USATF National Masters Championship

Hosted by the 39th James Joyce Ramble 10 km

~ Register ~

Sunday, April 28, 2024, 11:00 a.m. Start.

Runners competing in the 2024 USATF Masters 10 km Championships on Sunday, 4/24/24 should be aware of the following points of emphasis. Competitors who fail to comply with these and other applicable USATF Rules of Competition risk possible disqualification.

There will be a Technical Meeting scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 5:00 p.m. at the Endicott Estate (Race Course Start/Finish) to review these instructions. These instructions will be…

1. The Race Course. The course map is available online and at packet pick-up. The course is the roadway between its edges and curbs. Please follow directions of course marshals and any road cones. View Course Map
2. Cutting the Course. Any competitor who has been found by the Referee to have gained an unfair advantage by receiving assistance or by intentionally shortening the route of the race (“cutting the course”) shall be immediately disqualified.
3. Illegal Assistance. Anyone found to have received illegal assistance is subject to disqualification. “Assistance” is the conveying of advice, information or direct help to an athlete by any means, including a technical device. It also includes pacing in running or walking events by persons not participating in the event, by competitors lapped or about to be lapped, or by any kind of technical device. The use of wireless devices (I-pods, etc is not permitted. Competitors may carry or wear articles of personal equipment such as wrist chronometers and heart-rate monitors. Verbal or other communication, without the use of any technical device, from an individual not on the course shall not be considered assistance. Pacesetting, by a person entered in an event as an officially designated pacesetter, is permissible. There are no designated pacesetters for this event. All athletes should compete honestly with bona fide effort in all Master LDR Championship events. To that end, pacing by an athlete of the opposite gender in mixed gender championship race could be considered ‘illegal assistance’ and dealt with accordingly by the Referee. We discourage all instances of a ‘faster’ spouse pacing a ‘slower’ partner in Masters LDR mixed gender championship events. The ‘faster’ spouse is obviously not competing honestly with bona fide effort.
4. Competition Front Bib Numbers/Timing Tag and Age/Gender “Back” Numbers. Competition bib numbers must be pinned on the front of the outermost layer of clothing that you will be wearing in the race. They should not be folded or cut. The timing antenna is a part of the bib number and is disposable after the race. All Masters entered in the USATF Masters 10 km Championships must also wear an age/gender “back” number pinned to the back of the outermost layer of clothing that they are wearing in the race. Please use 4 pins to affix the “back” number in such a manner that it is visible to any runner behind them and will not flip up. Any competitor failing to wear a competition bib number on the front and a visible age/gender “back” number will be subject to disqualification. If your packet is lacking a “back” number, extras will be made available at packet pick-up and at the start line. Numbers must be worn as issued and should not be cut, folded or crumpled.
5. Start Time. Each competitor is responsible for knowing the starting time of 11:00 a.m. All competitors are responsible for being at the starting line at the appointed time with their competition bib number and age/gender “back” number properly affixed. USA Masters Championship runners are welcome at the front of the start line. The citizen’s 10k race will start 3 minutes after the USATF Masters start.
6. Online Entry Registration. Enter online no later than Thursday, April 25 at 11:59:59 p.m.
7. In-Person USATF Masters Entry Registration. Registration in person as well as chip-embedded bib and tee shirt pick-up are available on Saturday, Noon to 5 pm at Endicott Estate, 656 East Street, Dedham. No USATF Masters entries will be accepted on Sunday, race day.
8. Host Hotel. Discount lodging, with discount code, JJR, for Championship competitors is available at:

   Holiday Inn Boston-Dedham Hotel & Conference Center, 55 Ariadne Rd., Dedham MA, 02026.

   Call reservations: 1.877.666.3243

   The Holiday Inn is located less than 2 miles from the Endicott Estate Grounds where the start/finish and the Awards Ceremony are located. There is ample parking at the Estate Grounds as long as you arrive early. Please get your reservation in early as the discounted block of rooms is only available for a limited time!

9. Race day Packet Pick-Up. Packet pick-ups begin at 8:30 AM on Sunday at the Endicott Estate and run until 10:30 AM. SHARP. We encourage you to be early if you plan to pick up your race packet including chip and bib number on Sunday morning and take the time to properly stretch and clear the estate to access the start line. The Race will begin on East Street one block south of the Estate at Boulevard St. Plan your morning accordingly. Please refer to course map. NOTE: There is no USATF Masters Championship day-of-race registration available.

10. Parking. Race day of race parking is available for early arrivals on the estate fairgrounds. On street parking is available above Mount Vernon Street and near the High and Middle school.

11. Start Details. The USATF Master Championship portion of the 10 km will start promptly at 11:00 a.m. The Clerks will begin team uniform verification at 10:30 a.m. at the Start Line. Complete teams must check in together to verify uniforms (see uniform rule below). All runners will be checked for proper front bib and back numbers prior to the start. After the National anthem there will be a two-command start: “On your marks” followed by the firing of the starter’s pistol signaling the start of the race. Most awards are based on “gun time”. Net times will only be used for Age Graded results and for record purposes.

12. No false start. False starts will not be recalled. Runners who false start are subject to disqualification.

13. Withdrawal for medical reasons. A competitor must retire from the race immediately if directed to do so by a duly authorized official of the race or by an appropriately identified member of the race medical staff.

14. Eligibility. All Master athletes must be citizens of the United States and eligible to represent the United States in international competition to be eligible for USATF medals and prize money. In addition, all athletes entered and competing in the 2024 USATF Masters 10 km Championship are required to have a 2024 USATF membership card. Non-citizens who are 2024 USATF members are welcome to compete but they cannot score for a team nor win individual prizes. If a non-citizen runner would otherwise displace a US citizen eligible for a medal, then they will be awarded a non-championship medal. Non-citizen members can qualify for an age-graded performance medal.

