[roots]

<span style="font-size:xx-small;"><b>The purpose of this thread is to provide a forum for players to voice questions and to provide input.</b><br><br>
I'll start the discussion by providing the tentative scoring table:<br><br>
(9/26 - Edited to add: The scoring categories from the most recent August round)<br><br><span style="text-decoration:underline;">VRAA scoring categories:</span><br><b>I. Running/Walking:</b> 4 pts for every mile (1 pt for every 1/4 mile). Includes outdoor running/walking and, if you choose, treadmill.<br><br><b>II. Swimming:</b> 1 pt for every 100 meters (indoor or outdoor)<br><br><b>III. Cycling:</b> 1.5 pt for every mile (includes outdoor cycling and, if you choose, trainers that give accurate mileage readings)<br><br><b>IV. In-line skating (the APRR Chuck rule):</b> 2 pts for every mile<br><br><b>V. The Race Premium:</b> Add 5 pts. for a race to the points you'd get for the distance. Applies once per race, whether it's a 5K or an Ironman tri.<br><br><b>VI. General Cardio*:</b> 1 pt for every 3 minutes<br><br><b>VII. Alternate workouts**:</b> 1 pt for every 5 minutes (maximum of 60 minutes, or 12 points, per day; we do not intend to turn this race into Yoga Your Ass Across America)<br><br><i>* General Cardio</i> includes: Stationary bike/Elliptical/Stair-stepper/Rowing, etc. The basic requirement for this category is an activity that produces a sustained, elevated and/or aerobic heart rate. Use this for any aerobic activity that you can't readily measure in miles.<br><br><i>** Alternate workouts:</i> This category is open to interpretation. To a point. Below are the suggested activities. The guidance with this category is to count time spent working and not rest time.<br><br>
- Yoga/Pilates<br>
- Weighlifting/Circuit training<br>
- Core/Abdominal work<br><br>
At some point, we must draw the line. I look forward to moderating the discussion on what to include in this special category. I suggest a daily cap of 60 minutes within this category.<br><br><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Other topics to discuss:</span><br>
- What are some features of past Virtual Runs that you'd like to see implemented?<br>
- How important is travelling across a map? Using a fixed time-period, can we simply use a leaderboard?<br>
- What is a good number of players on each team?</span>

 

[QuixoticNotions]

n

 

[roots]

You bring up a good point.<br><br>
Walking counts. The spirit of the game is to earn points from daily workouts. Whether someone gets that through their work (Letter-carrier DanQ is a perfect example) or if one goes for a "walk" during their lunch hour, does not matter. In both examples, the player is performing an exercise for a specified distance or time.<br><br>
I hear your point regarding "nickel-and-dime" counting of points. Like your example with mall shopping, similarly in the course of my day I walk about 1/4 mile to the bus stop twice per day. I wouldn't count 2 points for that 1/2 mile of walking. But if I were to go for a 1 mile walk during my lunch hour, I would count that.<br><br>
In the end, it is up to the individual player to list their daily workout. Save for extreme cases, I don't intend to audit players' daily entries. I anticipate most everyone will play within the spirit of the game and self-police the gameplay.

 

[Triola]

I think previous VRAA captains should be picked, if they have the interest. For example, Hup ,Wu, & JC were previous captains. <img alt="icon_cheers.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif"><br><br>
Just a thought.....

 

[roots]

Hi Triola. That certainly is a possibility. I will ask Hup and Wu, yet I did not see JC signed up to play.<br><br>
Just what is the role of the captain? If we were to use a random drawing to make teams, do we need captains? Just wondering out loud here.<br><br>
Also, what size teams have been used in the past?<br><br>
I certainly will take suggestions. Keep in mind that for this first round that my idea was to keep it simple and not too complicated. I will collect all suggestions for consideration for this and future rounds of the VRAA.<br><br>
I wonder if there are any other previous players that have input also.

 

[drgenie]

You haven't really discussed scoring reporting, unless I missed it. What we've done in the past is have the teams report in to the captains, the captains report to the race director (that would be you) and then used a leaderboard of sorts to keep running totals for the teams only. We never did it by individual because we always felt that was detrimental to those on the team who were participating but not pulling down the huge mileage of the big guns. I don't think individual scoring should be reported publicly, JMHO.<br><br>
So, to answer your previous Q which you were posting as I was writing this.....the function of the captains, other than team motivator, was to collect the individual tallies each week and report to the race director.<br><br>
I don't think we had a cap on team size, we just assigned everyone who wanted to play until the draft closed on a specific date. Normally the teams elected the captains once the team threads were posted, but if there are previous cappies playing, they will probably get elected anyway. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[roots]

