Events
Join us for one of the most moving and unique events in Michigan and help us celebrate our ten year anniversary!
The Girls on the Run 5k, presented by Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, is the culmination of Girls on the Run's 10-week season. More than 1,000 girls ages 8-14, will celebrate their "girl power" by running 3.1 miles with their coaches, families, friends, teachers and community members. This event is open to anyone who wants to run, walk, or skip to the finish line!
The Girls on the Run 5k series, with more than 200 events across the United States and Canada, is the largest youth focused 5k series in the world. It is a non-competitive, celebration 5k, and times will not be recorded nor will results be posted. All finishers will receive a medal. Everyone who crosses the finish line is a winner!
Dates & Locations
Packet Pick Up & Registration
Friday, May 18th from 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Ellen Thompson Women's Health Center,
located in the “Specialty Centers” of St. Joseph Mercy Health System
5320 Elliott Dr. Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Come on Friday to avoid the lines Sunday morning!
Girls on the Run 5k/10k celebration and expo
Sunday, May 20th from 9:45am – 1:00pm
Eastern Michigan University
Rynearson Stadium
799 N. Hewitt Ypsilanti, MI 48917
Event Schedule
Packet Pick Up & Registration
Friday, May 18th
12:00pm - 7:00pm
*Girls on the Run participants will receive their numbers from their coaches at the event on Sunday. They will not be available for pick up on Friday.
Girls on the Run 5k/10k celebration expo
Sunday, May 20th
Registration
5k
$25 if registered on or before Wednesday, May 16th
$30 on Friday, May 18th and Sunday, May 20th
Individuals who participate in the 5k will receive a finisher’s medal and a Girls on the Run 5k event t-shirt! You must register before Monday, April 23rd to guarantee your size.
10k
$35 if registered on or before Wednesday, May 16th
$40 on Friday, May 18th and Sunday, May 20th
Individuals who participate in the 10k will receive a commemorative medal and one of a kind Girls on the Run 10th Anniversary tech shirt! You must register before Monday, April 23rd to guarantee your size.
*You do not need to complete an additional registration form or submit an additional payment for your daughter to participate in the 5k as long as she is participating in the current Girls on the Run season. Girls on the Run participants are invited to participate in the 10k event for half-off the community price!
How to Register
Click here to download the registration form.
Click here to register online.
Proceeds
All proceeds from this event benefit Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan.
Volunteer
We need hundreds of volunteers to make our event a success. If you, or someone you know, are interested click here for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I have to know a Girls on the Run participant to register for the 5k/10k event?No, anyone who would like to participate and support our program is welcome!
Can boys/men participate in the Girls on the Run 5k/10k?
Yes! Anyone who wants to run, walk or skip to the finish line is welcome to participate in the 5k.
Where do I park the morning of the 5k/10k?
Parking is free. Hewitt and East Bound Huron River Dr. will be closed at 9:30am so you must arrive and park before that time in the lots on the west side of Hewitt across from the EMU convocation center and stadium.
My daughter is a GOTR participant; do I need to register her for the 5k/10k?
You do not need to complete an additional registration form or submit an additional payment for your daughter to participate in the 5k as long as she is participating in the current Girls on the Run season. Girls on the Run participants are invited to participate in the 10k event for half-off the community price!
Are we required to attend the Packet Pick Up?
Picking up your packet on Friday is optional. Registration will be open from 8:30am - 9:30am the morning of the 5k however the lines can get long so stopping in on Friday will save you time Sunday morning. Girls on the Run participants will receive their numbers from their coaches at the event on Sunday. They will not be available for pick up on Friday.
What time should we arrive on Sunday if we have already registered and picked up our numbers and t-shirts?
Girls on the Run participants must meet their coaches at their team signs, in the C lot, between 9:00am and 9:30am. We encourage you to give yourself plenty of time to park, get water and use the restroom. Our opening ceremony begins at 9:45am.
*Anyone who is not running with a Girls on the Run participant will want to be at the starting line by 9:45am.
What time should we arrive on Sunday if we have not registered or picked up our packets yet?
Event Day Registration and Packet Pick-Up will be open from 8:30am – 9:30am on Sunday morning. The lines are often long so we encourage you to arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to park, get water and use the restroom. Our opening ceremony begins at 9:45am.
My daughter is a Girls on the Run participant, what should she wear?
Girls on the Run participants must wear their program t-shirt and running shoes. For the spring 5k event we encourage participants to dress in layers that can easily be shed and tied around their waist as they begin to warm up. They may also want to wear a winter hat and gloves and pack tissues in their pockets.