15. Awards Ceremony. Sunday’s awards ceremony for the 2024 USA Masters 10 km Championships will begin around 12:30 p.m. on the Endicott Estate grounds. The Hillman Literary Challenge will also take place in the afternoon, proving just how literally astute you are. As usual, there will be a host of refreshments and food offerings at the James Joyce Ramble Post-Race Soiree.

16. Race Day Registration. There will be NO USATF Masters Championship race day registration.

17. Results. Results will be posted near the front door of the Endicott Estate main building as soon as they become available. Please see the Masters Championship Referee immediately if there are any problems/omissions. There is a one hour period after results have been posted to file a protest with the Referee.

18. Team Uniform Rule. The jersey or singlet worn by the members of a team (i.e., Greater Springfield Harriers M50+ “A” team) in Master LDR Championships shall be basically identical for each member in color and style, and must be clearly visible throughout the race, i.e., worn as the outer garment if other apparel items are worn underneath by one or more team members. Individuals not complying with this uniform rule may be disqualified from scoring for a team. If your club has a full “B” team running, then see the Clerks for identifying alpha “B” stickers if the uniforms are the same as the “A” team.

19. Eligibility/Clubs. All clubs must be registered with USATF for 2024. Please submit your club application to your local Association office. Only teams consisting of duly accredited representatives of a member club shall be eligible to score as a team. All athletes entering as part of a club must be affiliated with that club as part of their USATF online membership profile (an athlete’s current affiliation can be viewed in his/her membership profile and as part of the online entry process) and meet the requirements of USATF Competition Rule 341.8. Athletes wishing to change affiliations can make such a request through their local Association (note that this request must be made by the athlete–see Regulation 4 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III). The formation of club teams must meet all of the parameters as noted in Regulations 4 and 6 in the USATF Governance Manual, Section III and the USATF Rules of Competition, specifically Rule 341.8. This will be strictly enforced. Pursuant to Rule 341.8, Master Teams shall represent current member clubs of USATF, verified through the national office. USATF Association, Regional, or National “all-star” teams are not eligible to compete in Masters Long Distance Running Team competition. Team members shall be affiliated with the club they are representing on their USATF membership record prior to entering the competition. Only one athlete per team (i.e., Club M50+ team) who is a non-resident member of an Association is eligible to compete for a team in that Association.

20. Master Team Final Declarations. Note that only five athletes are allowed to be on the final team declaration per team respective of team division. If you have listed more than five athletes on your team’s online declaration form, only the first five listed on the status of entries page and comprise your club’s declared scoring team unless you revise your declared runners list. You have until 11:59:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 25, 2024 to revise your online team declaration. If you are unable or incapable of revising your team’s list of declared runners by the online entry deadline you still have one last chance to make changes. A hard copy revision to final team declarations may be submitted in-person at packet pick-up no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Team revision forms will be available at packet pick-up. Questions should be directed to the Championship Referee.

    Please follow the instructions below to access the USATF online Club Management Area prior to the close of online registration:

    Access to the USATF Club Management Area is available to the person listed as the main contact on your original yearly member club application form, as well as club coaches and club administrators as designated by the main club contact. To gain access to your club, e-mail your club’s main contact with your name, individual membership number, and role within the club. Note: access to the Management Area is limited to those people who are current individual members of USATF. If you joined as a new individual member instead of renewing, please e-mail your club’s main contact person to have your new membership number attached to your club profile. You can find your club contact information at: www.usatf.org

    * If your club does not appear on the list, it may be because the club hasn’t renewed for the current year. Please contact your local Association for more information.

21. 2024 USATF Masters 10 km Championships Prize Money Breakdown. USATF Championship medals will be awarded to the top 3 places in each 5-year individual division for both Master Men and Women (40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, etc.), the top 3 Age Graded Master Men and Women and the top 3 Overall Master Men and Women. A total of up to $10,850 in prize money will be awarded to member USATF Masters runners who have appropriately entered the Championship competition. Prize money is available for U.S. citizens only, per USATF Championship rules. All prize money will be mailed to clubs or individuals following the race.

    2024 USATF 10 KM Championship
    Hosted by the James Joyce Ramble
    Prize Purse $10,850

    Age Graded USATF Masters (40+) Finishers
    

    	Men	Women
    1st	$500	$500
    2nd	$400	$400
    3rd	$300	$300
    4th	$200	$200
    5th	$150	$150
    6th	$125	$125
    7th	$100	$100

    
    Overall USATF Masters (40+) Finishers
    

    	Men	Women
    1st	$300	$300
    2nd	$200	$200
    3rd	$100	$100

    USATF Masters Champions in each 5‐year Age Division‐Beginning at 40‐44 and continuing to the division of the eldest finisher.

    Men $100 Women $100

    USATF Masters (40+) Top 3 Teams in each 10‐year Division‐Beginning at 40+ and continuing to the division with the oldest complete, finishing team.

    	Men	Women
    1st	$300	$300
    2nd	$125	$125
    3rd	$75	$75

22. Drug Testing. All competitors (including master competitors) are eligible for “in-competition” drug testing. Any questions regarding prescriptions or other over-the-counter medication should contact The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) at1-888-233-0393.
23. Note: If the 2022 USATF Masters 10 km Championship is selected for drug testing, prize money checks will be mailed following our receipt of the drug testing results. The race has no control over when the results of the drug tests are released, and we cannot release the prize money until we have official results as it can directly affect the distribution amounts.
24. Protests. Protests concerning the result or conduct of an event shall be made to the Referee at once and not later than one hour after the announcement/posting of the results.

    For further information about the James Joyce Ramble please visit: www.ramble.or