Merit Badges

Welcome to the HPRS Merit Badge Program. This program was established in 2024 as a way for members of the HPRS community to further their skillset, reach for and achieve various HPRS milestones, and for our explorers to display their level of expertise and buy-in of the HPRS ways of trail and ultramarathon running.

To obtain your merit badge:

1.) You must have completed the listed requirements of the badge AFTER January 1, 2023
2.) Email us at [email protected]
3.) Your email should include proof and/or discussion about how you meet the requirements
4.) Your email should also include an accurate and complete shipping address so we can mail you your badge

NAVIGATION MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by completing the HPRS Navigation Clinic hosted by our race director. These clinics are hosted periodically. In order to earn this badge you’ll need to score 80 or higher on the final exam and complete the “in-the-field” portion of the clinic where your skills are put to the test in real life.

DFL MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by coming in Dead F*cking Last in your respective distance at any HPRS event. If you have received the DFL finisher’s award at one of our events (with the bottle of wine and a comp entry to a future race) you have also earned this badge.

TRIFECTA MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by finishing three (3) HPRS races within one (1) calendar year.
Calendar year = January 1st – December 31st

HEXAD MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by finishing six (6) HPRS races within one (1) calendar year.
Calendar year = January 1st – December 31st

TRANSCENDENCE MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by finishing a distance at every HPRS event within one 365 day period of time.

This primarily pertains to only Colorado Events. You may substitute one (1) Colorado event for our race in Texas, but attending our event in Texas is not required for the merit badge.

SPIRIT OF THE TRAIL MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned through nomination by your peers.

In consideration of the general ethos of HPRS – helping each other out, no podiums/ego-averse, compassionate support, leave the trail better than you found it, volunteering, community, etc – This badge is for people who live and breathe that ethos. We ask aid station captains and runners, to nominate fellow runners or volunteers for this badge. There are people who will always stick in our minds as those who have been instrumental in getting us to various finish lines. Whether it was a kind word at a pivotal moment, or on trail camaraderie with another runner, or a volunteer who has gone above and beyond to get you back on your feet and back on the trail.

DIE HARD MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by attending every HPRS event, either as a participant or in a volunteer role, over the course of a 365 day period of time.

This primarily pertains to only Colorado Events. You may substitute one (1) Colorado event for our race in Texas, but attending our event in Texas is not required for the merit badge.

NIGHT SHIFT MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by working an overnight volunteer shift at an HPRS event. Half of the hours pertaining to that shift should be between 10p and 6am.

COURSE MARKING MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by volunteering as a course marker at an HPRS event. In order to obtain the badge you need to complete your course marking duties satisfactorily. So long as we do not have to fix any of your markings for accuracy, we do not receive a complaint about your efforts in marking the course, and no runners were too terribly lost, you will have earned this badge.

TRAIL WORK MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by volunteering for at least two (2) HPRS Trail Work days within a 365 day period of time.

LEADERSHIP MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by participating in a leadership role at HPRS through the HPRS Leadership Program. The Leadership Program has various sub-groups one can participate in, which includes:

• Race Volunteer Lead: Satisfy the requirements of the Race Volunteer Lead for 2 HPRS races in one (1) calendar year.
• Trail Work Lead: Satisfy the requirements of the Trail Work Lead for 2 HPRS Trail Work Days in one (1) calendar year.
• Group Run Lead: Serve as a HPRS Group Run lead for at least 8 consecutive months, hosting at least one (1) group run in each of those months.
• Focus Group: Serve a three (3) month term on any HPRS Focus Group.
• Mentors Program: Serve a one (1) year term in the HPRS Mentors Program

CLICK HERE to learn more about the HPRS Leadership Program and these sub-groups.

40 HOURS MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by volunteering for a cumulative 40-hours over the course of a 365 period of time.

80 HOURS MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by volunteering for a cumulative 80-hours over the course of a 365 period of time.

120 HOURS MERIT BADGE

This badge is earned by volunteering for a cumulative 120-hours over the course of a 365 period of time.

HAVE MERIT BADGE IDEAS?

We welcome any ideas members of our community may have for a new merit badge. Just send us an email to [email protected]

Your email should include the name of your merit badge idea, as well as how someone earns the merit badge. We cannot guarantee that we’ll turn every idea into an actual merit badge, but we do promise to give it our full consideration.