What should I bring?
We encourage you to bring a water bottle. You may also want to bring cash for concessions, and to purchase noisemakers, souvenirs and other items. We encourage you to make and bring signs to show your support and enthusiasm. Don’t forget your cameras and video recording devices. We love when families share their photos and videos with us!
Where do spectators go?
You are invited to cheer on the participants at the starting line and then find a seat in the stadium to watch the finish. Spectators may also come down onto the field to cheer on participants. Look for the signs that point you through the bleachers to the stairs. There are elevators in the Convocation Center for individuals with strollers or wheelchairs.
*We request that for the safety of our participants you do not enter the finisher chute. You may congratulate your runner once they have exited the chute and then proceed to the Celebration Expo together.
How do I know where to line up at the starting line?
We have three waves at our starting line; our GOTR participants will be divided evenly into a pink and green wave and there will be a white wave for the 10k participants. Families and community runners who are joining us are welcome to join whichever wave they’d prefer.
Can we bring pets?
For safety reasons please do not bring pets to the 5k event.
Are jogging strollers allowed on the course?
Absolutely! We just ask that you line up at the back of the wave, to ensure your safety and the safety of the other participants.
Will there be food and drinks available?
Concession stands will be open from 8:30am – 1:00pm. There will be water, fresh fruit and donut holes available for all registered 5k participants at the finish line.
What if it rains, storms or snows?
If it is at all possible (even in the rain or snow!) we will continue to have the event. The event will be cancelled by 9:00am if the weather is too severe and it is not safe for participants to run. It will NOT be rescheduled. Please subscribe to our facebook page and/or find us on twitter for a cancellation announcement.
What if my daughter gets hurt or needs help?
There will be a first aid station at the starting line and the finish line should medical assistance be necessary. Our participants will be instructed to go to anyone in a white volunteer t-shirt for help. Volunteer Course Marshals will be along the entire course. In addition, there will be Emergency Medical Technicians from Huron Valley Ambulance service on bikes throughout the course. All major roads will be shut down or staffed by public safety officers. Huron Valley Ambulance service will be on site at all times in case of an emergency.
How do I find my daughter after the 5k10k event?
We strongly encourage you to register to run/walk with your daughter. Participating with her is a great way to model healthy behavior and support her in achieving her goal. If you, or someone else from your family, are unable to participate with your daughter her coaches will run with her. We have course marshals all along the 3.1 and 6.1-mile courses to ensure that our participants are supervised at all times. You may watch for your daughter to cross the finish line on the football field and reunite with her on the track on your way into the Expo to celebrate.
What time will the event finish?
We encourage spectators and participants to stay and cheer on the finishers until WonderGirl crosses the finish line. This teaches our girls to support her teammates and practice good sportsmanship. We encourage you to celebrate with your daughter at our Celebration Expo event which will take place from 10:00am until 1:00pm in front of the football stadium afterward. There will be music, dancing, concessions, a bounce house, photo booth, face painting, happy hair station, other family-fun activities and interactive sponsor booths!
Where can we purchase photographs of the event?
We have professional photographers, volunteers and staff taking pictures. We have large GOTR letters that are a perfect photo backdrop for your 5k finisher and her team. After the event we will post photos on our flickr page and on our Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan facebook page. Our facebook page is also a great place for you to share your pictures (and stories) with us!
To help facilitate a positive 5k/10k experience for all participants, we request you practice standard event etiquette:
• As much as possible, please try to run at an even pace the entire event instead of starting and stopping, sprinting and walking, etc.
• Should you need to walk, please move to the far right of the street and try to ease your pace into a walk instead of abruptly stopping.
• Allow runners to pass on the left.
• Please pass slower runners/walkers on the left.
• When approaching a water station, grab a cup of water while being aware of other runners who may be passing through. Please do not stop. If you need to slow down wait until after the water station and then move to your right to walk.
• Encourage other runners and thank our volunteers!
• If you see a runner who needs medical attention, please alert a course marshal or EMT.
• At the finish line please be aware that other runners are coming up behind you and do not stop abruptly. Once you receive your medal please proceed through the post-event refreshment station and then celebrate with your friends and family once you are out of the finishers’ chute.
• No dogs may accompany runners/walkers in the 5k.
• No bicycles are allowed on the 5k course (except for designated EMT).
• Participants may run or walk with a stroller but they must start at the very back of the 5k (even if running with a Girls on the Run participant).
When is the next Girls on the Run 5k?
Our next 5k event is Sunday, December 9th, save the date!