By HPRS RD John Lacroix

Since its inception in 2014, The Human Potential Running Series has been committed to accessibility of trail and ultrarunning events by way of ensuring our events are affordable regardless of one’s socio-economic status. We have fought to ensure that the march towards our sport becoming another haven for the privileged is slowed down. In this post, I wanted to share with all of you the many ways in which we work to ensure that our events are accessible, reasonably priced, discuss upcoming changes in 2023, and just generally provide information that displays our commitment to accessibility.

It is my hope that this post clearly outlines the many ways in which HPRS is working to make our sport more accessible to you. You shouldn’t have to be rich, or privileged, to run a trail or ultra running event. So here is what we’re doing at HPRS to ensure that our sport remain honest, and affordable, during these trying times.

Pricing structure:

As is the industry standard in trail and ultra we have a three-tiered pricing system for all our events. The first thing we do is keep track of the entry fee for every trail running event a half marathon in length and longer within the state of Colorado. This allows us to track what the average cost of entry is for each distance, and each tier, within our state. HPRS then sets our prices at or below the average cost of entry for each distance and within each tier.

Keep in mind that HPRS typically does not raise our rates from one year to the next, as we have historically raised our rates to align more closely with the industry average every other year. In other words… we’re chasing. From time to time, we look at an average cost of entry for a distance and scoff, we know it’s too high and yes we also know that “the market sets the price.” Sometimes we believe the market can and should do better.

At HPRS, we open registration for our events that take place in May through November (of the following year’s calendar) on the first of December. Early bird pricing typically lasts just 3 days (December 1-3, 2022) before the first price increase for all those events. Each race sees a $20 increase in price at midnight on December 4^th. However, prior to the increase we also host our annual RegFest event where everyone can save 10-20% off the early bird price before the price sets to increase.

We also open registration for our December through April calendar of events on October 1^st, with early bird pricing for these events last through October 31^st. This year, we hosted our first Fall Fest registration event where everyone could save 10-20% off the early bird price for these events as well.

2023 HPRS Pricing:

We set our rates prior to most of our competitors releasing the registration rates for their events, so you’ll see our 2023 rates compared to the industry average for 2022 knowing that as our competitors raise their rates for 2023, the average will increase with it. Here is a snapshot of our pricing for 2023.

Notes: You’ll see three prices in each column indicating the price within each of the 3 tiers. Outside of Bingo, the only other “Backyard style” ultra in Colorado is Skypilots in Ouray. There are no other 200-milers in Colorado at this time, so we have displayed the national average for that distance.

2023 Changes:

We have decided to lower our entry fees for the 200-Mile from $600, $650, $700 to $400, $450, $500. This decision was made after a deep dive into the average cost of entry for 200-Milers in the nation. Only four events charge $1500+ for entry into a 200-Miler and we feel that this price is an insult to you and our sport. By matching the cost of entry with the industry average nationwide, we feel that we open up this distance and your discovering human potential exponentially.

By lowering our 200-mile entry fee to $400, it means that 2023 HPRS Members will be able to register for the Sangre de Cristo 200-Mile for $320 during our December 3^rd RegFest event, making the distance one of the most accessible 200-Milers in North America! It also means that we help lower the average cost of entry nationwide.

In looking at the average cost of entry for the 50-Mile distance, HPRS believes that the price of entry is starting to take off a little bit. The Colorado average is $145, $163, $173 which we matched in 2022 at $140, $160, $170. We’ve decided it is prudent to change course a little on this distance and we have also lowered our entry fees for 50-milers in 2023 to $120, $140, $150. Many in our sport regard the 50-Mile distance as the one where “you finally actually run an ultra.” While we laugh at that assertion (50k is an ultra-kids), we believe that the 50-mile distance is one that many aspiring ultrarunners choose as their first, and we want to welcome more of you to our sport with open arms instead of open wallets.

Further below in this article I will discuss our updated Refund, Credit, Deferral and Transfer policies. We have updated those policies to afford you better opportunities to manage money you have tied up in race registrations. We feel our new policies afford you a better opportunity to recoup registration dollars without losing them.

