Run With The Burros

Complete Race Rules​

This is a fundraising event. The race director has discretion as to how the entry fees are used, but any excess after race expenses will be donated to Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary, California Breakfast Burritos, and other charitable non-profits. 

The run is held on a combination of private and public land. Be respectful and courteous. Do not drive or park anywhere off existing roads, litter, or disturb wildlife, plants, or property. Notify race staff of any desert tortoise sightings and most importantly, leave them alone. Contestants committing acts that jeopardize future permission from BLM, private owners, or Cerro Coso Community College will be disqualified. Please help pickup and leave the area even cleaner than it is today. 

No private property owners along the course, sponsoring businesses, governmental agencies, persons, volunteers, race officials, or organizations will be liable in case of accident or injury to the runner or burro. Each runner must sign a waiver and/or release of responsibility before the race.

Burros

The word burro is the Spanish word for donkey. Only a burro is allowed to run in a Pack Burro Race as we do nothing half-assed. No mules, no horses, no dogs, don’t ask.

 Burro owners may consider getting a veterinary check on their burro before every race. Sick or injured burros should not race.

 The Race Director shall have the authority to disqualify any contestant and animal that does not comply with these rules, or whose animal is sick, doped, injured, or mistreated. Race staff may check the animal before and after the race. All runners must keep their burros under control. Any runner or burro that interferes with another runner or burro may be disqualified.

Pack Saddles

To honor the local mining history of burros in the Indian Wells Valley, each burro competing is required to be equipped with a packsaddle packed with the prospector's paraphernalia, including a pick, gold pan, and shovel. There is no minimum weight requirement for the paraphernalia. If any of these items are missing or get lost on the trail, the runner/burro team will be disqualified.

 As an introductory opportunity, burros will be allowed to run the 5 and 10 mile courses non-competitively without a packsaddle but cannot win prizes.

Other Gear

It is strongly recommended that all participants (with or without burros) carry at least two quarts of water, food (an energy bar), electrolytes, hat, and clothing (such as a windbreaker). Gloves are also recommended for those with burros to prevent rope burns.

 Carrying and use of firearms will not be permitted.

Halter & Lead rope

The burro must be outfitted with a lead rope for handling that is attached to a halter (a flat-nosed halter is preferred for safer racing over rope halters which tend to get loose and shift on the burro’s face). The runner may only be attached to the burro with a single lead rope that does not exceed 15 feet in length (measured from the end of the rope to the tip of the snap). The lead rope may only be connected to the halter.

Jack/Stud chains may be used with a pressure-release technique, to safely control a higher-spirited burro. (A jack/stud chain is a chain or strap which is used to apply pressure over the muzzle or under the chin.) Any racer coming across the finish line with any injuries on the burro resulting from the jack/stud chain will be disqualified.

Cruelty

Any contestant mistreating any animal may be disqualified. No needles, electric prods, narcotics, clubs or whips, other than the halter rope, may be used.

Team

Team = 1 Runner & 1 Burro

The runner and burro starting this race must remain a team throughout the race. No assistants will be allowed to accompany any team. Spectators or anyone outside of the race are not allowed to assist the forward progress of any team. No swapping burros with another runner or both teams will be disqualified (“You gotta dance with the one that brung ya.” ~ Curtis Imrie). The winning combination consists of a runner and burro, who must cross the finish line as a unit. The runner may be leading or following the burro, but the burro's nose crossing the finish line first constitutes the winner. 

Burros are controlled by way of the runner handling a lead rope that is attached to the halter of the burro. All runners must keep their burro under control on the course. If the runner/burro interferes with another runner/burro team, the out-of-control team may be disqualified or given a warning.  If the runner loses control of their burro, by way of dropping the lead rope, the team must return to the point where the lead rope was dropped to not be disqualified. We encourage you to take your burro back and not give up on your burro’s race to get an honorable finish.

Time Cutoff

Unfortunately, it takes a big team to host this type of event. In consideration of the 60-70 volunteers who spend many hours on the course, we will not ask them all to wait late after sunset for 1-2 lingering runners. Any Marathon runners must finish in 9 hours and the same time is allowed for the shorter distances. Anyone may downgrade to the 5, 18 or 10 mile distances at the splits or aid stations. The 10 miler should not be an issue, but any runner may be pulled by aid volunteers if they are unlikely to finish in the allotted time. 
If you think you will need additional time, early starts are allowed but will get an unofficial finish. Simply ask if you have questions, we want everyone to finish successfully.

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Withdrawal Policy

ALL ENTRIES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
 Contestants may transfer their entry to another contestant up to a day in advance of the race. Please use the features in Ultrasignup to transfer entries. Under most circumstances, entries may be rolled over to the next year and those will be addressed in writing, on a case by case basis by the Race Director. We are very generous granting roll-overs, but you must ask before the race. 

BURRO SUBSTITUTIONS
 Burros may be switched out with prior approval of the Race Director up to and including 30 minutes before the race. No burro substitutions will be permitted once the shotgun sounds.

We understand that issues arise at the last minute that can prevent a team from arriving at the start line. Since the costs associated with planning an event of this nature are incurred early on in the planning timeline, this policy represents our best efforts to make reasonable accommodation within the unavoidable planning constraints.