The California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF) will host the Sixth Annual First Responders Relay on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026 bringing together teams of first responders from across the United States and around the world for a 30-mile coastal competition celebrating teamwork, wellness and service.
The six-person relay will begin and end at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, following a scenic route north along the Promenade, Pacific Coast Highway and bike trail to Rincon Point before returning to the finish line. The event highlights Ventura’s coastline while encouraging fitness, camaraderie and friendly competition among first responder teams.
“We’re excited to welcome first responder teams back to Ventura for another incredible year of competition and fellowship,” said Jim King, president of the California Police Athletic Federation. “The First Responders Relay is about much more than crossing the finish line; it’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships, promote health and wellness, and honor the commitment that first responders demonstrate every day while serving their communities.”
The relay is open to eligible first responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, customs officers and correctional officers. Qualified retirees and separated employees with at least 10 years of service may also participate. Support personnel, including dispatchers, crime scene investigators, detention officers, reserve officers and volunteer firefighters, are eligible for designated divisions.
Teams will compete across nine divisions: Open, Mixed, Women, Senior, 500, 250, Station/Division, Support Services and Support Services Mixed.
Following the race, participants and spectators are invited to attend the awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach. The fastest overall team will receive the Duke Nyhus/Bob Burke Perpetual Trophy, recognizing excellence in first responder athletics. Additional awards will be presented across multiple divisions.
Registration is open and limited to the first 100 paid teams. Each six-person team will receive commemorative race shirts, event souvenirs and the opportunity to compete alongside first responder agencies from across the country. Spectator admission is free.
Registration information, eligibility requirements, race details and hotel accommodations are available at https://cpaf.org/first-responders-relay/.
The First Responders Relay is one of three premier events organized by CPAF, which also produces the United States Police & Fire Championships and the World Police & Fire Games. CPAF is a nonprofit organization established in 1970 with a mission to promote sports and physical fitness among law enforcement, fire, corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs personnel.
