ALL PEOPLES
We believe that EVERYONE deserves a chance to enjoy the trails. You have a place here at Sassquad no matter your ability, appearance, or gender. Our Strides Forward program provides accommodations to ensure everyone can participate. All are welcome!
ALL AGES
We love to recognize our youngest and eldest Squatchers at each Trail Party. Squatchers over the age of 60 can have a pacer/guide at any time. We also extend a discount to our Elder Squatches who are over the age of 60 and to kids who are under the age of 19; please email us for the discount code! And be sure to check out our SQUATCH KIDS CLUB!
INCLUSION
As part of our commitment to accessibility and support, we are proud to share Team HippoGriffin, a new program designed to support runners and hikers with a physical, intellectual, and/or neurodevelopmental disability who need a guide to explore the trails safely and confidently. One of our other initiatives includes offering a delayed start for participants with a physical or cognitive disability or a mental health condition that makes large crowds challenging. This option includes a late check-in, allowing you to begin your race after the main crowd has cleared Squatch HQ. The Jackalope Tent is a quiet space that is available at our largest Trail Parties. The tent is away from the crowds and loud music. Stop by the Jackalope Tent when you need a break. The Jackalope Tent is a multi-use space that is also available for breastfeeding. Why do we call it the Jackalope Tent? Jackalopes are peaceful cryptids and are also excellent singers (usually tenor). To ensure more runners can access important event information, we also provide Spanish translations of our race materials.
TRAIL SISTERS APPROVED
All of our events are Trail Sister Approved. This means that we have Equal Podiums & Awards, we offer women's specific swag/apparel, we have menstrual products at our aid stations, and private changing tents at Squatch HQ. Thank you to Pelvic Floor PT Dr. Colleen Drahos for sponsoring the menstrual products and body wipes! Our starting line will always be big enough for women and we have a pregnancy, adoption, IVF, and postpartum policy.
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS
Our Volunteer Dream Team makes the Trail Magic happen! Join the Dream Team and give back to this amazing trail community. We'll sign off all volunteer hours if you have required hours for another race or a community service project. Oh, and we LOVE having families volunteer at our events! Check out our volunteer opportunities HERE!
CARPOOLING
Looking to carpool with other Sassquaders? We have Carpool-Assist Program to help connect runners and hikers for carpooling opportunities. Start coordinating your carpool HERE!
SASSQUAD RETRAIL PROJECT
At Sassquad Trail Running, we care deeply about our community, the environment, and the gear that helps us enjoy the trails. That’s why we have our Sassquad ReTrail Project: a simple way to reduce waste, share resources, and support fellow trail runners. You can find ReTrail bins at our Trail Parties. Have gear you no longer use? Drop it in. Need something? Take what you need (no donation required to take gear). This is about paying it forward, building community, and keeping gear out of landfills. Learn more about the ReTrail Project HERE.
ALL PACES
We offer generous cutoff times at all of our Trail Parties to make our events hiker-friendly. We love our back-of-the-packers and ensure that our aid stations remain fully stocked so everyone is taken care of. And guess what? Our finish line stays open until the final seconds tick off of the race clock and our aid stations don't close until every participant comes through. We allow pacers at sunset for any of our events that go into the evening hours.
GIVE BACK
We have an official local charity partner for every Sassquad event! To date, we have donated $60,000 to our charity and non-profit partners. Learn more about our charity and non-profit partners HERE.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Our events are open to the entire family! If you register 3 or more Squatches from the same household, you can use our special discount code. Please email us before registering to receive the code. We offer a variety of fun games, including corn hole, connect four, a giant rainbow parachute, and the Squatch Hunt. Come on over to the Finish Line and join in on the fun!
HOMETOWN HEROES
Sassquad Trail Running is proud to offer 20% off all events to all active-duty military and veterans. Military & Veterans receive a special coin at check-in. We also extend a 20% discount to all Frontline Workers (this includes all hospital workers, EMS, Police, Fire) and Teachers. Please email us before you register for an event so we can provide you with a discount code.
