RACE INFORMATION

The First Responders Relay is a running relay competition comprised of first responder personnel from throughout the United States and the World. The event is hosted by the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF). The CPAF is a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation.

The First Responder Relay is a 6 person 30-mile relay. The stages range from 4.2 miles to 6 miles. The race is only open to Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Department Agencies along with Fire/Paramedics and retired personnel. To be eligible, each participant must be publicly employed(including Retirees) as a Peace Officer, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Customs, or Correctional Officers in good standing. Retired employees and separated employees with 10 or more years of service must provide proof of such service.

Support Personnel - Employee (Active or Retired) of an eligible agency or organization. Also included are 9-1-1 Dispatcher, Detention-Custodial Officer, Crime Scene Investigators, or Lifeguards, Reserve Officers and Volunteer Firefighters. Nurses, ER Doctors, and other frontline first responder personnel are included pending approval from the organization.

Sunday, October 11, 2026

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Race Information

Host Hotel:
Crowne Plaza, Ventura Beach California. 450 E. Harbor Blvd, Ventura CA 93001

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR RESERVATION AT THE HOST HOTEL

Race Course:
The race will Start and Finish at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach. Runners will begin the run on the Promenade and proceed north bound on the bike lane until reaching the Pacific Coast Highway. The run continues along PCH and then on then again on the bike trail to Rincon Point Beach Parking lot. The course then returns the same way to the finish line at the Crowne Plaza. Following the race will be an award ceremony in the Top of the Harbor Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza with a spectacular view of the Ocean and Ventura. Limited free food will be available at the ceremony.

Categories:
OPEN DIVISION - Any age, any gender. All sworn personnel with no size limit to agency.

MIXED DIVISION - 3 men and at 3 women required. All sworn personnel no size limit to agency.

WOMEN DIVISION - All sworn personnel no size limit to agency.

SENIOR DIVISION - The total age of the team members must be at least 270 years. No size limit to agency.

500 DIVISION - All sworn personnel from the same agency that does not exceed 500 personnel. No combination teams allowed in this category.

250 DIVISION - All sworn personnel from the same agency that does not exceed 250 personnel. No combination teams allowed in this category.

STATION/DIVISION - Subdivision of larger agencies. Can be comprised of full time sworn and non-sworn personnel from the same Station or Division

SUPPORT SERVICES – A team can consist of all non sworn or combination of sworn and non sworn. This category will also include Reserve Officers, Volunteer Firefighters or any team approved by CPAF.

SUPPORT SERVICES MIXED – Must consist of 3 men and 3 women. A team can consist of all non sworn or combination of sworn and non sworn. This category will also include Reserve Officers, Volunteer Firefighters or any team approved by CPAF.

Award Ceremony: SUNDAY, October 11, 2026
When the race has concluded an Award Ceremony will be held Sunday afternoon at 2pm in the Top of the Harbor Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza. The overall fastest team will be awarded The Duke Nyhus/Bob Burke perpetual trophy. Other Category placings will be awarded as well.

For information or questions, you can contact Tony Adler and Ruben Holguin at Firstrespondersrelay@cpaf.org or call (858) 571-9919

TEAM ESSENTIALS

If you are in thinking of entering the race, then consider the following essentials to help you to organize your team:

Location: The race course is located at Ventura Beach in Ventura, CA
The race starts and finishes at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach and is also the host hotel. They have limited rooms so make reservations early by clicking on the link for the discounted rate
Distance of the relay: 30 miles with 6 exchange points
Team is comprised of 6 runners. A runner who begins a stage must finish. No substitution for a “downed runner”. Team will be classified Unofficial.
You should have alternates in case of a no show on race day. An alternate can start for a now show runner with no penalty.
There will be multiple start times depending on ability of the team beginning at 7am Sunday morning.
Registration will open on Monday, June 1. You will receive a confirmation of entry along with a Team Number when the fee is paid. The race will be limited to the first 100 paid entries.
A Captain will be required to submit registration information.
Each team will be required to submit a volunteer to work at a specified location on the race course. Failure of a volunteer to show and/or leave early is Disqualification
Team captains must develop a plan on transporting/dropping off/picking up runners from the legs. The design of the course makes for short driving to each leg. There is ample parking at each exchange point
Bib numbers: When runners check in at the exchange point, they will receive their bib numbers.
Team Captain Check In location will be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday afternoon and/or Saturday morning pre-race. Times to be determined.
Each team will receive a souvenir.
Each team will receive 9 runner T Shirts for participating in the race
Awards - 50% of each Category will receive (8) specialized awards
An Award Ceremony will be held on Sunday afternoon after the race

Important Dates:

Monday, June 1st : Registration Opens
Sunday, September 12th: Volunteer Information needed
Wednesday, September 9th: T shirt sizes needed
Monday, September 28th: No refunds after this date
Wednesday, October 7th : Submit Run Plan in runner leg order
- Saturday, October 10th : Team Captain Check In for early arrivals and Sunday at 7:30am at the Start/Finish line.
- Turn in signed waiver of all runners

