Spring Fling Prairie Dog Half, 10k, & 5k

Welcome to the SPRING FLING Prairie Dog Half, part of the Prairie Dog Half Race Series. This spring-time event also features 10k & 5k distances!

If you're looking for race day info (including, schedule, course, packet pick up, etc) navigate to the menu under "race info" at the top! 

Date: April 10, 2026
Time: 4 - 7 PM

Location: Road Runner Sports- Westminster
Address: 10442 Town Center Dr, Ste 300, Westminster, CO 80021

It's not a secret, we WANT you to come to Advanced Packet Pick Up! This helps keep lines and crowds down on race day! 
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Come ready with your QR Code (sent to you via email the day before packet pick up)! 

This is the only date for ADVANCED packet pick up.  You are welcome to send a friend or family member to pick up your packet for you.

Bring your bib and ID to Colorado Tap House after the race! They open at 8:30AM.

Your race bib gets you a BOGO (Buy One Get One) deal on any beverage item (discount applied to the lesser value item) at the Colorado tap House.

14982 WEST 69TH AVENUE, ARVADA, CO, 80007

 

 

In 2025, The City of Arvada is adjusting portions of Ralston Creek Trail in their future flood mitigation efforts.  A detour on the trail is in effect.  Run courses are adjusted accordingly. All other details below remain the same.

UPDATED 2025 Half Marathon: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6444707866

UPDATED 2025 10k: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6444713410/

Start, Finish & Expo:

START & FINISH
13150 W 72nd Ave. Arvada, CO 80005
(in the south-west corner of the APEX Recreation Center Parking Lot)

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PARKING:

Park anywhere at the Apex Center and then walk SOUTH to the fields behind the Apex Center to find the expo.

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Kids Dash:

FREE! Approximately 150 yards.  Children must wear a race bib which can be obtained at the registration tent with a signed waiver!
Children should gather at the Finish Line under the Arch where they will meet the race director and walk to the Kids Dash Start Line together.  They will finish through the main Finish Line under the ARCH!  

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Support:

-Port-a-Johns will be at the Expo (start/finish) and at approximately miles  2 and 10 on the course.
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-The 10k will have one water station which you will see twice, and the 5k course will not have any water station.  The Half Marathon will see a water station at approximately miles 2.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10.5 with water.  GELS will be available at the westernmost aid station approximately miles 7 & 8.

-All distances contain OUT and BACK sections, which means runners need to stay to the right to avoid oncoming racers. 

*The 1/2 marathon course support and timing will be open for 3:30:00.  Racers must average at least 16 minutes per mile to remain on the course and receive course support.

Dogs and Strollers:
-Dogs are welcome at the Spring race. We do ask that you keep dogs on a short leash and you start near the back or off to the side.

-Strollers are welcome at the Spring race. We do ask that you start near the back or off to the side. The half marathon course DOES have some tricky spots that strollers might struggle with. A specific jogging stroller would be recommended for the half. Traditional strollers would be fine for the 10k or 5k.

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Course Surface

The course is primarily on a concrete trail with a little bit of hard-packed dirt (about a mile) around the lake.

CLICK on the following for links to the course on MapMyRun.com

5k

10k

13.1

For 2021, the Spring Fling Prairie Dog event will be IN PERSON! 

Racers that attend the in-person event agree to the following COVID-19 Related guidelines:

We are following the current City of Arvada, Jefferson County, and State of Colorado guidelines. We will update this info as it changes. 

When signing up for the Prairie Dog Half, 10k or 5k you will agree to a set of COVID guidelines and social contract. Those guidelines will include:
1. You agree to wear a mask/face covering when in the expo area, start corral after you cross the finish line. Face covering will not be required while you are running.
2. You agree to social distance of at least 6ft while at the event including in the start area, finish area, and expo.
3. Must be "healthy" to attend. Please stay home if you are exhibiting any covid-like or other illness type symptoms including, but not limited to: fever, cough, sneezing, sore/scratchy throat, etc.
4. You will not get to the expo more than 30 minutes before your scheduled start time/wave. When you arrive, you are instructed to go to the starting area and your starting corral section (marked by signs and volunteers). After you finished, you are instructed to leave as soon after as possible and not cross through the starting area.
5. Advanced Packet Pick Up is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to limit unneccesry lines/crowds on race day.

