Highlands Ranch 5k

Winter never disappoints us when racing in February in Highlands Ranch!  You won't feel chilly after a course so hilly!  After conquering the 5k, warm up with hot apple cider or hot cocoa at the finish line in your new FINISHER mug! Click the "race info" tab above and scroll through the drop-down menu for more race info! On your phone? Click the three lines at the top of the page! 

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Groups of 5 or more receive $5 off registration! See our FAQ page for more info! 

Stay warm. Avoid race-day lines. Get your packet in advance.

Date: Friday Feb 20, 2026
Time: 4-7pm
Location:  Road Runner Sports- 8457 S Yosemite St, Lone Tree CO 80124

*Packet Pick Up dates, times and locations are subject to change. 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.  If you cannot attend advanced packet pick up, you must pick up your bib and timing chip on race day morning during the allotted time. 

Picking up for a friend?
Yes! You can pick up a friend or family member's packet (or have someone else pick up your packet)! Just tell us their name and we'll get you on your way! 

Pre-Event Contact
We would love to work with you to feature your product or business with our racers.  There are many ways to be involved and gain exposure, from hosting a packet pick up location or after party, sponsoring a water station, adding a goody or coupon to the goody bag, providing an in-kind donation/sample for the racers on the course or at the finish line, or setting up a booth on race-day at the expo. 

We can feature your business on the event web page, racer emails, or social media!  All sponsorship payments must be received before your business is included in any kind of mention or posting.

Please contact our marketing team before the race with any questions:

Marketing Contacts:
AJ Benefield - 
Email: AJ@3WRaces.com

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Goody Bag Stuffer
If you have arranged to place something into the Goody Bag, please make sure your 'stuffer' reaches us by the deadline so our volunteers and staff can get it into each racer's goody bag!  Items received after the deadline will not be in the goody bag.

DEADLINE:
FRIDAY before race week: February 13, 2026

QUANTITY: 230 (Subject to change closer to race date.)

MAIL TO:  
3W Races 7960 Hollywood Street, Commerce City, CO 80022
If you would rather DROP off your items, please email in advance to make arrangements.

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Tent/Table Rental
TENT/TABLE:  You will be given approximately 12'x12' of space.  Tents and tables are NOT included, however, some of you have already arranged for table/tent rental from 3W Races.  In that case, your tent and or table will be set for you at your designated space.

Generally, tent rental is $95 and tables are $20 each to rent for the event.  3W will bring the tent/table, set it up at your designated location and tear it down at the end of the event.  If you are interested in this arrangement, please coordinate with us at least one week in advance.

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Racer Data
2020 was the first year for this event. We saw 170 registrations and 122 came and raced on race day. We've seen between 150 and 250 for this event. We expect ~230 for 2026.

These numbers do not include staff and spectators that are also present on race day! 

Demographics:
Male: 38%
Female: 62%

Under 18: 5%
18-29: 13%
30-39: 23%
40-49: 30%
50-64: 21%
Over 65: 8%

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Race Day Logistics
DATE: Sunday, February 22, 2026
TIME: Sponsor load in/arrival at 8:30 - 8:55 AM.  Please be set up and ready for racers by 9:00 AM.  Finish line closes and tear down begins at 11:05 AM.
SURFACE: Parking Lot Asphalt, please bring WEIGHTS for your tent, if applicable
EXPO MAP - The expo is in the southwest corner of the parking lot. You'll be assigned a spot upon arrival.
ADDRESS:  Highlands Heritage Regional Park - 9651 S Quebec St Highlands Ranch, CO US 80130
PARKING: There is plenty of parking near the expo.
COURSE: The course is in the park and on the surrounding trails.
RACE DAY RAFFLE: As a perk to our runners and charity partner, those racers that bring 5 donation items or more get entered into a race day raffle for awesome prizes. If you have something you would like to donate for the raffle, let us know! You can bring it on race day or hand it off in advance! 

