FAQs: Prairie Dog Race Events
ASK US:
Have a question that is not covered on this page? No question is too silly to ask regardless of whether you're a rookie or a veteran. Help us improve the FAQ Page! Send your general or specific question(s) to info@3WRaces and type: "PD FAQ" in the subject line!
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MANAGE YOUR REGISTRATION:
Did you know you can easily manage your own RunSignUp profile and race registration? You can change your shirt size, distance, and even transfer your registration to another runner!
To update your personal info (fix a typo in your name, change your email address, etc): Modify Profile
You can also send yourself a new confirmation email: Re-Send Confirmation Email
DOGS & STROLLERS:
Please leave the dogs and strollers at home for the Louisville event as it contains ROAD portions where we share the street with vehicles.
Dogs and Strollers are welcome at the Arvada, Castle Rock and Westminster events (Dogs are not allowed at the Louisville event). However, please stay in the BACK of the pack if you have a dog or stroller.
HEADPHONES:
Yes, you may run with headphones. We just ask that you leave one ear bud out or have the volume low enough to hear important announcements at the start/finish and volunteer/course marshal directions on the course!
CHILDREN:
Of course your kiddo can participate!
If your child stays in the stroller the whole race, no, you do NOT have to register them as a separate participant.
Our rule is, if they are using their own two feet to participate in one of our races, then, YES, you do need to register them. This is due to safety, participant counts for city permits, and calculation of materials needed for the race!
WALKERS:
Walkers and joggers should always stay to the right, faster runners should pass on the left. Walkers, please keep your groups down to two abreast so that others may pass you. If you need to start EARLY, please email the race director and you may be allowed to start up to 1 hours before the scheduled start.
WATER & CUPS:
CUP FREE FINISH
All 3W Races events maintain a cup free finish area. This means that water will be available for refilling your personal water bottles. Bins for holding your water bottle near the Finish Line will be available on race day morning. Biodegradable, cups will be used on the course, but no disposable cups will be available at the finish line. Thank you!
SHIRTS:
The shirt is the same style, cut and logo design for all distances at one event (but varies from event to event) For example, in the fall when you're running the event in Westminster, 5k, 10k and Half Marathon participants will receive the SAME design of shirt. The Half Marathon finishers will also receive a finisher's medal. 10k and 5k runners will NOT receive a finisher's medal.
On race day, you may visit the 3W Races table/tent in the expo to exchange shirt sizes or purchase additional shirts while supplies last.
If your shirt size is not listed on the registration page, then we have sold out of that size. Please select the 'no shirt' option for a $5 discount. It is possible that some racers will not pick up their packets and you may be able to get a shirt in your size on race day after the race. Check with the 3W Races table in the expo!
Prior to race day, you can change your shirt size online (given we're not sold out of a particular size.) Here's how: CLICK HERE.
PACKET PICK UP:
Can't make it to advanced packet pick up? Send a friend, family member, or teammate! We will allow others to pick up for you. Yes, there is same day pick up available starting 60-90 minutes before the first race starts (see the event website for schedule).
Avoid the lines; pick up early! It's not a secret...it makes race day run smoother for everyone when you pick up your gear in advance. If you can't make it to advanced packet pick up and have to miss out on the race we are unable to get you your packet. Unfortunately we cannot hold it for you to pick up or mail it to you after the race.
If you can't run for any reason, please feel free to still pick up your packet at advanced packet pick up or on race day.
COURSE SURFACES:
Winter - Louisville: Concrete trails, crushed gravel trails and some portions on asphalt.
Spring - Arvada: Concrete trail. Small portion of gravel road/trail near the 1/2 turn around.
Summer - Castle Rock: Streets covered in asphalt, mostly concrete trail and a portion of hard packed, crushed gravel.
Autumn - Westminster: Concrete trail with portions of hard packed, crushed gravel
COURSE CUT-OFF TIME:
1/2 marathon course support and timing is open for 3:30:00. Racers must average at least 16 minutes per mile to receive course support. If you need to start EARLY, please email the race director and you may be allowed to start 45 minutes before the scheduled start.
GPS ACCURACY:
We measure each of our courses using both a Jones Counter (USATF standard) and a bicycle computer. When doing so, we cut each tangent as much as possible. When a GPS device pings back and forth to the satellite, it struggles with significant elevation shifts and multiple turns. So, it is likely that in a course with a lot of hills and or turns, your GPS may read SHORT of the actual distance. In a relatively flat course, oftentimes a GPS device will read LONG as you may have weaved around other runners or made wider turns than the shortest tangents.
