runners compete in the same normal competitions but receive non-cash rewards. They are not separated into special free heats.

What can a Race Pass winner receive?

What happens if a Race Pass runner wins a mixed heat?

That runner is the winner and receives the published non-cash reward. TruRace does not promote the next paid finisher into a cash win.

What does it mean when a race is sponsored?

A sponsor or race organizer can cover Race Pass access, add prize money, or do both. Default sponsored cash adds $40 to an eligible paid Pace win and $20 per runner to an eligible paid heat win, up to $200 extra. That sponsor money is added above the normal $100 Pace / $500 heat cap. Covering Race Pass access does not make a free-account runner cash eligible.

How are cash payouts handled?

After results and eligibility are confirmed, eligible winners complete the required payment onboarding and select an available payout method. TruRace tracks the payout separately from Race Credits.

How many races count?

Every leaderboard uses the runner's best 3 races. A runner needs at least 2 qualifying races to be eligible for a leaderboard award.

How are race points awarded?

What are the paid leaderboard seasons and prizes?

Starter uses one annual leaderboard with $150 / $100 / $50 cash prizes. Pro uses two six-month seasons with $150 / $100 / $50. Elite uses the same two season boundaries with $300 / $200 / $100.

Can I switch between Pro and Elite?

Yes. Pro and Elite share the same Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec season boundaries, so points can follow a runner between those paid tiers within the same season.

Can free points become paid leaderboard points after I subscribe?

No. Paid leaderboard points must be earned while in a paid tier. Free runners use the separate non-cash leaderboard.

What does the free leaderboard pay?

The free leaderboard uses non-cash prizes valued at $100 / $60 / $40.

Do I have to start next to the runners in my heat or Crew?

Not at a chip-timed event. TruRace can use the official chip result, so competitors do not have to cross the starting line together.

Why does verification matter?

Cash and published prize outcomes require trustworthy performance data. Synced activity and official results help TruRace set targets, match runners, and detect suspicious or inconsistent performance.

Can an unverified runner still compete?

Yes. Unverified runners can participate and receive results or bragging rights, but they are not eligible for cash prizes.

Is TruRace a betting pool?

No. Runners do not choose a stake, Race Pass fees are not pooled into the winner prize, and nobody is buying a jackpot ticket. TruRace publishes the competition and reward structure separately; the result is determined by the runner's athletic performance.

How do you prevent cheating or manipulation?

TruRace uses official results, synced performance data, locked pre-race targets, and review tools. Suspicious or unverifiable results can lose prize eligibility, and accounts can be suspended or removed under the competition rules.

Can I intentionally run poorly to get an easier future Pace?

A single poor race does not automatically make the next Pace easier. TruRace can require corroborating training and race data before materially changing its performance estimate.

What happens after a refund or chargeback?

TruRace can suspend or cancel the account and reverse Race Credits associated with the refunded or disputed payment.