The term "be in running" connotes being a contender, a participant or a candidate in a certain competition or event. It is an expression that denotes an individual or a team's capacity to compete, perform or excel in a particular undertaking. Antonyms for "be in running" may include phrases like "be out of running" which means being eliminated or disqualified from a competition. Another alternative could be "be a bystander" which implies being a spectator, an observer or a non-participant. Other antonyms could be "be irrelevant" or "not in contention," which suggests being insignificant or not being a formidable or viable contender in a given situation.