Skip to main content

Guide to competition and championships in OCR

The beauty of OCR is that you do not have to compete to participate. Most races offer several classes and distances, so you can run at your level and at your own pace with a focus on the experience. But if you've developed a taste for more and want to take the next step towards competing, we've put together a simple guide how to get started.

Sanctioned races

Swedish Athletics (SFIF) sanctions OCR races in Sweden. Sanctioning means that the race meets the federation's established rules and quality requirements and is conducted according to official guidelines. By participating in these, you collect ranking points and can qualify for official championships.

To earn ranking points at these races, you need to be a member of a club that is affiliated with Swedish Athletics.

How do you get started?

  1. Become a member of a club affiliated with Swedish Athletics.
  2. Once you're a member, you can register at ranking.ocrrunner.com to get an AthleteID.
  3. Enter your AthleteID and club when you register for sanctioned races.
  4. Run a race with an approved result and automatically receive ranking points.

Read more about sanctioned races and ranking points on our FAQ page.

Qualifying for Swedish, European and World Championships

By competing in sanctioned races you can qualify for championships:

  • SM (Swedish Championships) – To participate in SM, it's enough to be a member of a club that is a member of Swedish Athletics. There are several different distances for SM (Sprint, Short course and Standard Course).
  • EM (European Championships) – To qualify for EM, you need to perform well in sanctioned races. The best Swedish competitors based on ranking and results can qualify.
  • VM (World Championships) – Qualification for VM happens through strong performances in sanctioned races and championships. The top Swedish competitors can get the chance to represent Sweden.