5K Event
Thursday, May 31, 2012 * 6:30 pm * Berrien County Youth Fair Grounds
5K Information and Schedule
3:30-6:00 PM Registration Table is Open
4:30-5:00 PM Girls and Coaches Arrive, Meet at Designated Location
4:30-6:00 PM The Hair Station is open to all GOTR and GOT participants
3:30-8:00 PM The Merchandise Table is Open- Purchase T-shirts, Mugs, and Other Fun GOTR Merchandise
6:00 PM Short Program Begins - Welcome and Acknowledgements
6:10 PM Group Warm-Up
6:15 PM Group Cheer
6:25 PM All Participants Line Up at Starting Line
6:30 PM 5k Run Begins
Directions to the Berrien County Youth Fair
The Berrien County Youth Fair (BCYF) is located at 9122 Old U.S. 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49013. We suggest using www.mapquest.com for directions.
From the North (Coloma/Watervliet): Take I-94 West to Exit 30 (US 31 S./Napier Ave.). Turn left onto Napier Avenue and Right onto US 31 S. Take Exit 15 and turn left towards Berrien Springs. The BCYF will be on your right, use Gate #2.
From the Southwest (New Buffalo): Take I-94 East to Exit 16. Turn Right onto Red Arrow Hwy. Turn Right onto Lake Street, Lake Street becomes Shawnee Road. Turn Left onto Red Bud Trail. After 1.6 miles turn right onto M-139 and stay straight to continue to Old US 31. The BCYF will be on your right, use Gate #2.
From the South (Buchanan/Niles): Take US 31 North to Exit 15A. Turn right onto Old US 31. The BCYF will be on your right, use Gate #2.
Frequently Asked Questions for Parents of GOTR/GOT Participants and Community Runners:
WHAT IS PACKET PICK-UP?
Packet pick-up is not mandatory, it is for preregistered participants of the GOTR 5k event who want to collect their t-shirts and race bibs prior to event day. Parents, running buddies, and community runners may pick up their items on Tuesday, May 29th from 5-8pm, location TBD.
To save you a trip, you are always welcome to pick up your t-shirts, race bags, and race bibs after 3:30pm at the 5k event Registration Table on race day.
WHAT TIME SHOULD WE ARRIVE?
Your daughter should be at the fairgrounds at her school's meeting place by 5:00 pm. Some schools will coordinate buses to transport your daughter and others will ask that she find her own transportation. Please ask your daughter’s coach or site liaison about the transportation plan for the event.
Community runners and spectators will want to arrive well in advance of the 6:30 p.m. start. The opening ceremony begins at 6:00 pm and you will need to allow enough time for traffic, parking, and walking to the grandstands.
WHERE CAN WE PARK?
Parking is available on the fairgrounds in the White and Blue lots. Traffic will be allowed in and out of Gate #2 (North entrance) from Old U.S. 31. Gate #3 off of Shawnee Road will remain closed the entire day.
DO I NEED TO REGISTER MY DAUGHTER FOR THE GOTR 5K?
No. Your daughter is already registered for the event. You do not need to complete a registration form for her.
AS A PARENT, HOW DO I REGISTER TO RUN WITH MY DAUGHTER?
Parents may register for the event at a reduced rate. Special "Parent" registration forms will be sent home with your daughter in April. Parent registration forms will still be accepted until the day of the event although you are no longer guaranteed a t-shirt (for late registrants sizes are available on a first come first served basis). See your daughter's coach for a copy of this special form and mail the form with payment to:
United Way of Southwest Michigan
Girls On The Run 5k
PO Box 807
Benton Harbor, MI 49023
WHAT IS A RUNNING BUDDY?
We want every little girl to have an incredible, uplifting 5k experience. We also want the girls to finish the 5k at their own pace. The running buddies program is designed to ensure these two things occur. Running buddies are parents, relatives, or family friends who commit to running/walking with their GOTR/GOT participant througout the entire 5k event.
There are two types of running buddies:
1. Parent Running Buddy- As a parent you may run with your daughter at the event. (See the paragraph above for registration information, limit 2 per girl).
2. Parent Appointed Running Buddy- A parent may assign a running buddy to their daughter, this person is to stay with her during the entire event. (See the paragraph above for registration information, limit 2 per girl).
WHERE DO WE GO AS SPECTATORS?
You may watch your daughter and the opening ceremony from the grandstands on the fairgrounds, or you may go out on the course to cheer her on! Please return to this site at a later date to view the 5k course map.
For safety reasons, please do not bring pets, bicycles, or roller blades on the course. Strollers are allowed.
WHO WILL BE WITH MY DAUGHTER?
Your daughter is to “check in” before the event with the coaches from her site. Each site will have a designated spot near the grandstands. You may connect with her at that location. For her safety she is to remain with her coach and her team until the start of the event.
HOW DO I FIND MY DAUGHTER AFTER THE 5K EVENT?
With over 1,600 participants expected it may be difficult to find your daughter after the event. Girls will be instructed to "check out" with their coach at their team's spot near the grandstands and collect their 5k certificate prior to leaving.
Please plan to meet your daughter after the event at her team spot. Please do not leave with your daughter until she has “checked out” with her coach.
WILL THERE BE FOOD AND DRINKS AVAILABLE?
Food options will be posted at a later date.
AS A COMMUNITY RUNNER, HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE EVENT?
Our community runner brochure will be available here in April 2012.
Please complete this form and mail it with payment to:
United Way of Southwest Michigan
PO Box 807
Benton Harbor, MI 49023-0807
Registrations received after May 4th are not guaranteed a t-shirt.
WHAT IF MY DAUGHTER GETS HURT OR NEEDS HELP?
There will be emergency medical technicians (EMTs), police officers, reserve officers, and volunteers on-site and throughout the course should any kind of medical assistance be necessary.
Police and volunteers will line the entire course. All major roads will be closed to traffic and staffed by police and reserve officers.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Bring some cash to purchase food at the concession stand or to purchase GOTR merchandise such as t-shirts, journals, lunch coolers, and cute coffee mugs.
Also, bring homemade signs, noise makers, and tons of encouragement with which to cheer on your daughter. And don’t forget your cameras and video recording devices!
WHAT CAN WE DO AFTER THE 5K EVENT?
Food and Entertainment options will be posted at a later date.
WHAT IF IT RAINS OR STORMS?
If there is lightning or severe weather in the area we will follow the MHSAA rules for canceling a sporting event. The event will NOT be rescheduled. Please tune in to our live remote broadcast from 98.3FM The Coast for weather related cancellation announcements.
WHEN WILL THE EVENT FINISH?
Please encourage your daughter to stay until the last girl has crossed the finish line. Every girl appreciates all the support she can get in reaching her goal! The event typically finishes by 7:30 p.m.
OUR NATIONAL SPONSORS:
