Unicorn 5k (South)

Ready to get off the sofa and gallop around Highlands Ranch with some friends?  Yeah, you are!  Come frolic with us at the Unicorn Runner 5k in Highlands Ranch to finish off your summer!  You'll earn a sweet tee shirt and a flashy unicorn finisher medal!

It's a 5k distance for all, and whether you walk, trot, canter or gallop, we'll be happy to see you! This event also features a shorter saunter for those not quite ready to enjoy a full 5k!  The untimed 3/4 mile run is long enough to get your heart rate up and be a 'real run' without being a sprint!

Costumes are encouraged!

The Balloon Guy will be back this year- creating balloon creations for all!

Remember to refer your friends and you can earn back up to $20 back from your registration fee.  Also - teams of 5 or more in the 5k each get $5 off their registration.  So form a group and get your buddies to join you today!

All the info you need about this event is found on this site - click the menu bar or scroll to the bottom to see a listing of all page links!

If you're looking for the Blessing of Unicorn running early in the summer on the north side of town, CLICK HERE for the Thornton event!  CLICK HERE for the DENVER-East Side Event in the spring.

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All participants receive:
- Gender-Specific Event Shirt! 
- 1 Free Cotton Candy
- FREE Photo downloads
- FREE Balloon Animals/Designs
- FREE Face Painting

5k Participants ALSO receive
- Finisher's Medal!
- Chip Timed Finish

Date: July 30

Time: 4-7pm

Locations- Road Runner Sports Lone Tree-

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! 

Join us at Buffalo Wild Wings at 980 Sergeant Jon Stiles Dr, Highlands Ranch, for the after party.  Bring in your race bib and get 6 free wings on race day only.

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 team before the race with any questions:

Sponsorship Contact:
AJ Benefield
Email: AJ@3WRaces.com

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.

Stuffer Deadline:  FRIDAY before race week: July 24, 2026 by 4:00 PM

Stuffer Quantity: 250 (Subject to change closer to race date.)

Stuffer Address: MAIL: 3W Races 7960 Hollywood St. Commerce City, CO 80022

If you would rather drop off in person than mail/ship your items, please email us in advance to make arrangements.
 
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Tent/Table Rental:  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.

A 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:

3W Races Average Demographics:
69% Female
31% Males

3% Under 18
11% 18-29
21% 30-39
42% 40-49
18% 50-64
​5% Over 65

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Race Day Logistics

TIME: 6:15am-6:45am Vendor Set Up, Expo Opens at 7am,  Race starts at 8AM, 9:30AM is Tear Down. The finish line officially closes when the last runner crosses.

SURFACE: Parking lot. Tent WEIGHTS are recommended. 

BOOTH LOCATION:  Please check in the Race Director upon arrival and you will be assigned a location for set up.

PARKING: There is parking near the expo. If you have more than one staff member, please carpool! 

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! 

Race Day Contact

Race Director Direct Number:
AJ Benefield - 303-667-5685
AJ@3WRaces.com

Secondary Contact: 
Michelle Bettis - 720-722-4226
MJBettis@3wraces.com

What kind of Unicorn is lurking inside you?  Show us your best sparkly, colorful, magical, whimsy filled HOMEMADE costume and you could win a prize!

*We do love inflatable costumes and store bought magic.  If you don't 'DIY' your costume, then by all means, wear something amazing that you purchased.  This contest is for those who pulled the magic from within a created something from scratch!

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 turn around and then EAST and NORTH back to the same location as the finish line.  There are cones and signs at the turn around.  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.

Aid Stations: There will be no aid stations on course.

Course Cut Off: Finish line closes at 9:30am

CLICK HERE for an interactive map of the 5k.

CLICK HERE for an interactive map of the SAUNTER.  The Saunter is less than 1/2 mile in length.  It will be marked with directions just like the 5k course and will be led by a marshal on a bike.

COVID INFORMATION: We are following the current Douglas County and State of Colorado guidelines.
When signing up for this event, you agreeing to a set of COVID guidelines and social contract. Those guidelines will include:
1. You agree to wear a mask/face covering when indoors such as at packet pick up.
2. You agree to social distance of at least 6 ft while at the event including in the start area, finish area, and expo.
3. You 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 arrive at the expo/start area 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. You will agree to bring any race hydration/nutrition needed before or during your race. There will NOT be a water station on the 5k course. There will be water and some light snacks at the finish line. 

As the regulations change due to this ever-changing pandemic, we will keep registered racers informed with the most recent guidelines.

All staff has been working 100% remotely and is reporting their health status leading up to the event.
Any staff or volunteers who are experiencing symptoms or who simply do not feel comfortable working this event will stay home.
Any paid participant who cannot run on race day due to symptoms should email the race director so we can make your participation 'virtual.'

Most FAQs are answered on our parent website. Click here: 3W Races - FAQ

If you have more questions not answered there, email us: info@3wraces.com

Water - There will be NO water stations on the course for this race. Water will be provided in the expo area. Please keep in mind that all 3W Events maintain a cup-free finish area so cups will not be provided.  Bring your own water bottle. You can leave your water bottle at the expo/finish area if you desire!

Dogs and Strollers - are welcome on this course.  Please make sure to have complete control of your dog or your stroller at all times.  Dogs must be kept on a short leash and you MUST stop to clean up after your dog - even in the middle of your race.

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

Although parking is plentiful at this venue, we recommend always carpooling or using your bicycle as much as possible!

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.

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 Backpack Society 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!

​Current Needs List:
*Cereal and Granola Bars
*Peanut Butter and Jelly
*Family-Sized Box Crackers
*Canned Tuna or Chicken
*Pasta Sauce and Pasta

7:00 Late Packet Pick Up and Walk Up Registration

8:00 5k Run Start

8:45 5k Awards

9:00 3/4 Mile Saunter Start

9:30 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 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! 

Some sizes may sell out in the final days leading up to the event. 

Women's Race Back Tank Tops are 60% cotton, 40% polyester

Youth Tees are 100% cotton

Adult Tees are 100% cotton

A finisher medal for every 5k runner!

10 year age groups will be recognized:

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 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  RESULTS will be posted LIVE during the event on the RESULTS PAGE.

2026 Unicorn 5k* Finisher Medals - collect one at each event!

*Saunter does NOT receive a medal.

  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.

Backpack Society: where happy hearts and bright futures start with full bellies!
At Backpack Society we're collecting food donations &raising funds for students who are struggling with food insecurity.
We partner with schools in Douglas County, Littleton & Englewood School Districts to reach students in need.

We are a 100% community supported nonprofit based in Highlands Ranch.

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! 

Bring your shoes to Advanced Packet Pick Up or on Race day! Click here for more info!