Girls on the Run Maine Fall 5k Event Guide Sunday, November 12, 2017 5k Start Time: 9: 30 am Pineland YMCA 25 Campus Drive, New Gloucester, ME GOTR 5k Celebration! At Girls on the Run, we celebrate the limitless potential of our girls and inspire them to be joyful, healthy and confident. Completing the 5k gives the girls the tangible sense of confidence that comes through accomplishment, as well as a framework for achieving life goals. With their faces painted, silly socks and tutus and their community cheering them on, crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible. Accordingly, by participating in the 5k, we ask you to honor the spirit of the event as a celebration and commit to putting their experience first. Thank you for helping to make this event an incredible day for all of our amazing girls.
5K REGISTRATION INFORMATION GOTR/HEART & SOLE GIRL REGISTRATION: All program participants are automatically registered in the 5k as part of their program registration. No further registration is needed. COACH REGISTRATION: GOTR/Heart & Sole coaches do not need to register for the 5k. 5K RUNNING BUDDY REGISTRATION: Each GOTR girl can have up to two people register as a Running Buddy ($15 fee). Girls are not required to have running buddies but it is highly encouraged for both her safety and comfort on the course. WHAT IS A RUNNING BUDDY? During the 5K Run, girls are encouraged to be accompanied by an adult (16+) Running Buddy. This gives each girl one-on-one encouragement and support as she takes on a great challenge. Online Running Buddy Registration Fee: $15 Online Running Buddy Registration will close on the morning of November 9. Event Day Running Buddy Registration Fee: $20 Entries are non refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances. Girls on the Run - Maine reserves the right to cancel or modify the event due to unfavorable conditions. Important Running Buddy Reminder! It is important to remember that each girl will find her own pace so whether she walks, hops, skips or runs, THAT IS OK! No matter what pace she chooses, you will be the support along the way! Encourage her to try her best and to keep moving forward. Please keep your comments positive and make it fun! EVENT TIMELINE 8:15-8:50 AM - Arrival and Check In GOTR Girls & Running Buddies to Team Sign Event Day Registration 8:15 AM- Fun Zone & Activities Open 9:20 AM - Welcome announcements/dance Party warm up 9:30 AM- Line up at starting line 9:35 AM - Wave 1 Orange Wave 9:38 AM - Wave 2 Purple Wave
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING GPS Address: 25 Campus Drive, New Gloucester Directions from the Maine Turnpike: Take the Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 (formerly Exit 11) in Gray. Bear right after the toll booth, toward the center of Gray Village. Stay in the right lane. At the first intersection, go straight through the light onto Route 115. Continue on 115 (East) for 1.6 miles, then turn left onto Depot Road. Continue on Depot Road for 2.8 miles to a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign onto Route 231/Interval Road. You can enter the campus through on Rte 231 or by taking an immediate left on Morse Street Road. PARKING TIPS: There are multiple parking lots throughout the Pineland Campus. Parking attendants will be on hand to direct you to open lots. Please do not part on the grass or in front of the Market. It will take some time to park, walk to the venue, check in, use the restroom and participate in pre-run fun so you can lower your stress by allowing extra time for your arrival. Keep your car moving and follow the directions of parking volunteers to expedite the parking process. Handicap Parking is available in front of the YMCA TEAM VILLAGE Team Meeting Locations/Check In: Upon arrival, GOTR/Heart & Sole girls and registered Running Buddies will proceed to the Team Village area in front of the YMCA find their team pole and check in with the coaches. Team signs are mostly in alphabetical order with some exceptions for larger teams. If a Running Buddy did not register online, day of registration can be done at the Registration tent.
