Information for Parents

Please share relevant portions of this website with your daughter and other family members who may be planning to run with or support your daughter at the 5K. If you have additional questions about the 5K, please contact your daughter's GOTR Coach at her school.

Buddy Runner Required

To ensure the safety of the girls while running the 5K, each girl is required to have a partner (Buddy Runner) to run with her. We suggest this running partner be a parent, older brother or sister, other family member or a friend of the family. If your daughter is unable to find a Buddy Runner, please contact her GOTR Coach who will assist you in finding a volunteer community runner (Road Runner), to run with your daughter the day of the event.

Buddy Runner Registration

If you are ready to register for the Race as a Buddy Runner for your daughter, please click the link below. Registration is only available online. To register as a Buddy Runner you will need the following information about the GOTR girl with whom you wish to run:

• Name of the school where she participates in GOTR

• Name of her GOTR Coach

• Her GOTR schedule (the days of the week she participates in GOTR)

Please make sure you have this information before you begin. You cannot register as a Buddy Runner without this information.

Buddy Runner Registration

Race Registration Deadline

Buddy Runners who register by April 23, 2010 will be guaranteed a Race t-shirt in the size requested. If you register after April 23, 2010 you may not receive the t-shirt size you request. The final registration deadline is 6:00pm, Friday, May 7, 2010. This is our operational deadline. It is possible that GOTR NOVA may have to close registration before May 7, 2010 if we reach our capacity of 7,200 runners before May 7th.

Post Race Activities

Following the 5K, we will celebrate the girl's achievements with musical entertainment, beverages and snacks, and a short program the whole family will enjoy.

Lost Child Procedures

Announcements will be made prior to the start of the 5K instructing children who get separated from a parent, or who are unable to locate a parent upon finishing the 5K, to report to the Volunteer Tent. The Volunteer Tent will be staffed from 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM on the day of the event. Volunteer Tent Staff will be equipped with cell phones and a walkie-talkie. This procedure will be communicated to all GOTR NOVA Coaches, event volunteers, Mason security personnel, and will be posted on the GOTR NOVA web site. Please note that no PA announcements can be made for a lost child until after the 5K run is over.

Lost Articles

Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia is not responsible for any items lost or stolen from the site of your school’s sign and gathering area.

5K Run Policies

GOTR NOVA asks that you please observe the following rules while participating in, or attending, the 5K. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

• No dogs may accompany a runner

• No umbrellas are permitted, as this represents a serious safety issue with the size of the crowd at the 5K

• No runner may use a jog stroller

• No iPods or headphones are permitted on the course

Race Etiquette

Attention parents! Please review the following race etiquette with your daughter, and remind all participants to observe these guidepnes during the race:

• Only runners will be allowed to enter the Start line area.

• Faster runners should go to the front of each wave.

• Slower runners/walkers should stay at the back of each wave.

• When running please stay to the right of the cones at all times.

• Should you need to stop at any time during the Race, please move to the far right.

• Slower runners and walkers please stay to the far right.

• Allow for runners to pass on the left.

• Please pass slower runners/walkers on the left.

• If you see a runner who you think needs medical attention, please alert one of the Course Marshals stationed along the Race route.

• Run/walk the course in pairs only; no groups of three or more across the lane, as this would block faster runners from passing.

• Buddy Runners running with pairs; please run behind your pair.

• When receiving water at the Water Stop, take a cup of water and Keep Moving!

• Throw your cup on the ground; you have a license to litter, this time!

• When crossing the Finish line Keep Moving!

Questions?

If you have additional questions about the 5K, please contact your daughter's GOTR Coach, at the school where she participates in GOTR of Northern Virginia.