Team Captain Responsibilities

Registration:
• Registration will open on Monday, June 1, 2026. Only the Team Captain and information will be needed to register for the team.
• Entry Fee: $800. Credit card will be the preferred form of payment. If sending a check make it payable to CPAF and mail to 7944 Convoy Court, San Diego, CA 92111. Entry will only be confirmed upon receipt of the check. Please contact the office to pay by Venmo. Call 858-571-9919 x109

Other Responsibilities:
• Attend a Team Captain Check In. This will be conducted the Saturday evening before race and Sunday morning. Detailed information to follow
• Turn in Release of Liability Form with signatures of all runners at the Team Captains Check In
• Turn in the final Running order at Check In

DOWNLOAD WAIVER FOR RUNNERS:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT WAIVER. This waiver needs to be signed by each runner/alternate and brought by the team captain to the meeting on Saturday night.

Rules

All results and rule violations will be posted after the race has concluded. All violations will be adjudicated prior to the Award Ceremony.

Disqualification

Failure for a Volunteer to show for their assignment
There will be no alcohol or any unbecoming behavior tolerated on the race course

Unofficial

There will be NO provision for substituting a DOWNED Runner who cannot finish a stage. If a runner has a medical problem and cannot finish a stage the team will become unofficial. (Alternates are only used for no show runners at the exchange points – no penalty)
If a runner from a team runs more than one leg, the team will become unofficial.

10 Minute Penalty

Team Captain must submit the roster in the order in which the runners will run no later than Wednesday, October 7th by noon
Runner will wear a bib number on the front
Runner must carry the baton in their hand
Runner must use the right-hand side of the trail at all times

Stage Descriptions

Stage 1 (Click for Map)

Start/Finish Line: Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach: 450 E. Harbor Blvd, Ventura 93001 (Parking
available in the paid public parking lot adjacent to the Aloha Steakhouse)

To get to the Finish Line at the Crowne Plaza Ventura:
After leaving the stage, proceed southbound and merge onto the 101 Freeway
Exit at East Thompson Blvd and make a right turn.
Proceed to California Street and make a right turn.
Crowne Plaza located at 450 E Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA 93001

Parking
Parking: Is limited around the Crowne Plaza.
Hotel parking is for guests only
Behind the Aloha Steakhouse is a Ventura City paid structured parking lot
Just south of the pier is Ventura City lot. 1177 E. Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA 93001 (5 min. walk)
Ventura City structure parking. 522 E. Santa Clara Ave., Ventura, CA 93001 (5 min. walk)

Stage 2

To get to Stage #2:

Solimar Beach on PCH. 1/3 of a mile south of 2812 Pacific Coast Highway. Just south of Solimar Beach on PCH.
GPS: 34.30782 N, 119.35308 W
Take the 101 Fwy northbound from the Crowne Plaza. At approximately 4 miles take the PCH 1 Northbound – State Beaches offramp. This will take you onto PCH
Stage 2 will be approx. .8 of a mile north when you get onto PCH (Solimar- just at the north end of the Day Use parking area)

Stage 3

To get to Stage #3:

Continue northbound on PCH for 6 miles to Stage 3.
DO NOT follow alongside the runner. If you want to cheer them on, stop and park on the beach side
The stage is 1 mile north of Ventura County Fire Station 25 ( 5674 Pacific Coast Highway, CA 93001).
Go passed Mobil Pier Road.
Near end of PCH @ entrance of PARKING LOT. This parking lot is tucked away and out of sight.
GPS: 34.355575, -119.430400

Stage 4

To get to Stage #4:

After leaving the beginning of Stage 3 you will need to exit the same way you came in.
This is a narrow road of approx. ½ mile in length. There will be a lot of our vehicle traffic entering/exiting as well as runners. Use caution and drive slowly. Volunteers will be directing traffic
Continue southbound for ½ mile and turn onto the northbound 101 Freeway.
Take the first off ramp at Bates Road.
Rincon Point Parking lot located at 209 Rincon Point Road.
Make a left turn and go under the 101 Freeway. Stage ends/begins by the Rincon Point parking lot on the left which has limited parking. Additional parking on the other side of the road by Bates Beach.

Stage 5

To get to Stage #5

After leaving the start of Stage 4, head southbound on the 101 Freeway.
At approx. 4.5 miles Take exit 78 towards PCH.
Turn left on PCH and go approx. ½ mile to the exchange point. Corner of Mobil Pier Road and PCH.

Stage 6 (Click for Map)

To get to Stage 6:

Continue southbound on PCH for 6 miles to the exchange point at Solimar (Same location as exchange point 2)
DO NOT follow alongside the runner. If you want to cheer them on, stop and park on the beach side.

Overall Map (Click for Map)

RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2025 RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2024 RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2023 RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2022 RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2021 RESULTS

RESULTS SPONSORED BY LASAA