MILITARY DISCOUNT:
Yes! Send us your rank and branch to info@3WRaces.com and request a military discount code. We'll send you a 10% off code that you use on all 3W events throughout the calendar year in which it is requested. (Does not apply to 'packaged or bundled' races or virtual events.) You'll also receive special use instructions in the email at that time! Note: may be required to show proof at time of packet pick up!
VOUCHER/COUPON CODE:
"I received a coupon code, or a voucher toward the price of the race, but it isn't 'applying' and discounting anything off my fee!"
Thanks for your patience, this is an easy fix. First, DO NOT complete your registration. Please email us the voucher/coupon code, a little info on where you got it, and if applicable, a picture of the voucher/gift certificate. We'll get back to you shortly and look into why the code may not be working! If you're on a time crunch because of a price increase, don't worry, we'll honor it when we fix your code.
BAG CHECK:
There is no official bag check. If you need to leave keys at the 3W Races registration tent, you are welcome to do so. There is a water bottle bin/table at the start/finish line.
TRANSFER DISTANCE - CANCEL REGISTRATION:
Race registration fees are non-refundable. If you already registered and will not be racing with us on race day, you are still welcome to pick up your packet (shirt, bib, goody bag) during advanced packet pick up.
Transferring from distance to distance on the same race day can be done through the registration site directly for no additional fee other than the difference in pricing, if transferring to a longer distance. Transferring to a shorter distance is free. Log in to RunSignUp.com and click on the appropriate 'Transfer' tab at the top of the page. You can also transfer to another runner through that link.
If you missed the online cut off for transferring DISTANCES, please stop by the registration tent on race day to notify us of your change to a shorter distance. There is NO FEE to drop to a shorter distance event.
If you want to transfer your registration to a different DATE of a 3W owned event, you can also do this through your RunSignUp account for a $15 fee. We will allow this when requested at least 72 hours BEFORE the start of the event. Run Sign Up will take what you paid, less the $15, and apply to another 3W Races Event date in the same calendar year that you select.
If you are part of the packaged registration for the Prairie Dog Half Series you may NOT transfer to another participant nor apply your registration toward future events. CLICK the LINKS below to:
Transfer DISTANCE | Transfer RUNNER | Transfer DATE
WEATHER:
The race will not be postponed or cancelled due to weather unless something SEVERE is happening such as lightning storm, tornado or white-out conditions. If that is the case, announcements will be made on our Facebook page and on the race webpage in addition to racer email communication. 99.9% of the time, the race will go on as scheduled.
WEATHER in LOUISVILLE:
The conditions of our permit in Louisville (Winter event only) place some limitations on the street portions of the course. If more than 4 inches of snow falls in the 12 hours prior to the race start time, the City will not allow runners on the streets for safety reasons. In this situation, our 5k and 10k runners are not impacted, as we have a simple reroute off of the streets for those distances. However, it is not feasible to produce the 13.1 course without some street access. Of course, each registrant accepts this risk and signs a waiver to that end during the registration process, acknowledging the no refund policy, etc. However, we're in the business of seeing people run, not just seeing people register. In that spirit of being 'pro-runner', 13.1 registered runners will have the option to choose one of the following:
1) Change distance to 10k or 5k (and still claim your 13.1 finisher's medal) and receive a $40 one time use voucher toward any other 3W Races owned event in the calendar year.
2) Pick up your bib, packet and race medal, do not run on race day, and receive a $70 one time use voucher toward any other 3W Races owned event in the calendar year or to next year's Prairie Dog Half in Louisville.
Should the weather be SO severe that no running is possible, then the event will be canceled. In this case of a total event cancellation due to weather, no refunds or vouchers will be issued, but all runners will be eligible to pick up their shirts, packets, bibs and medals at our packet pick up host location during the following week and will be automatically deferred to the following year's event.
Obviously, any decision to this end is dependent on changing weather at the very last minute. The call to suspend the 13.1 distance course or cancel the event would be made as soon as possible with reasonable predictability, but by 5 AM on the morning of the event at the very latest. Racers will be notified in three ways: 1) email to each registered participant, 2) Facebook posts HERE, and 3) notification on PrairieDogHalf.com.
