Teams Information:
Online registration will open July 1, 2025 for teams. Teams must register online in advance of race week. Payments are by check or credit card payment ahead of time. Athlete changes are available on your school’s race day. Checks can be mailed to Chile Pepper, Inc. Box 10734, Fayetteville, AR 72703.
Registration OPENS on July 1, 2025
Registration CLOSES on September 26, 2025
October 3-4, 2025
High School
High School teams must be a member of NFHS. If your team does not meet this requirement please contact our Team Registration Coordinator. Arkansas State High School Association Rules do not allow homeschool athletes the ability to compete against their member institutions. Homeschool athletes and teams are not able to compete in our high school or junior high divisions. We do offer competitive community races (1 mile, 4k or 8k options) as well as the ability to compete unattached in the collegiate races with an appropriate entry standard.
- “El Caliente” HS Varsity Race Teams
- There will be 2 heats, 1 “hotter” than the other
- Teams can have up to 8 athletes
- Cost is $100 per team
- Considered the “Varsity Race” with special trophy for team winner
- No unattached runners
- Guidelines for heat assignments will be shared directly with coaches when registration opens
Both the boy’s and girl’s El Caliente races will be split into 2 heats. Boxes will be assigned for both heats in both genders. Heat assignments will be decided utilizing the previous year’s Chile Pepper times and current season results for each school. Faster times will be placed in the first heat and the balance in the second heat. Schools new to the Chile Pepper will be placed in the second heat unless the Board determines a different assignment is appropriate. BOTH HEATS WILL BE SCORED AS ONE EVENT!
Box assignments will be completed and posted the week of Chile Pepper
- Open High School Race Teams
- Cost is $100 per team up to 20, then $3 each
- $25 each for 1, 2, 3 team members
- No unattached runners
- Junior High School Race Teams
- Race distance will be 2 miles
- Cost is $100 per team up to 20, then $3 each.
- $25 each for 1, 2, or 3 team members.
- No unattached runners
College / Open
- Cost is $300 per team up to 7 athletes, then $35 per athlete
- Race Assignments will be made by Meet Officials
- All NCAA Division I institutions will be in the McDonnell 8k or Harter 5k
- 5K for Women
- 8K for Men
- Unattached Runners are allowed, however they must qualify by previous race results in last 12 months: 18:30 for women 5k and 27:00 for men’s 8k.
- Cost is $60 for individual unattached runners
Contact Us
If you have any questions about registration, contact:
Team Registration Coordinator: runchilepepperfestival@gmail.com
Matt Downs: matt@chilepepperfestival.org