Skip to content
Houston, TexasNewsletterContact
Negative Split Productions
ATHLETE FIRST INITIATIVE

A better way to register, race, and feel supported

Every event we produce includes Athlete First, a set of athlete-friendly policies built to give you flexibility, protection, and perks from the moment you register.

First-time 5Ker, returning age group winner, or just trying to make the start line around a hectic schedule. Athlete First is here to make the experience better.

Two finishers with their medals after an NSP event
WHAT IS INCLUDED

What comes with every entry

Details and deadlines vary by event, so check the race website.

Registration flexibilityFree refunds, bib transfers, deferrals, virtual switches, and distance changes. No extra fees.
Community and supportRace-specific chat bots for quick answers, email a real person, and reminders before every deadline.
Loyalty and recognitionA personal referral link that earns perks, and commemorative swag for returning age group winners.
Sustainability and responsibilityCup-less racing, smarter swag, and the option to plant a tree instead of taking a shirt.
Social good and accessibilityPay-it-forward entry donations, the Athlete First Fund, and support for adaptive athletes.
THE BENEFITS

Every benefit, in detail

01

Registration flexibility

Life is unpredictable, your race registration should not be. Sign up with confidence. Deadlines do apply to these options and they vary by event, so check the individual event page for the dates.

02

Community and support

You should not have to dig for information or wait days for a reply. You are supported from pre-registration through race day.

03

Loyalty and recognition

Recognition for the people who bring others along and for those who show up at the front.

04

Sustainability and responsibility

Endurance events should be good for athletes and for the place they run through.

05

Social good and accessibility

An open, inclusive race experience that gives back to the community it runs in.

ATHLETE FIRST FUND

Cost should not keep anyone off the start line

A pay-it-forward donation at registration, plus entries we hold back at every event, covers race fees for athletes who need help. Partial or full registration coverage, entry fees only.

ATHLETE FIRST FUND LEDGER
$7,270Covered in entry fees to date
Athletes helped88
Available now$5,282
As ofAugust 13, 2026

Amounts and athletes only. We never publish names.

HOW IT WORKS

Ask, and we cover it

Reviewed confidentially by the race team. No public list of who received help, and nobody at the event knows.

  1. You askWhich event, what you need covered, and a bit about your situation.
  2. We answerReviewed confidentially, within a few days, while entry is still open.
  3. You raceWe send a discount code or a free entry. Nobody at the event knows.

Who can apply

Individuals or families experiencing financial hardship
First-time participants
Youth or student athletes
Community members from underserved backgrounds

There is no single definition of need. If cost is a barrier, we want to help.

What it covers

Houston Kids TriathlonHouston Resolution RunHouston Fourth Fest

Partial or full registration fee coverage. Assistance is limited to entry fees and does not cover travel, merchandise, or upgrades.

Awards are made on a rolling basis and are subject to available funds. Apply early.

APPLICATION

Apply to the Athlete First Fund

Answer as fully as you can. Everything here is used only to make assistance awards and goes no further without your consent.

We reply within a few days, while entry is still open.

Questions about the fund

Participant information

For the person who will be registering for the event.

The event

The fund covers registration fees only.

Event assistance is needed for

Financial assistance information

Used only in the assistance award process, and never for anything else without your express consent.

Everyone's situation is different. This helps us decide how many athletes we can support and how to allocate the fund.

If awarded, would you share a testimonial after the event
Your answer has no effect on whether assistance is awarded.
Reviewed confidentially. We reply within a few days.
RACE DIRECTORS

Put your event on the fund

Today the fund covers entries to our own events. We would rather it covered yours too. If you direct a race and want assisted entries at it, we will set that up with you and carry the cost of running it.

EVERYONE ELSE

Put someone on a start line

Add to the fund directly, or pay it forward when you register for one of our events. All of it goes to entry fees.

RunSignup handles donations through an event page, so this opens our Kids Triathlon. It supports the fund across all of our events.

IDEAS WELCOME

Something we should add

We are always looking for benefits to add to Athlete First. Tell us what would make your race experience better and we will look at it.