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Race Day Contact
Please check-in at the 3W Races tent on race day regarding the specific location of your booth space!

Race Director Direct Number for use on race day:

MJ: 720-722-4226, MJBettis@3WRaces.com

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Special Request: 

We ask that you please respect the property of our runners and kindly ask that you do NOT paper events. This includes placing advertisements on cars. All paper advertisements need to be placed at the 3W tent and/or at your personal booth space and directly handed to runners. 

Click here for the 5K map.
This course does not have a water station or restrooms. Restrooms are located at the race expo.  The 5k is a pure out and back course, running WEST and SOUTH to a turnaround and then EAST and NORTH back to the same location as the finish line.  There are cones and signs at the turnaround.  Don't guess where the turn around is, run all the way until you encounter the signs on both sides of the trail (they read "TURN AROUND") and then run AROUND the cone in the middle of the trail before starting your return to the finish.  Trail offshoots that should NOT be taken, are also marked with a cone to block the path as well as signs indicating your appropriate direction of travel.

Course Surface: CONCRETE.  100% of the trail is concrete and is suitable for strollers.

We use all trails in their 'as is' condition.  If it has snowed the night before the event or during the event, it is likely that there will be snow or even ice on the course.  Exceptionally icy areas will be treated as resources are available, but nothing is guaranteed.  Please be aware of the weather and bring appropriate footwear which may include lugged shoes/spikes, etc.

Most FAQs are answered on our parent website, 3WRaces.com. CLICK HERE to be redirected.

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One of the most common questions regarding a race in Colorado in February is "What about the weather?" 

We will produce the event under almost any conditions.  If there is active lightning, a tornado warning, white-out blizzard conditions, or forecasted temps 0*F or below, then the event may be postponed (up to 1 hour) or canceled.  Registrants will be notified - see the FAQ page for details. There is no alternate date scheduled for the event.  Of course, event swag would be made available to registrants at an alternative date/location, if this is ever the case.  For those who are concerned about such conditions, an event protection optional coverage is something to consider and is made available at the time of registration.  Likewise, advance registration is NOT required and you may register online or in-person up until the start time of the event.  Additionally, there are options to transfer to another race date/location owned by 3W Races if you chose to transfer at least 72 hours before the start of the event.  See the FAQ page for details and instructions on how to complete such transfer.

Another common question is "Can I bring my dog and/or stroller?"
For this specific race, YES! We ask that your well-behaved dogs are kept on a short leash and that you start near the back and/or off to the side to prevent tripping other racers. Also, this course is VERY stroller friendly, for all types of strollers.

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Groups of 5 or more save $5 per person! 

The way this works is as follows:
-Participant 1: Signs up first at full price and creates a TEAM. You will have to create a team name and a password so that only your group can sign up with you. (Click here for info on how to create a team.)
-Participants 2 through 4: Register like normal making sure to join the team, at full price.
-Participant 5 and on: Signs up, joining the team as well, and notices their registration is $5 cheaper! WOOHOO! 
Then, a $5 refund is automatically applied to participants 1 through 4 (assuming they paid at least $5.00 for the race)!

Cool, huh?
Teams must be created or joined at time of registration. Team Rewards/Refunds will not be awarded retroactively. I.E: you must sign up for a team at registration to be eligible for the $5 discount or refund.
Click here for info on how to join a team when registering.
(For races that have a free fun run or 1 Mile Fun run, the $5 discount does not apply nor does it count as one of the minimum of 5 members to receive the discount.)

9651 S Quebec St
Highlands Heritage Regional Park
Highlands Ranch, CO US 80130 

Click on "Race Info" and it will open the Drop Down Menu at the top of the screen or scroll all the way to the footer to see links to other pages on this site with information such as
-Parking
-Packet Pick Up
-Schedule
-Course
-Age Groups
-After Party Race Day Deals
-FAQs

Please park in the free lots at the Highlands Heritage Regional Park. Follow signs toward the DOG PARK at the south end for the closest parking.

