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5K Celebration

Confidence through
Accomplishment

Each season comes to an end with a celebratory 5K. This closing event gives program participants of all abilities a tangible sense of accomplishment. Crossing the finish line instills confidence through completion and is a joyful moment program participants always remember! Everyone in our program receives a commemorative medal to celebrate this incredible achievement.

5K Celebration

Confidence through
Accomplishment
Hero stars right
Girls on the Run smiles proudly wearing her 5K medal
Hero stars right
Girls on the Run participant smiling on 5K course
Group of runners taking off from the 5K starting line

5K Event Details

Event
Spring Season Celebratory 5K
Date
May 13, 2023
Location

Forest Park

St. Louis, MO

Time

Wave 1 Start Time: 8:30 AM

Wave 2 Start Time: 10:00 AM

Wave assignments for GOTR/H&S teams are TBD. Community runners can choose to run in either wave. 

Price

Registration Type Price

March 6 - April 30

 $25
May 1 - May 12 $30
May 13: Day-of registration $35

*NOTE: All program participants and coaches are already registered for the program and DO NOT need to register for the 5K. We cannot issue refunds for duplicate registrations. 

*T-shirts are limited. Size cannot be guaranteed. Size exchanges can only be completed after the final wave starts on May 13th. 

*If a t-shirt size is marked as SOLD OUT, you can select a different size or select "None- Donate $ to GOTR".

Register for the 5K on May 13th!

Packet Pickup: Packet pick up for community participants will take place Friday, May 12 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm at all three Big River Running locations:

  • West County: 13969 Manchester Road, Ballwin, MO 63011
  • University City: 606 North and South Road, University City, MO 63130
  • South City: 5352 Devonshire Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109
  • If you cannot pick up your packet on Friday, you will be able to pick it up before the race, but plan on arriving with extra time to do so!

Parking: Parking will be available in the Upper Muny parking lot, the Visitor Center parking lot, and street parking. We encourage Wave 1 participants to park in the Visitor Center lot, and Wave 2 participants park in the Upper Muny lot. Please note many streets around the Muny will be closed to traffic for the 5K. See map for parking details.

Race Village/School Village: This is your go-to spot for all of the excitement on race morning! Teams will line up under their school signs in School Village to start the race and reunite with families back at their sign after they cross the finish line. In Race Village, you will find tents for merchandise, packet pick-up, registration, t-shirts, Happy Hair, and more! Check out the map here.

Course Map: Our 5K course will all be within Forest Park! Check out the map of the course here.

Wave Starts: The 5K will start in separate waves. Each team has been assigned to a wave. If you cannot attend the wave your team is assigned to, you are welcome to run at the other start time, but keep in mind that your girl will not be starting with teammates. 

Volunteers help ensure our end of season 5K celebration is possible. We have a variety of roles available on race day. Find out more about each volunteer role in the section below, and use the button below to register! 

If you are interested in volunteering with a group or hosting a cheer station, please email liz@gotrstl.org 

5K Volunteer Form

We need volunteers for the following activities to ensure our event is a success! 

  • Cheer Station (Start time: 8:00am) - Cheer and spread star power as our 5k participants pass your ‘cheer station.’ Prepare words of encouragement, bring signs, pompoms, noisemakers, etc. whatever you think will keep our GOTR girls and 5k participants pumped up as they complete 3.1 miles. Great for a group! Please email liz@gotrstl.org if your group would like to host a cheer station. 

  • Course Marshal (Start time: 7:30am) - Help our 5k participants stay on track as a Course Marshal. You’ll be stationed throughout the 5k course and be responsible for directing participants! 

  • Finish Line (Start time: 7:00am) - Congratulate and celebrate GOTR girls and other 5k participants on their HUGE accomplishment by handing out the finisher packet at the Finish Line! 

  • Happy Hair (Start time: 7:00am) - Help girls add color to their race with colorful (and washable) hairspray!

  • Information (Start time: 7:00am) - At the information tent, you’ll assist with any and every race day question, helping girls find their schools in school village, providing directions, assisting with lost and found, and more! 

  • Packet Pick-up (Shift start times: 9:45am, 12:45pm, 3:45pm) - We have multiple opportunities to volunteer on the Friday prior to race day at Packet Pick-up! Shifts begin at 9:45am, 12:45pm, and 3:45pm and last for 2-3 hours. Locations are the Big River Running stores in West County, South City, University City.