In addition, all runners will be sent out in small waves (of 25 - subject to change) to allow for social distancing (waves assigned at registration ). While in the expo area, talking to vendors, and getting finisher food, masks will be mandatory. You will also see all of our staff wearing masks at all times and volunteers wearing gloves while handing out finisher food/water. As the regulations change due to this ever-changing pandemic, we will keep registered racers informed with the most recent guidelines. 

May:  Half Marathon: $60 / 10k: $35 / 5k: $25
June - August:  Half Marathon: $70 / 10k: $40 / 5k: $30
September - March:  Half Marathon: $75 / 10k: $45 / 5k: $35
April 1 - Evening before race @ 4 PM:  Half Marathon: $80 / 10k: $50 / 5k: $40
​Race Day:  Half Marathon: $90 / 10k: $60 / 5k: $50

(fees above to not include the processing fee you see on the home page)

Registration fees are non-refundable.

GROUPS: 
Join a TEAM during registration, and when your group reaches 5 or more members in the 5k, 10k or Half Marathon events, everyone gets $5 off!  (See FAQ for details.)  Discounts are honored ONLINE only in advance of race day.

Want to win some cool stuff including 3W Races vouchers, gift cards, and gear from our sponsors?  Bring 5 or more items to donate to Community Table on race day and you'll be entered into the exclusive race day raffle!! Drop off items before you run at the charity table near the 3W Race's tent in the expo. After you race, view the RAFFLE board at the registration tent to see if your bib number was pulled for a prize!

Here's what you can donate! Community Table can always use personal care / hygiene products and:
- pudding mix, jello mix, canned fruit, or any canned or shelf-stable meats are always needed!

7:00 - AM: Same day registration and late packet pick up opens
7:30 - 11:30 AM: Expo Open
8:00 AM: Half Marathon Start
8:30 AM: 10k and 5k Start
9:15 AM: 5k Awards
9:45 AM: 10k Awards and overall Half Marathon Awards
10:15 AM: Half Marathon Age Group Awards 
11:30 AM: Finish Line Closes

We’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with Sneakers4Good to provide you with a socially responsible way to donate your gently worn, used or new sneakers and running shoes to a good cause we support! The sneakers will help benefit Growing Home as well as give a hand up, not a handout, to micro-enterprises in 25 developing countries. The athletic shoes will be kept out of landfills where they can take decades to fully decompose. Visit Sneakers4Good to learn more!

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It's super simple! All you need to do is bring your lightly worn athletic shoes and sneakers to the race (either race day or at packet pick up). We collect them and mail them and a donation is made to Growing Home! 

Please donate only gently worn, used, and new athletic shoes.  These sneakers, trainers, and other athletic shoes will be worn again by people in developing nations, so please make sure there are no holes or soles falling off and that they are in wearable condition.  Dress shoes, sandals, brown shoes, flip flops, cleats, etc. and other shoes that are NOT athletic shoes will NOT be accepted. 

Please tie your shoes together or put a rubber band around the pair! 

 

 

Each 1/2 Marathon finisher will receive a custom Peedy the Prairie Dog finisher's medal.

All participants will receive a Tech T-Shirt (style/color varies) and a Pint Glass!

**Available shirt sizes are listed during registration.  In the final few days before the event, some sizes will sell out.  Not all sizes may be available for same day registration.  Visit the 3W Races table at the Expo after 8:30 AM for shirt exchange if you are interested in trading out the size you ordered for a different size!

Men's Sizing:

Women's Sizing:

The top three men and women of each distance (based on gun time) and top three men and women in each age group (based on chip time) are recognized! 

Awards will be given to the top three men and women overall and in each age group for each distance.
Must be present to claim awards/prizes. 
Awards will NOT be mailed.

Age groups: 
10k and Half Marathon:  19 and Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
5k:  0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

RESULTS are posted LIVE during the event!

