Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about hosting and joining unsanctioned, GPS-timed races on ALLEYKAT — the racing platform for run clubs, grassroots organizers, and friends who want to put on their own races.
What is unsanctioned (alleycat) racing?
Unsanctioned racing means competitions organized outside traditional governing bodies like USA Track & Field — no permits, sanctioning fees, or official oversight required. They're organized by the community, for the community. ALLEYKAT supports the full spectrum: underground races, pop-up runs, alleycat races (urban checkpoint races that began in bike-messenger culture), speakeasy races, backyard ultras, and guerrilla running events.
Do I need a permit to host a race on ALLEYKAT?
No. ALLEYKAT is built specifically so run clubs, friend groups, and grassroots organizers can put on their own races without permits, sanctioning bodies, or expensive timing companies. You set the route, the start time, and the rules. You are responsible for running your event safely and legally in your area, but ALLEYKAT itself imposes no permit or sanctioning requirement.
How does GPS race timing work?
Participants run with the ALLEYKAT app (iOS and Android) during the race. The app tracks each runner's position by GPS in real time, validates the start, waypoints, and finish against the course you defined, and produces a live leaderboard and automatic finish times — no timing mats, chips, or bibs needed. If a phone dies or loses signal mid-race, runners can recover their result afterward by uploading a GPX file or syncing a Garmin activity.
How much does ALLEYKAT cost?
The ALLEYKAT app is free to download, and free races are free to run. For paid races, ALLEYKAT charges $1 per runner plus 8% of the registration fee, and the organizer keeps the rest, paid out via Stripe. Races with more than 10 participants require a minimum registration fee of $1 per participant. On-demand (async) races can be free or paid, whichever the organizer chooses, and the ALLEYKAT cut is never more than the registration fee itself.
Who is ALLEYKAT for?
ALLEYKAT is for run clubs, grassroots running organizations, unsanctioned racing crews, and groups of friends who want to organize and time their own races. If you have ever wanted to put on a race without dealing with permits, sanctioning bodies, or expensive timing systems, ALLEYKAT is for you. Runners also use ALLEYKAT to discover and join nearby races.
What types of races can I create?
ALLEYKAT supports several formats: live (virtual) GPS-timed races, in-person point-to-point and loop races with start corrals and waypoints, on-demand (async) races you can run any time within a window, and FKT (Fastest Known Time) races that stay open indefinitely. Relay races are in development.
What do participants need to race?
A smartphone with the free ALLEYKAT app (available on the App Store and Google Play) and GPS enabled. Runners browse the Race Portal to find an event, register (and pay if there is a fee), and use the app for live tracking on race day.
Can I organize a race from the website?
Yes. Build a race with Create Race on alleykat.app, then manage participants, results, communications, and payouts from the Race Director Dashboard. Runners can register on the web. Live race-day participation and GPS tracking happen in the mobile app.