  • Race Village and School Village Set Up (5:30am-7:30am) - Help us set up during the early hours of race day! We’ll be setting up sponsor booths, school signs, tents, tables and more. 

  • Recycling Team (Start time: 8:00am) - With our partners at St. Louis Earth Day, help us clean up and stay green after the race.  

  • Registration & Results (Start time: 7:00am) - Help 5k participants with their registration.  

  • Finale Crew (Start time: 10:30am) - Assist with the teardown of race day festivities and loading race materials onto the truck. Perfect if you want to run the race AND volunteer. 

  • T-shirt Distribution (Start time: 6:00am) - Hand out t-shirts to volunteers and runners.  

  • Volunteer Check-In (6:00am-10:30am) - Help us check-in volunteers and direct them to their correct stations as they arrive.  

  • Water Station (Start time: 7:30am) - Hand out water to 5k participants as they make their way through the course.  

    *Please note that these times are tentative and may change

Note: All volunteers appointed through our council will undergo a background check. 

 

5K Volunteer handing out water at the finish line

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The course for a 5K is 3.1 miles. 

As a reminder, this is a fun, celebratory event for our participants and not a competitive race. While our fastest 5K participants will complete the course in 25 minutes, most cross the finish line in 30-50 minutes. Everyone who participates is encouraged to walk, roll, push, run or skip at their happy pace!

First, we understand that life happens, and circumstance might make it impossible to attend.

 

We strongly encourage that all participants attend and complete the 5K, as it is the goal that teams are preparing for all season long! It’s the ultimate opportunity to build confidence through accomplishment. Remember, this is the first 5K event for many – including coaches, participants, friends and family members. We are in it together!

For safety reasons, every participant must wear a race bib (provided by the council). Our council ensures every participant has a running buddy, and only critical 5K volunteers have access to confidential information.

Our council has a safety plan in place, which trains staff and volunteers on how to respond during an emergency or incident. All participants and volunteers will be added to our emergency alert text message system, which will be used in the event of an emergency or delay in start time due to weather. 

In the case of inclement weather, we may delay start time or cancel the race. Participants will be notified via text message, email, and updates on our website and social media channels. The 5K cannot be refunded or rescheduled. 

Yes. Girls on the Run 5K events are for everyone! All participants can walk, run, push or roll safely and at their own happy pace. We will designate space at the front of the 5K line up for participants in wheelchairs to start in front. 

A Running Buddy is an individual designated by the parent/guardian to complete the 5K alongside a program participant during the 5K event, for the entire duration of the course. 

Yes! This is encouraged! This is a great way to accomplish a goal together. 

Absolutely! Every registered 5K participant will receive a t-shirt, medal, and finish line snacks. 

All volunteers will receive a volunteer t-shirt. 

Yes! Family, friends and community members outside of our program can participate in the event. All 5K participants must be registered to participate. 
**Please note that ALL program participants and coaches are already registered for the 5K - we can transfer a registration but cannot issue refunds for duplicate registrations. 

Yes. All 5K registration forms include liability waivers, so you cannot be on the course without an official 5K registration. 

Yes! Our Council is selling merchandise to support our program! Be sure to look for our merchandise booth/tent to commemorate this memorable event.

Yes! As this is the highlight of the season, there will be music and dancing, happy hair stations and more! Of course, we’ll have merchandise for sale, too!

We will have two large waves, with teams and community runners on a staggered release schedule to keep the 5K course less crowded.  The course is chip timed so your time doesn't start until you cross the starting mat and doesn't end until you cross the finish line mat. 

Each team will be assigned to Wave 1 (8:30am) or Wave 2 (10am). Look for your site/school name on this list to find out which wave your team will be starting in.

If you are a community runner, you are welcome to start in either wave time. 

No. For the safety of all participants, we do not allow dogs or strollers on the 5k course. Please leave all furry friends at home, as dogs are not allowed in Race or School Village before or during the race. 

We encourage you to make a plan with your child to meet back at their School sign in School Village after they complete the 5K. No one will be allowed to enter the Finish line area without a bib, and participants cannot stop or wait in the finish line area. 

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5K or a future event?

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Two Girls on the Run Coaches smile while running

Join us for our 5K!

Not a coach or a Girls on the Run participant?  
Register to join our 5K event!