Twenty thousand people are expected to invade Louisville, Nebraska this weekend for Omaha’s first-ever Warrior Dash. This 3.33-mile race is known for its challenging obstacles.

Warrior Dash racegoers will experience barbed wire, ropes and fire. Some racers say they are excited for the event, but others say last-minute changes will hurt their Warrior Dash experience.

Rene Pratt enjoys being active, staying healthy and most of all, challenging herself. "It looks like fun, it's a challenge, it's something that I know I can do, some people think I can't and I will prove them wrong."

Pratt got in one last pre-dash training session Thursday afternoon.

Jennifer Hunt initially had the same sense of excitement, until this week. "It’s two days before the event and now we are finding out they are doubling the parking fees. I’ve had several people come up to me and say if they would have known these costs up front that they've raised they would have done a different event."

Channel 6 News contacted Kendra Alley with Red Frog Events, the company that puts on the Warrior Dash. Alley confirmed the initial $10 increase in parking. "We have implemented the $10 increase in parking for the remainder of our events. This was put in place to help encourage car pooling as part of our green initiative and to help accommodate for our increase in participation in 2012."

"I know about 50 people that are doing this event and they don't want to pay $20 a car to drive to Louisville,” said Hunt.

Channel 6 News also asked how the Warrior Dash supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through donations or registration funds.

Alley stated that the Warrior Dash is an opportunity for Red Frog Events, who partner with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through all of the company’s events, to extend an opportunity to its Warrior Dash participants to raise funds for St. Jude. But Alley did concede that none of the registration or parking fees immediately goes to St. Jude. "The St. Jude Warriors Program encourages Warrior Dash racers to fund raise for St. Jude's."

For the 53-year-old Pratt, she's just ready to prove herself this weekend. "If I can do it at my age than anybody can do it."

Last August, a man in Kansas City apparently died from complications he suffered during the Warrior Dash. Channel 6 News checked with race officials and both Plattsmouth and Louisville will have rescue crews standing by. Trained medical professionals will also be stationed throughout the course.