About Runnerbeast Racing

There are several types of runnerbeast races run on Pern: sprints, middles, and stayers are flat races; hurdles and chases are jump races, and there are two types of chases; finally, there are cart races.

Flat races are run over a flat course. Sprints are generally on a straight flat course while middles and stayers are often on an oval course. Sprints vary in length from 1/4 to 1/2 mile long, ideal for runners who have great speed but little stamina; middles run 1 to 2 miles long and are based primarily on a combination of speed and stamina; stayers run over 2 miles long and are named for the runners' ability to stay in the race and rely less on speed than on stamina.

Jump races are run over a course containing obstacles that require a horse jump over them. Hurdles are light and moveable, constructed of thin slats of wood with give to them. There are at least 8 hurdles in a hurdle race, and the hurdles are between 2 and 4 feet tall. Frequently, hurdle runners are former flat runners who no longer have the staying power to last in flat races. Next are chases, of which there are two types--coursed and uncoursed. Coursed chases resemble modern Earth steeplechases and occur over a set and otherwise flat course with specially designed obstacles (hedges, ditches, and fences). Uncoursed chases, which resemble the original steeplechase, are less prestigious but more competitive than coursed chases; a leader (or organizer) will pick a particularly tall landmark which can be anywhere from 1/2 to 5 miles off and runners will race in that direction, jumping any obstacles they come across. This is a highly dangerous form of racing, frequently resulting in injury and death to both runner and rider, and there are no Clubs that actively support this form. Frequently, chase runners are hurdle runners who are too slow to hurdle but whose jumping technique has improved over time hurdling.

Finally there are cart races. These resemble modern Earth harness-racing and involve a single horse pulling a lightweight cart carrying a driver. The carts are two-wheeled affairs, little more than wheels, axle, and a platform barely large enough for the driver to sit which follow close on the runner's heels. Some runners are panicked by the proximity of the cart and may kick at it, breaking the cart, injuring the driver, or even harming themselves. These races are ideal for heavier or smaller runners who don't have the build for flat or jump racing, particularly draybeast stock. The runner only has to trot, a pace which most runners can maintain for hours on end; cart racing also has sprints, middles, and stayers races.

Runnerbeast Stats

Below is a table that depicts the statistics of various runners that I have had the pleasure of racing over the years. These statistics are their base stats; as a runner wins (or loses) races, their stats will change slightly, which affects the modifier the runner receives during dice rolls for actions during the race (see second table below).

Modifiers

Here is a brief overview of each type of race and which stats figure most prominently in the modifiers:

• Flat Sprints: % Leg (longer = better); Body Length (shorter = better); Strength (stronger = better); Speed (faster = better); Stamina (lower = better); Jumping (worse = better); Clumsiness (lower = better)
• Flat Middlers: % Leg (longer = better); Body Length (longer = better); Strength (stronger = better); Speed (faster = better); Stamina (higher = better); Jumping (worse = better); Clumsiness (lower = better)
• Flat Stayers: % Leg (longer = better); Body Length (longer = better); Strength (weaker = better); Speed (faster = better); Stamina (higher = better); Jumping (worse = better); Clumsiness (lower = better)
• Jump Races (Hurdles, Coursed Chases, Uncoursed Chases): % Leg (middling = better); Body Length (middling = better); Strength (stronger = better); Speed (faster = better); Stamina (higher = better); Jumping (better = better); Clumsiness (lower = better)
• Cart Sprints: Temperment (milder = better); Strength (stronger = better); Speed (faster = better); Stamina (lower = better); Clumsiness (lower = better)
• Cart Middlers: Temperment (milder = better); Strength (stronger = better); Speed (faster = better); Stamina (higher = better); Clumsiness (lower = better)
• Cart Stayers: Temperment (milder = better); Strength (stronger = better); Speed (faster = better); Stamina (higher= better); Clumsiness (lower = better)