EVENT DETAILS What to Wear: Girls on the Run program participants and coaches should wear their purple GOTR Program t-shirt during the 5k! Heart & Sole program participants should wear their blue program t-shirt. Race Bibs: Race Bibs and pins for girls and Running Buddies will be handed out by the coaches at the team sign. If a girl has a Running Buddy who has not signed up yet, that Running Buddy should go to the Registration Tent. 5k Shirts: All Running Buddies and Coaches who pre-ordered shirts by October 15 will need to go to the 5k Shirt table to pick up their shirts. A small quantity of 5k t-shirts will be available to purchase at the Merchandise tent along with other great GOTR gear! Fun Zone: Participants are invited to stop by the Fun Zone for hairspray, tattoos, face painting, bib bedazzling and a photo booth! 5k COURSE DESCRIPTION & MAP The 5k is a 2 loop course within the Pineland campus. Runners will start on the road in front of the YMCA. You will be heading towards the woods so when you line up to start, the YMCA will be on your left. Runners will proceed through a short section of woods and then through a parking lot section of the course. The course comes back by the YMCA before entering the woods behind the YMCA. Once out of the woods you will run across the lawn, return to the start line and loop the course a second time. The course is mostly flat with a few hills on the trail. There will be one water stop that you will pass two times. Please Note: The course may change prior to or on 5k day due to last minute unforeseen weather circumstances, or other needs deemed necessary by the Event Team. We will make every effort to provide the most up to date map at the event on 5k day, on our 5k website, and in future emails.
WAVE START TIMES: To help alleviate crowding on the course, we will be dividing participants into two wave start times. Teams A-L will be Wave 1 the Orange Wave. Teams M-Z will be Wave 2 the Purple Wave. The girls bibs will signify their wave. When directed to the starting line, please look for the Wave signs. Wave 1 will be sent off at 9:35. Wave 2 will be sent off at 9:38. SPECTATOR INFORMATION We welcome family and friends to come and support the GOTR girls and their running buddies. Our 5k course is spectator friendly as the Start and Finish are all in the grass area in front of the YMCA. Spectators can bring chairs to set up in the grass area. This is a two-loop course, so you will see the participants run by the start area multiple times. We know it is fun to take pictures, but please do not get in the way of the runners! Families of GOTR girls should be able to find their runners at the finish line but can also plan to meet back at the team pole. SPECTATOR ETIQUETTE: Do not impede the path of any runner throughout the course and at the finish. Be respectful of other spectators trying to get a glimpse of & cheer on their special runner. Always listen to our event volunteers, police, and EMS. Do not enter or block the finisher s chute for any reason. GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION Celebrate GOTR-Maine s 5 th Birthday! Get your free sticker and become an official high five ambassadors for the morning. Stop by the Give Me 5 Celebration tent and tell us what GOTR means to you. Limited quantity of special Give ME 5 merchandise available when you donate to the campaign. Cash Donations Accepted. Food and Beverages: We want to make sure our participants are hydrated! Water Coolers will be available for drinks before the 5k (or bring your own filled bottle.) There will be a water stop on the course and water will also be available at the finish line. Fruit and snacks will be available at Runner Food tent at the Finish Line for all 5k participants. Vendors: Food Trucks will be selling a selection of snacks and beverages for spectators. Cash preferred. Vendors include: Kelly s Ice Cream, PB & ME Food Truck, Shut Up N Eat It Food Truck (Breakfast Sandwiches, Muffins, Coffee, Hot Chocolate).
GOTR Merchandise Sales: Get your GOTR Gear! Purchase some fun GOTR items shirts, hats, water bottles, magnets, headbands and more! There is a $10 minimum when using a credit card. Weather: We will be watching the forecast closely, and if dangerous conditions are predicted for race day, we reserve the right to modify, shorten or cancel the event. In the event of a cancellation, the event will not be rescheduled, and consistent with the registration policy, no refunds or transfers will be given. If inclement weather is predicted for the morning of the 5k, we will make a decision no later than 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 11th. Our decision will be posted on our website homepage, our Facebook and Twitter feeds, and in an email to all coaches, families, and running buddies. Pet/Stroller Policy: Pineland has a strict NO DOG POLICY. Please do not bring your pets to the event. Strollers are not allowed on the 5k course but are welcome in the spectator area. Restrooms: Portable toilets are available at the event and restrooms are available inside the YMCA. First Aid: The First Aid Tent is located near the Finish Line. Lost & Found: Lost & Found will be located at the GOTR Registration Tent Additional Questions: If you have any questions regarding Girls on the Run or the upcoming 5k, please contact our local office at 207-747-5677 or staci.olson@girlsontherun.org. We are happy to assist you! Thank You 2017 Sponsors Q 97.9 WMTW Channel Fleet Feet Sports Maine Running WEX Central Maine Orthopaedics Intermed Martin s Point Healthcare Thank you to Southern Maine YMCA-Pineland Branch and Pineland Farms for hosting our Fall 5k!