OTHER WAYS TO SAVE:

FallFest/RegFest: As mentioned above, we host two registration events each year that are designed to bring the cost of entry down even more. We opened registration for our Winter calendar of events on October 1^st. We held a Fall Fest registration event on the night of October 2^nd where you could save 10-20% off of early bird pricing for these events. We open registration for the remainder of our 2023 calendar (May through November) on December 1^st, and host our annual RegFest event on the night of December 3^rd. During that time you can save 10-20% off early bird fees for those events, and again save 10-20% off on registrations for our Winter Calendar of events

Membership: Only 2023 HPRS members will save 20% off during our Fall Fest and Reg Fest events. During these events, non-members save 10% off their race registration fees. Outside of these registration events, 2023 HPRS Members will save $10 off HPRS Registration fees for distances 100k or shorter, and 10% off HPRS Registration fees for distances 100-miles or longer. This discount extends through the life of your membership, which expires on September 30, 2023.

Multi-Packs: While registering for HPRS events on Runsignup.com, you will automatically save 5% off each race if purchasing a 3-Pack (registering for 3 races at the same time), 10% off if purchasing a 4-Pack, and 15% off when purchasing a 5-Pack. This discount is always in effect and regardless of one’s membership status.

Military: HPRS is proud to offer a 20% discount to the men and women of our armed services. This discount is open to all active duty, retired, and veteran servicemen and women; the following branches of service are eligible: Army, Navy, Marine Corps., Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard/Reserves.

Indigenous: HPRS is proud to offer 50% Off HPRS Race Registration and HPRS Membership to indigenous runners. This discount is open to all indigenous peoples who wish to participate in our events. 

Volunteer: HPRS has one of the most generous volunteer programs in the sport. You will earn $10-$20/hr in HPRS Race Credits for the time you serve in a volunteer role at our races. We also offer a $40 credit bonus to those who sign-up for and serve more than 8-hours at one race. Yes, we have volunteers who acquired enough credits in 2022, that they can run in each HPRS event free of charge in 2023!

2023 Changes to Our Policies:

In keeping our commitment to accessibility in mind, we’ve also decided to make changes to our Refund, Credit, Deferral, and Transfer policies. We want to start out by saying that it is the industry standard that there are no refunds for any race. We feel that we all learned this lesson at the outset of Covid-19 and NOTHING HAS CHANGED THEREIN, not anywhere. No Refunds. However, we’ve decided that we can do better with our policies, and that we want to do better for you.

Deferrals: We now allow deferrals! Starting with our events that opened on October 1^st, you may now request a 100% deferral of your entry for any HPRS race so long as your request is made 91 or more days prior to the start of the race you’re registered for. (Example: Franklin Mountains Trail Runs 50-Mile starts on January 21, 2023 at 5am. So long as you request a deferral prior to 5:00am on October 23, 2022, you will receive a 100% deferral of your entry fee). This deferral is good for any HPRS race through the same race in the following year (In this example: FMTR 2024).

You may defer 100% of this entry to any other HPRS race of equal or lessor value. You may also defer to any HPRS race of greater value, but we’ll ask you to pay the difference in fees for the longer distance. We will allow deferral of your entry just one time.

Credits: Once we are within 90 days of the start of your registered event, our credit policies come into play. A 100% deferral is no longer an option. If you can no longer make an event during this time, you will be withdrawing from the event. 90-30 days out from the start day and time of your registered race, you may withdraw and receive a 50% credit to any HPRS race of your choice. This credit will expire one year from the date of issuance.  Once we are less than 30 days out from the start day and time of a race, we cannot offer any deferrals or credits.

Bib Transfers: Bib/Registration transfer to any individual other than yourself is not allowed at any time, no exceptions. A valid and unexpired government issued photo ID will be required for every runner to receive their bib and/or swag at race check-in. No one may pick-up the bib and/or swag for any registrant other than themselves. 

Insurance: Every runner can now purchase registration insurance through Allianz Global Assistance during the check-out process on Runsignup.com. Our events offer a Registration Protector with Required to Work policy – The insurance premium is 7.5% of the registration cost (including processing fee), with a minimum insurance premium of $8.99 per registrant. The details of the plan with Allianz Global Assistance is here. The link is also on the registration path (checkout). Allianz Global also has an FAQ page HERE. Event registration insurance protects participants for 100% of their registration and processing fees for races that they are unable to attend for covered reasons. See the Allianz Global website/FAQ for more information.  NOTE: If you purchase the Registration Insurance, this policy usurps HPRS deferral and credit policies. By purchasing insurance, you are guaranteeing yourself a 100% refund of fees paid; you cannot ALSO defer your entry or receive credits. Those who do not purchase insurance are subject to all HPRS Refund, Credits, Deferral, and Transfer policies.