Hi drgenie, and thanks for the kudos mentioned in the other thread.<br><br>
There is brief mention of the reporting system in the "Idea" thread.<br><br>
The current plan is for individuals to each report their own points. There will be one thread for each day. It is the responsibility of each player to make one post per day. At some point after the end of the day (more likely 48-72 hours later,) I will lock the thread and that will serve as the snapshot record for point tabulation.<br><br>
I hear your point regarding using the captains to report points. I had not planned on encumbering anyone with such duties. Not for the first round, at least.<br><br>
After tabulation, there will be a team leaderboard. My initial plan is to tabulate points twice per week, most likely on Monday evening and on Thursday or Friday evening.<br><br>
Regarding the point about the "heavy-hitters" and the potential for some players to be shy about reporting their "lesser" totals, I will encourage any and all players not to compare themselves with others. I'm hoping that this game is an environment where everyone will feel comfortable reporting his or her daily accomplishments.<br><br>
Thanks for the input. This is exactly the dialogue I'm looking for. If this system does not work well, we will revisit another method for the next round.<br><br>
Does anyone else have input regarding the selection of teams and/or reporting of points?

 

[RunDivaRun]

*Cough* I've been the captain of a VRAA four times and have won all four times (okay, so I got second place once...).<br><br>
That being said, I don't want to be captain this time due to too many other responsibilities right now. <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">

 

[RunDivaRun]

In the past we have had folks estimate the number of miles they ran per week and then divided them on teams so each team had a fair chance of winning. This could have been done in the initial "I'm playing" thread but since it wasn't you may want to either start a new thread or contact each person playing to see what their weekly mileage/workout time will be.<br><br>
BTW, Genie is an awesome VRAA captain, too! Right co-captain? <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[RunDivaRun]

I'm going to be gone Friday - Sunday (maybe even through Monday). How will my "points" be factored in?

 

[roots]

No worries. When you return from your trip, come enter in any points you've earned. There will be a thread for each day. Make sure to post in each day.<br><br>
I do plan to tabulate each Monday evening, so if you can post before then your points will make the standings.

 

[hahaoya]

1 pt. for every 3 minutes of indoor cardio? That seems a little bit...odd.

 

[roots]

Yep. This point system does not exactly equate to "miles," per se. In fact, with running/walking points awarded at 4 points per mile, one could say that the points equate to 0.25mi per point. Not quite.<br><br>
I acknowledge that this point system is a trial run. We'll just have to see how it goes.

 

[drgenie]

Just one more clarification, otherwise I think everything looks great. There is a lot of history with these events, we've been doing them since shortly after 9-11 in one form or other, but I think you've captured a lot of the spirit of the original idea very well. Thanks again for stepping up, I know what a lot of work this is for the race director. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
As far as the "indoor cardio" category, you mentioned that anything that raises the heart rate would count. Does that also include something like a kickboxing/Tae-Bo or boot camp class that's on the higher intensity side? A lot of the alternative stuff that I do is of that nature and I'm wondering if that counts too?? I use them mainly because my schedule really sucks and I'm on the road for long days so at least I can do "something" at home, even if it's 10:00 at night.

 

[Notey]

Should we post team threads here or where the action is in the PRT?

 

[roots]

Good question. Go with the flow and make a choice. We'll see where it takes hold.

 

[roots]

drgenie- good question. Ultimately, you will have to decide.<br><br>
Go with the guidance of "sustained, elevated and/or aerobic heart rate." If it meets this criteria, then its 1pt/3min.<br><br>
If it falls in the other category, its 1pt/5min.

 

[drgenie]

Oh, cool....I didn't think I could put it in the other category, but that helps!!! I probably have some that would fit into each---thanks!!!!<br><br>
Let the games begin!!! <img alt="icon_compress.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_compress.gif">

 

[Gingerbread]

Can we count shoveling (or in my case "scooping"<img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> the snow as an alternate workout? I don't scoop fast, so it doesn't really elevate my heart rate, but I'm usually sore the next day in my arms and quads, sometimes my abs. The activity basically involves loading the scoop with a volume of snow and pushing it across the driveway (about 20-25') and dropping it in the brook. Sometimes I have to dig deep to push the snow, since it can be heavy.<br><br>
I think it qualifies, but am willing to abide by the decision of the masses. If I get to count it I would have 45 minutes for today, and in the spirit of the game, would never count more than 60 minutes, even if I had to scoop for 2 hours to clear the driveway.<br><br>
What do you say?

 

[Amethyst]

Aw, a shame I didn't see this thread earlier. Ah well, I'll wait till next round. When is it?