Since we began our series over a decade ago in 2014, The Human Potential Running Series (HPRS) has taken great pride in setting its entry fees at or below the industry average for similar distances within the markets we operate. For the first time in our history we have made the difficult decision to raise some of our rates across two consecutive years; where we have historically only ever raised rates one year, to then leave them alone the following year.

While we did not raise our rates in 2023, in 2024 our 100-milers were raised $25. We raised the rates for our 100k and 50-milers $20 each. We raised our 50ks by $10 each. We did not raise our rates for anything of half marathon in distance or below. We decreased our rates for our timed events by $10.

The biggest costs associated with our events are food, shirts, and in some cases permits and rentals like portable toilets. With the current rate of inflation and the general cost of doing business with entities who supply our shirts and toilets, our realized expenses to host events has increased every year since 2021. It should be noted that Colorado has an inflation rate that is slightly higher than the national inflation rate. We want to also note that some of our land managers who permit our events have also raised their permitting fees, are revisiting their permitting fee structures, and have proposed other cost recovery proposals that could raise race entry fees upwards of 400%. We recognize that we need to be better prepared for any potential reality associated with the increased cost of permits as a surprise 400% increase in fees can and will likely put most races out of business. While inflation appears to be on the decline, the inflation index has risen within the state of Colorado for costs associated with items like recreation (1.32%) and food (1.23%).

Over our history, we have seldom priced our events based on a cost-of-goods-sold model. Every year we look at the current landscape of entry fees in Colorado and base our prices for the year to come on what the present average currently is (Market Analysis Based). For Example: If the average entry fee for a 50km run is $100 in 2023, we’ll charge $100 or less for that distance in 2024, while many of the events that surround us increase their 2024 rates. This has set up a scenario where we meet the 2023 averages a year late, while the market gets ahead of us in the year to come. This has allowed us, generally, to set our prices at or below the industry average across the lifetime of our series. Most races and series consider the industry average when setting their rates, and adjust as they see fit from there.

It is not lost on us that the sport of trail and ultramarathon running is heading down a financial trajectory that will soon price many runners out of the sport altogether. Like Ironman once did to triathlon, the new corporate world our sport operates in is beginning to push prices ever higher as a majority of runners prove to RDs that they’re willing to pay anything to play. As our sport transitions into a more corporate structure where an entity oversees the operations of a series, which includes paying race directors to direct their events on their behalf, prices will ultimately increase to offset the costs associated with corporate event production.

While race directors and race owners are certainly afforded an opportunity to charge whatever they need to charge in order to turn a profit, or to make money for their non-profit, ultimately the market sets the rates based on what the consumer is willing to pay. As we follow market trends, as any business would, we strongly urge runners to consider where they spend their money as you ultimately vote with your wallet. The consumer is driving the market.

Luckily there are many great events with entry fees considerably lower than the industry average that afford everyone a chance to run without breaking the bank. Some series also offer a myriad of ways in which you can earn discounted and comp entries into their events. In general, we still see it true that the more you connect and engage as an active member within a race/series community the more you can benefit from a cheaper cost of entry. HPRS is no different.

At HPRS

We will once again be adjusting our prices in 2025. Some distances will maintain their current rate and some distances will increase. While we have traditionally priced all of our distances the same (all 50s the same, all 50-milers the same, etc), we are also at a place where we need to adjust our pricing based on the costs associated with certain races and distances, whereas some races and their associated distances cost more for us to put on than others.

We will not be adjusting the price of our half marathons.
Our 2025 Half Marathon Tiered Rates will be: $70, $90, $100

We are bringing a snowshoe marathon online that will be priced below the average for the trail marathon events within our state.
Our 2025 Marathon Tiered Rates will be: $90, $110, $120

While we raised our 50km rates $10 in 2024, we will be raising them $10 again in 2025. Our 50km rates will now align with the industry average.
Our 2025 50km Tiered Rates will be: $120, $140, $150

While we raised our 50-miler rates $20 in 2024, we will be raising them $10 again in 2025. Our 50-mile rates will remain below the industry average for that distance. The outlier is the Indian Creek 50-Mile which will remain $10 cheaper than our other 50-Milers, and just $20 more than the Indian Creek 55k.
Our 2025 50-mile Tiered Rates will be: $150, $170, $180 with Indian Creek being $10 lower.

While we raised our 100km rates $20 in 2024, we will be raising them $10 again in 2025. Our 100km rates will still remain at or below the industry average for that distance.
Our 2025 100km Tiered Rates will be: $190, $210, $220

It’s been awhile since we’ve adjusted our 100-Mile entry fees, last done in 2022 or 2023. For 2025 we will be raising the rates for the Silverheels 100-Mile $10-$25 depending on the tier. This is because the recent redesign of this event realizes a considerable increase in expenses to host it. Our Sangre de Cristo 100-Mile will remain the same in 2025 with no price increase.
Our 2025 Silverheels 100-Mile Tiered Rates will be: $350, $375, $385
Our 2025 Sangre de Cristo 100-Mile Tiered Rates will be: $325, $350, $375

As for timed events; while we decreased the entry fees for some of our timed events in 2024, we now need to increase some of those fees in 2025. We’ll be increasing the entry fee $10 for the Stories 6-hour, 15-Hour and 30-Hour. The entry fees for the Endure 12-Hour and 24-Hour will remain the same.

