Registration Overview

The 2026 USARA Adventure Race National Championships are open to TEAMS OFFOUR only, in mixed gender, all-women and all-men divisions. While there is not a separate Masters category for registration purposes, we will recognize the top Masters team from whatever division. Masters is defined as an average age of 50 and minimum age of 45 for all team members.

Registration is $400 per racer, and includes live tracking through Enabled Tracking, maps and course instructions, electronic timing chip, race insurance and permits, souvenir race shirt, finisher medal, post-race food and beverage, and awards ceremony. Winners in the Mixed Gender category of the current season’s Regional Qualifier races will receive an $800 race credit toward their team’s entry to Nationals.

Registration Process

Registration will be prioritized based on the final standings in the National Rankings for the season prior to the season of the National Championship race. For example, the final 2024-25 rankings will determine which teams will be able to register during the priority registration period for 2026 Nationals. At least one person on the 2026 Nationals team must be from the qualifying team roster.

  • Guaranteed entry will be provided to the following teams during the priority registration period (the exact numbers may be higher than this depending on the maximum field size.):

    • 30 top-ranked Mixed Gender teams in the National Rankings (NR)

    • 10 top-ranked All-women teams in the NR

    • 10 top-ranked All-men teams in the NR

    • 15 spots for Mixed Gender team winners of the current season’s Regional Qualifier races

    • 5 spots reserved by USARA for discretionary use

  • These top-ranked teams surrender their priority and must register with all other teams during open registration once the priority registration period closes. Their saved spots will be moved to the open pool and will not roll down further in the rankings.

  • All remaining spots will be made available during open registration on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of remaining spots will depend on the maximum field size and the number of top teams that claimed their reserved entry. For example, with an 80-team maximum field size, there would be 10 additional spots based on the numbers above if all top teams claim their spots.

  • Once the remaining spots are filled, teams will be added to the wait list on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Spots will open up for the following reasons:

    • An already-registered team wins a Regional Qualifier

    • A registered team withdraws from the race

    • USARA releases unused discretionary spots

Registration Dates

PRIORITY REGISTRATION

Begins 1/01/2026 at 6 pm PT - Closes 1/31/2026 at 6 pm PT

During this period, the 30 top-ranked mixed teams and 10 top-ranked teams in the all-men and all-women divisions of the NR may register. All members on the qualifying team roster will receive an email with a priority registration link. If you do not receive the email, please contact your team captain or email USARA. If you register a team that does not qualify for priority registration, your entry will be rejected and you will be asked to register again during the open registration period. Your team must register within the same division for which it qualified for priority registration through the NR. Only one team may register under the qualifying team’s name.

OPEN REGISTRATION

Begins 2/01/2026 at 6 pm PT - Closes 9/20/2026 at 6 pm PT

Registration Instructions

The first team member to register will create a team, and the remaining three team members should join the team created by the first team member. We encourage team captains to create a registration password, but be sure to share that with your teammates. Only one team member needs to register to reserve the team’s spot. You can change your team roster after registration through RunSignUp.

REFUND POLICY - IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING!

The RunSignUp processing fee will be deducted from any and all refunds.  A racer who withdraws within one week of registering will receive a full refund, less processing fees.  A racer who withdraws more than one week after registering will receive a refund pursuant to the following scale: 

Before 6/1/26:  Entry fee less $50 and RSU processing fee

From 6/1/26 through 7/31/26:  Entry fee less $100 and RSU processing fee

From 8/1/26 through 8/31/26:  Entry fee less $200 and RSU processing fee 

From and after 9/1/26:  No refund

A racer can transfer their entry to another racer at no charge.  Contact nationals@usara.com to request a refund or transfer of entry.

Citizenship Standards

For 2026, at least three of the four team members must be (a) US citizens, (b) permanent residents of the US, or (c) foreign nationals possessing a current US work or student visa, in order to compete for the USARA Adventure Race National Championships. Teams of any nationality may compete as an exhibition team representing their country. They will not be eligible for the National Championship title or prizes, and will not be eligible to win a Priority Registration slot or Discounted Entry through the USARA Regional Qualifier program. Teams of any nationality may, however, qualify for an international team prize and the chance to win a free entry to the ARWS World Championship in Croatia in 2027.

REGISTER NOW!