Get treated after you finish the race!

Legacy Pie Co. is offering all race participants a FREE sweet hand pie the day of the race (2/23) at their Wash Park Location (300 E Alameda Ave. Denver, CO 80209). 

All you need to do is show your eligible race bib at check out and you will get a sweet hand pie on them. Happy racing!! 🥧🎉

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
9:00 AM Late Packet Pick up and Walk Up Registration
10:00 AM 5K Start
10:45 5K Awards
11:05 Finish Line Closes

We’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with Sneakers4Funds 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 Sneakers4Funds to learn more!

It's super simple! All you need to do is bring your lightly worn athletic shoes and sneakers to the race (either on 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! 

Available sizes are listed during registration.  If your size is not available, you may opt to trade with any shirts that are available on race day after the event has begun.  You may also select the 'no shirt' option for a discounted fee during registration.  Available shirts/sizes will be sold on race day at the registration table.

Age groups will be recognized as follows:

Age groups 5k: M/F 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

The top 3 Men and Women (&non-binary) will be recognized as well as the top three m/f in each of the above listed age groups.

The event is CHIP TIMED.  OVERALL Winners (top three m/f) are scored based on GUN TIME.  All others (age groups) are scored based on chip time.

Your chip time starts when your timing chip crosses the start line.  Your timing chip is adhered to the back of your race bib (race number.)  You will receive this number from the registration volunteers when you pick up your shirt/race packet.  Please wear the bib that is assigned to YOU and not to someone else in your family.  Please wear the bib on the FRONT, OUTSIDE of your clothing just above your hips.  If you wear a bib assigned to someone else or do not wear the bib HORIZONTALLY on the front, outside of your clothing, your result may not register and you will be ineligible for awards.

RESULTS will be sent to you electronically upon finishing (if you opt in for that option during registration) and will be available to view here LIVE during the event and after the race.  Please email us if you find an error, in the case that you wore someone else's bib or your age/gender information, name spelling, etc is incorrect.  info@3wraces.com

All runners will receive a performance tee (gender specific options) and a collectable finishers mug. Come put in some miles and then warm up with cider, cocoa or tea in your proudly earned collectable, finisher mug with your fellow runners!

3W Races is proud to have Backpack Society as our charity partner for this event.

Bring 5 or more items to the in-kind donation gathering on race day and you'll be entered into the race day raffle where you can win prizes!  Winners are drawn during the run and posted at the registration tent.  No need to wait around in the cold for tickets to be pulled - you'll know right away if and what you've won!! With the cold weather outside this time of year, help us warm the hearts of youth in Douglas County by donating food items on race day. Preferred items are listed below:

• Cereal and Granola Bars
• Fruit Snacks
• Family-Sized Box Crackers
• Individual snacks like goldfish, nuts, raisins etc.
• Chef Boyardee

Click HERE to learn a little bit more about Backpack Society

In case you missed the FAQ page....

Most FAQs are answered on our parent website, 3WRaces.com

CLICK HERE to be redirected.

One of the most common questions regarding a race in Colorado in February is "What about the weather?"  We will produce the event under almost any conditions.  If there is active lightning, tornado, white-out bilzzard conditions or temps below 0*F, then the event may be postponed (up to 1 hour) or canceled.  Registrants will be notified - see the FAQ page for details. There is no alternate date scheduled for the event.  Of course, event swag would be made available to registrants at an alternative date/location, if this is ever the case.  For those who are concerned about such conditions, an event protection optional coverage is something to consider and is made available at the time of registration.  Likewise, advance registration is NOT required and you may register online or in person up until the start time of the event.  Additionally, there are options to transfer to another race date/location owned by 3W Races if you chose to transfer at least 72 hours before the start of the event.  See the FAQ page for details and instructions on how to complete such a transfer.

We are proud to partner with Sneakers4Funds! When you donate your gently used or new athletic shoes, a donation is made to our ongoing charity partner, Growing Home!  Click here for more info!