There are multiple ways you can save on your entry fees at HPRS. We would once again like to highlight the opportunities afforded you to decrease your HPRS race entry fees and/or receive a free race entry altogether. They are as follows:

• Take advantage of our registration events in Fall Fest and RegFest where you can save 20% off on entry fees, and even have a chance to win free entries simply by registering for races during these events.

• We offer a 20% discount to active duty and retired military members. Click for more info.

• We offer a 50% discount to indigenous peoples. Click for more info.

• We usually post a $10 discount code in the post-race email we send to runners at the conclusion of every race.

• We provide a comp race entry to any distance up to 50-miles in length, or a heavily discounted entry for distances over 50-miles in length, in exchange for your participation in a HPRS Trailwork day. Click for more info.

• We provide volunteers with $10-$15/hr in HPRS Race Credits for time served in a volunteer role in support of our events. Some volunteer roles come with a straight up comp entry for your assistance (like shuttle driver at Sawmill). Click for more info.

• The HPRS Community Fund was created to provide financial assistance to anyone under the age of 30, anyone aged 30 or older realizing financial hardship, anyone member of the BIPOC community, and any member of the LGBTQIA+ community. This fund is full of donated volunteer credits and comps from your peers who support breaking down barriers to entry, and is also funded by financial donations from HPRS community members. Click for more info.

The more engaged you are with the HPRS community and our series of events, the more you can and will save on HPRS race entries. The best practices are to pay attention to when registration will open and the dates and times of our registration events, pay attention to upcoming price increases to take advantage of lower prices, engage with HPRS emails for deals and coupon codes that may be shared and/or hidden within our newsletters, and GIVE BACK by being an engaged and active member of our community through volunteerism efforts.

Let’s take a look at the current 2024 Colorado averages for select distances. We’ll provide you with the average cost of entry within each tier of the three tiered pricing system most of us subscribe to, as well as the highest and lowest fees present within each tier and at each distance, as well as the names of the races who charged the least and the most within those tiers. No opinion on these fees is attached, we are just sharing factual information. This is for calendar year 2024, as we are yet to realize prices for 2025.

Half Marathon	Average	HPRS	Lowest	Highest
Tier 1	$84	$70	$60 Run Through Time	$129 Desert Rats (UTMB)
Tier 2	$96	$90	$65 Silver Rush Ridgeline	$135 Pikes Peak 30k Crested Butte 35k
Tier 3	$104	$100	$65 Silver Rush Ridgeline	$155 Crested Butte 35k

Marathon	Average	HPRS	Lowest	Highest
Tier 1	$108	N/A	$75 Run Through Time	$165 Telluride Mountain
Tier 2	$118	N/A	$81 Runs With Scissors	$165 Telluride Mountain
Tier 3	$127	N/A	$86 Runs with Scissors	$150 Silverton Alpine

50km	Average	HPRS	Lowest	Highest
Tier 1	$127	$110	$85 Devil on the Divide	$195 Telluride Mountain
Tier 2	$139	$130	$91 Runs With Scissors	$195 Telluride Mountain
Tier 3	$150	$140	$95 Ridgeline	$205 Never Summer

50-Mile	Average	HPRS	Lowest	Highest
Tier 1	$162	$140	$115 Collegiate Peaks Bear Chase	$275 Ouray
Tier 2	$185	$160	$130 Collegiate Peaks	$300 Ouray
Tier 3	$198	$170	$135 Silver Rush	$350 Run Rabbit Run

100km	Average	HPRS	Lowest	Highest
Tier 1	$201	$180	$180 Silverheels Sangre de Cristo Bear Chase	$239 Desert Rats (UTMB)
Tier 2	$216	$200	$195 Great Divide Bear Chase	$245 Ring the Springs
Tier 3	$230	$210	$210 Silverheels Sangre de Cristo Bear Chase	$265 Ring the Springs

100-Mile	Average	HPRS	Lowest	Highest
Tier 1	$362	$325	$275	$450
Tier 2	$390	$350	$285	$475
Tier 3	$399	$375	$305	$475

As far as timed events go, there were only a few timed events in Colorado in 2024. So our approach in looking at these prices will be different.

6-Hour Events:
Stories (HPRS) = $80, $100, $110 (Increasing $10 in 2025)
Run the Ranch = $90, $95, $100
Colorado 6-Hour (GNAR) = $80, $90, $105. Early early bird of $75, race day of $125

12-Hour Events:
Stories (HPRS) = $110, $130, $140 (Increasing $10 in 2025)
Run the Ranch = $125, $135, $145
Endure (HPRS) = $120, $140, $150 (No Change in 2025)
Chase the Moon (Aravaipa) = $145, $155, $165, Race Day $175
Colorado 12-Hour (GNAR) = $115, $125, $145. Early early bird of $100, race day of $165

24-Hour Events:
Stories (HPRS) = $150, $170, $180 (Increasing $10 in 2025)
Endure (HPRS) = $150, $170, $180 (No Change in 2025)
Palmer Lake = $65, $85
Colorado (GNAR) = $140, $150, $175. Early early bird of $125, race day of $200