COMMUNITY
Looking to connect with other local runners and hikers? Check out our inclusive Facebook Group! This is the place to ask questions, make trail plans, and get plugged in with our awesome community.
AFFLIATE CLUBS
We love to team up with other local running clubs. We currently offer discounts to the following organizations: the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, the South Mountain Conservancy, Essex Running Club, SOMA Fox, NJ MUDCRO, Basecamp 31, Black Men Run, Raritan Valley Road Runners, Patagonia NYC Camp Cutz Fitness Bootcamp, North Jersey Masters Running Club, Jersey Women Strong Proactive Challenge, and Penny Pack Trail Runners! Please email us before you register for an event so we can provide you with a discount code.
Squatchy Code of Conduct: How We Party on the Trails
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Whether you’re hiking, running, volunteering, or cheering, we’re all here to have a safe, inclusive, and joyful experience. Please take a few minutes to read through our Squatchy Code of Conduct and help us keep the stoke high and the trails happy.
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Leave No Trace, No Excuses
Carry in, carry out. That means everything. Do not leave your trash, wrappers, or gear on the course, at the aid station, or with the sweepers. Leave the trail better than you found it!
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No Hate, No Harassment, No Exceptions
We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, hate speech, harassment, or any kind of disrespectful language or behavior towards participants, volunteers, spectators, race staff, or park users. This applies to our in-person events, online events, and our social media content. Break this rule and you’re out.
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Dropping from the Race? Let Us Know
If you decide to stop during your race, you must notify the Timing Team immediately. Do not leave without checking out — your safety is our top priority.
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Cut-Offs: Because We Can’t Dance All Night
Cut-off times are strictly enforced. This helps us protect participants, volunteers, and our permits. If you miss a cut-off, we’re still proud of you. We give out DNF discounts for you to come back next year to try it again!
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Headphones, headlamps, & Trekking poles
We strongly discourage the use of headphones during our Trail Parties. We want everyone to be able to hear other participants, volunteers, and the sounds of the forest. Your awareness keeps everyone safe. Trekking poles are allowed at all of our events! Please just be mindful of those around you when you're using them.
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Pet policy
Participants are not allowed to run or hike with their four-legged friend in any of our events. Our insurance does not cover canicross activities and we also know that many folks aren't comfortable around dogs (even if they are "friendly"). The only exception is service dogs. Spectators can bring a pet, but the pet must be leashed at all times.
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Light It Up After Dark
If you're on course between sunset and sunrise, a headlamp, waist light, or handheld light is required. Safety first, last, and always!
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​BANDITS
Any individuals caught banditing a race will be banned from Sassquad events. Banditing means that you are on our race course without registering. Please do not bandit our Trail Parties or any other event!​
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REFUND & DEFERRAL POLICY
Like many other race organizations, we do not offer refunds for our events. Please take the time to double check your calendar before registering for a Trail Party. Please understand that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances.
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If you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) more than 21 days from the date of the Trail Party, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for.
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If you sustain an injury less than 21 days from the race date, we will extend a deferral if you come to that race to volunteer for at least 4 hours.
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If the race that you want to drop from is sold-out with an active wait-list and are able to fill your spot: if you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) at least 3 days before the race, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for.
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The race credit is the amount that you paid for the race (not including UltraSignUp fees) so you will need to cover any difference in fees; refunds will not be issued if the deferred event costs less than your race credit. You can only defer one time so please doublecheck that you can make the race you're deferring to.
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PREGNANCY, ADOPTION, & POSTPARTUM POLICY
Whether planned or unplanned, the beginning or end of a pregnancy requires healing and recovery time. We are committed to supporting you in this regard. If you are experiencing a pregnancy or postpartum healing and recovery, or have adopted a child, we are pleased to offer a deferral of up to three years from the current event. Simply send us an email and we will arrange the deferral for you. This deferral policy includes partners and spouses and is also extended to folks who are going through the IVF process. ​​