VIRTUAL RACE FAQS
For general in-person race-related questions, please visit the main website. You may also find answers to some of our general 3W FAQs here.

Here are Virtual Racing FAQs related to the virtual event for this race:

When you sign up to run the Virtual Prairie Dog Half, 10k or 5k, you may run ANYTIME! That's the beauty of a virtual race! Most virtual racers will run on their own on the same day as the in-person event (April 11), but you can run before OR after that date! The virtual race RESULTS (and the ability to log your results) will be open from April 9th - 12th. See below for more common virtual FAQs!

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WHEN should I run this?
You can run this ANYTIME you desire!  Many participants will be running on the originally scheduled date/weekend, Aprill 11, 2021, but that’s the benefit of a virtual event.  Only the RACE is virtual – the RUN is REAL, WHENEVER you choose to do it.  Want to run now?  That’s fine! Need to wait? That's fine, too.

WHERE should I run this?
That is 100% your choice.  You can run the real course on a different day/time than the in-person event or run around your neighborhood! You can run outside anywhere you'd like or take your miles to the treadmill!  If you choose to run outdoors, please take every precaution ordered in your area. You can find the real course HERE. The real course is enabled with the RaceJoy APP as well. That means you can start Race Joy and it will guide you through the real course with some fun motivation to go along. With Race Joy, your friends and family can also track you as you run! In addition, you can use "Race Joy Anywhere" for this race and that will allow you to use the APP for your virtual race. When you use Race Joy (for anywhere or for the real course), your time/results will automatically post! 

How do I report my TIME?
The virtual results submission link is active from April 9th - 12th.  Use THIS LINK and follow the prompts when you click "submit virtual results!" You don't have to submit a time; there is an option to just mark your race as complete.

If you miss that window and still want to report your results, you'll have to email us at info@3wraces.com and we can manually import your time on the back end.

Are TIMES verified?
No.  For the virtual event, times reported are on the ‘honor system’. 

WILL RESULTS be posted?
You bet! As more and more people submit their time, preliminary results will be on the RESULTS page of the website. The final virtual results will be most accurate on April 13th.

Will participants be rewarded based on PERFORMANCE?
Not for the virtual race, because participants are running in different locations, times, etc., we will not award anything based on performance.  

HOW will I get my SWAG?
You can attend advance packet pick up to pick up your virtual goodie bag! HERE'S THE DATE/TIME/LOCATION. If you can't make it to advanced packet pick up, packets/swag will be mailed the day after the live event and will be sent through USPS. If your address associated with this race is outdated, EMAIL US IMMEDIATELY, info@3WRaces.com We also recommend you update your profile too, but this will only affect FUTURE registrations. 

To see what address is associated with THIS Registration...go to RunSignUp.com, click Profile in the upper right-hand corner and scroll down to find this race. Click "manage registration" and you'll see what address is associated with this specific race! 

To update your address for FUTURE registration (not just 3W Races events, but any race that uses Run Sign Up, Go to RunSignUp.com Click on "Profile" where you may then edit your personal details.   If your address is not in RunSignUp, you may add it now.

The Start/Finish and Expo are located:

Apex Center
13150 W 72nd Ave
Arvada, CO 80005

Parking may be limited, so please CARPOOL as you are able!

Gender-Specific Sizing is available on t-shirts. Styles/colors vary.

FINISHER PINT GLASS for every finisher.  Finisher Medal for every 13.1 Finisher!

 

Join us in support of Community Table, serving the Arvada Community since 1982!

"Empowering our community by providing the tools to lift people from poverty."

This event features a food drive for Community Table.  You can care for your neighbors without making a special trip! See our RAFFLE Page for more info!

 

We are proud to partner with Sneakers4Good! When you donate your gently used or new athletic shoes at the Spring Fling Prairie Dog race, a donation is made to our other charity partner, Growing Home! 

Bring your shoes on Race day and drop them off in the box near the registration tent! Click here for more info and "dos" & "donts"! 

5k: Shirt

10k: Shirt

Half Marathon: Shirt