First Responders Relay

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 as a Full Time (including Retirees) 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 - Full time 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 12, 2025

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Race Information

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

CLICK HERE FOR DISCOUNTED HOTEL LINK

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. A must see!!!

Categories:
OPEN DIVISON - 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 12, 2025
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 Dave Miklos 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 8am Sunday morning.
Registration will open on Monday, June 2. 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 60 paid entries.
A Captain will be required to submit registration information.
Each team will be required to submit a volunteer to work at an exchange point. 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 from the RV support group
Team Captain Check In location TBD
Each team will receive a plaque for participating in the race
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:

Tuesday, June 2nd : Registration Opens
Sunday, September 7th: Volunteer Information needed
Wednesday, September 17th: T shirt sizes needed
Monday, September 29th: No refunds after this date
Wednesday, October 8th : Submit Run Plan in runner leg order
- Saturday, October 11th : 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 2, 2025. Only the Team Captain and information will be needed to register for the team.
• Entry Fee: $700. 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. Email: 4info@cpaf.org

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

Important Dates:

Tuesday, June 2nd : Registration Opens
Sunday, September 7th: Volunteer Information needed
Wednesday, September 17th: T shirt sizes needed
Monday, September 29th: No refunds after this date
Wednesday, October 8th : Submit Run Plan in runner leg order
- Saturday, October 11th : Team Captain Check In for early arrivals and Sunday at 7:30am at the Start/Finish line.
- Turn in signed waiver of all runners

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 8th by noon
Runner will wear a bib number on the front and back
Runner must carry the baton in their hand
Runner must use the right-hand side of the trail at all times

Stage Descriptions

RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2024 RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2023 RESULTS

CLICK HERE 2022 RESULTS