# ALLEYKAT — The Unsanctioned Racing Platform

> No permits, no bibs — just GPS-timed competition.

## Overview

ALLEYKAT is a platform and mobile app (iOS and Android) plus a full-featured website for creating and participating in unsanctioned, GPS-timed races. It's built to support grassroots running organizations — run clubs, unsanctioned racing groups, and just groups of friends who want to put on their own races. ALLEYKAT serves runners and athletes who want to race outside the traditional sanctioned event system, enabling underground races, pop-up runs, alleycat races, speakeasy racing, backyard ultras, guerrilla running, and community-organized athletic events.

## How It Works

1. **Create a Race**: Any user can set up a race with a route, start time, and rules — no permits or sanctioning bodies needed. Create from the website (alleykat.app/race-portal) or the mobile app.
2. **Join a Race**: Athletes browse the Race Portal to find and sign up for upcoming events, paying online if there's a registration fee.
3. **Race Live**: Participants use the ALLEYKAT app for real-time GPS tracking. The app validates the start, checkpoints, and finish against the defined course.
4. **Get Results**: Automatic GPS-based timing delivers live leaderboards and final results. Missed or broken recordings can be recovered after the race via GPX upload or Garmin sync.

## Race Formats

- **Live (Virtual) Races**: Time-based GPS-tracked races that participants can run from anywhere.
- **In-Person Races**: Route- and checkpoint-based races with start corrals, checkpoint zones, and finish corrals. Supports point-to-point and loop courses.
- **On-Demand (Async) Races**: Run any time within an open window; always free.
- **FKT (Fastest Known Time) Races**: Always-open races with no closing date; always free.
- **Relay Races**: Team format with GPS-proximity handoffs (in development).

## Pricing

- The ALLEYKAT app is free to download, and free races are free to run.
- Paid races: ALLEYKAT charges $1 per runner plus 8% of the registration fee; the organizer keeps the remainder, paid out via Stripe.
- Races with more than 10 participants require a minimum $1 per-participant registration fee.
- On-demand (async) and FKT races are always free.

## Platform Features

### For Racers
- Browse and join upcoming unsanctioned races via the Race Portal
- Real-time GPS race tracking through the iOS and Android apps
- Live leaderboards during events and spectating/follow-a-runner
- Race history and personal results
- Recover a result after a dead phone via GPX upload or Garmin sync

### For Run Clubs & Grassroots Organizers
- Create and manage races without permits or sanctioning fees
- Set custom routes, checkpoints, rules, and race formats
- Race Director Dashboard (web): manage participants, edit results, email all registrants, and track Stripe payouts
- Real-time participant tracking and race-day controls
- Post-race results and analytics

### For Brands
- Sponsor and promote unsanctioned racing events
- Brand dashboard for managing partnerships
- Visibility across the ALLEYKAT platform and race community

## Types of Races on ALLEYKAT

- **Underground Races**: Informal, community-organized running races
- **Pop-up Races / Popup Runs**: Spontaneous, short-notice race events
- **Alleycat Races / Alleykat Races**: Urban checkpoint-style races, originally from bike messenger culture
- **Speakeasy Races**: Invite-only or word-of-mouth racing events
- **Backyard Ultras**: Last-person-standing endurance format races
- **Guerrilla Running**: Unsanctioned running events on unconventional routes
- **Virtual Races**: GPS-timed races where participants run their own routes remotely

## Pages

### Home (https://alleykat.app/)
Landing page introducing ALLEYKAT's mission and core features.

### About (https://alleykat.app/about)
Background on ALLEYKAT's founding, mission, and vision for unsanctioned racing.

### FAQ (https://alleykat.app/faq)
Answers to common questions: permits, how GPS race timing works, pricing, race types, and what runners need.

### Race Portal (https://alleykat.app/race-portal)
Browse, search, create, and join upcoming races. The central hub for finding and organizing events.

### Race Types (https://alleykat.app/race-types)
Explanation of the live, in-person, on-demand (async), and FKT race formats.

### Pricing (https://alleykat.app/pricing)
Pricing for race directors and participants.

### Brands (https://alleykat.app/brands)
Information for brands interested in sponsoring or partnering with ALLEYKAT events.

### Newsletter (https://alleykat.app/newsletter)
Subscribe to updates about upcoming races, platform news, and the unsanctioned racing community.

## Technical Details

- **Platform**: Web (React) + native iOS and Android apps
- **Timing**: GPS-based real-time race timing with start/checkpoint/finish validation
- **Payments**: Stripe (registration fees and organizer payouts)
- **Website**: https://alleykat.app

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is unsanctioned racing?**
Unsanctioned racing refers to athletic competitions organized outside of traditional governing bodies (like USA Track & Field). These races don't require permits, sanctioning fees, or official oversight — they're organized by the community, for the community.

**Do I need a permit to host a race?**
No. ALLEYKAT is built so run clubs, friend groups, and grassroots organizers can put on their own races without permits or sanctioning bodies. You set the route, start time, and rules, and are responsible for running your event safely and legally in your area.

**Who is ALLEYKAT for?**
Grassroots running organizations, run clubs, unsanctioned racing groups, and groups of friends who want to put on their own races — plus runners looking to discover and join nearby events.

**Is ALLEYKAT free?**
The app is free to download and free races are free to run. Paid races cost the organizer $1 per runner plus 8% of the registration fee. On-demand (async) and FKT races are always free.

**How does GPS timing work?**
Participants use the ALLEYKAT app during a race. The app tracks position via GPS in real time, validates the course, and provides live leaderboards and automatic finish times — no chips, mats, or bibs.

**What devices do I need?**
A smartphone with the free ALLEYKAT app (App Store or Google Play) and GPS enabled.