CASA Super Hero 5k & Youth 1k Fun Run

Join us for the 9th Annual CASA Superhero Run! Walk, run, or raise money for CASA and you can be a real-life superhero to some very special children right here in Central Virginia. 

Event Options:
5K Run: Superheroes who like to run like the flash can sign up for the 5K Run and receive a race shirt (or cape), swag bag, and finisher medal! The run will be professionally timed by Riverside Runners. The start/end will be in the parking area of Percival's Island Trail in downtown Lynchburg. *Please note our later start time. We will be starting at *10:00am due to potential ice on the bridge in those early morning hours.

5K Walk: If walking is more your superhero style, then sign up for the 5K Walk. Walkers will receive a race shirt (or cape), swag bag, and finisher medal! The walk will also be professionally timed but is non-competitive (no age group or overall awards issued). *Please note our later start time. We will be starting at *10:05 due to potential ice on the bridge in those early morning hours.

Kids 1 Mile Fun Run: Get those little superheroes out for some training runs and build up to one full mile by race weekend. Our little superheroes (12 and under) will receive a cape, swag bag, and finisher medal. This fun run will not be timed.

One parent per child may run with their small children. Parents do not have to pay or register to participate with their child in the 1-mile fun run. Parents will receive a numbered bracelet which is their “ticket” to run with their child and/or pick up their child at the finish line parent/child meet-up corral.

There will be 2 heats (races) with a rolling start beginning at 11:45 am and approximately 11:55 am. The second heat will need to be lined up and ready by 11:55 am and will start when the first heat finishes. The start location for both heats will be the parking area of Percival's Island Trail in downtown Lynchburg. Superheroes will chase the villains to the halfway point, refuel, and run back to the finish line.

0.0 Mile "Couch Crusader": If lounging on the couch and watching superhero movies is how you want to participate, then this category is for you! Couch crusaders will get a race shirt and swag bag and you don’t have to do anything but relax. This is a super easy way to support the event!

AGE RESTRICTIONS – HEALTHY YOUTH RUNNING & DEVELOPMENT
In the interest of promoting healthy youth running and development in our community, we are adopting age restrictions recommended and researched by the Lynchburg Road Runners Club. These restrictions have been carefully considered after researching the recommendations of the Cleveland Clinic and guidelines of the Road Runners Club of America pertaining to healthy ages for youth participation in races.

1 Mile          5 and over (if running without a parent)
3.1 Miles     8 and over

Entry Fees: Register early and save!
5K Run (Ages 8 & Up) and Walk (no age limit):    
Register by Sept. 15: 5K: $35
Register Sept. 16 - Nov. 3 (by 5pm): 5k: $40

NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION / PACKET PICKUP.
REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE FOR ALL EVENTS AT 5 PM NOV. 3RD.
ALL PACKETS SHOULD BE PICKED UP NO LATER THAN 6 PM, NOV. 3RD. SEE PACKET PICKUP INFORMATION FOR MORE DETAILS.

Kids 1 Mile Fun Run:    (Ages 12 and under)
Register by Nov. 3: Kids 1 Mile: $20
Register on Race Day (Nov. 4): Kids 1 Mile: $25

0.0 Mile Couch Crusader:  $30 (includes shipping your packet to you)

GUARANTEED T-SHIRT DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023.

NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION / PACKET PICKUP. REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE FOR ALL EVENTS AT 5 PM NOV. 3RD. ALL PACKETS SHOULD BE PICKED UP NO LATER THAN 6 PM, NOV. 3RD. SEE PACKET PICKUP INFORMATION FOR MORE DETAILS.

Immediate Family Discount: If you are like the Incredibles and have a whole family of superheroes, take advantage of our immediate family discount! Register 4 or more (up to 6) members and get $5 off per person. Discount applies to registration fees only.

Race for Free: Superheroes run for free when you set up a fundraising page and raise at least $250! See fundraising section below for details.

2 DAY PACKET PICKUP:
You can pick up your race packet on Thursday November 2nd or Friday, November 3rd from 11:00am until 6:00 pm at Riverside Runners (2480 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503). Please note that there is NO RACE DAY Packet Pickup.

Superhero Swag:
T-Shirts and Capes:  All superheroes in the 5K run or walk will receive a custom-designed t-shirt or cape (register by October 20 to guarantee your shirt or cape) and a swag bag at packet pickup. Shirts are a super soft, preshrunk cotton blend and unisex sizing.  Kids 1 Mile participants will receive a cape and swag bag. We will have limited quantities of t-shirts and capes available for those that register after October 20th. 

*Custom Finisher Medal:  Who doesn't love a medal? All superheroes should be rewarded for their bravery and acts of kindness. All 5K and Kids 1 Mile participants will receive a unique Finisher Medal with their packet. *Finisher medals are not awarded to our Couch Crusaders

Costumes: 
What fun is a Superhero Run without costumes? We encourage everyone to wear their favorite superhero costume (buy it or make it) but it is certainly not required. Which superhero will you be? When selecting your costume, please be reminded that children of all ages will be participating in this family-friendly event (costumes should not be too revealing or scary please).

Costume Contest:  Those registered in any of our superhero events have the option to participate in the Costume Contest!  Categories include:
Best Traditional Superhero (Male, Female, Boy, Girl)
Best Invented Superhero (Male, Female, Boy, Girl)
Best Superhero Family
Best Superhero Baby

Our panel of judges will choose winners in each category. Be creative and you could win a prize! 

Become a Super Fundraiser:
Become a Superhero Fundraiser and help CASA soar to our fundraising goal!  Create your fundraising page during registration or after by logging into your Runsignup account. Customize your page with your photo and story - be creative! Link your fundraising page to Facebook for a more successful campaign.

Fundraising Prizes:
Our top fundraiser will win a Staycation Package filled with local gift cards. Anyone who raises $1,000 or more will be entered to win one of our other surprise packages. Fundraisers who raise at least $500 will win a 2023 Superhero Run hoodie and have their name listed on the CASA website as a CASA Crusader. Fundraisers who raise at least $250 will have their race registration fee refunded. 

The cut-off time for donations to count towards prizes and incentives is Friday, October 27th at 11:59pm. Donations must be date stamped by the system on or before that day/time or they will not count toward prizes. To bring cash or checks to the CASA office, please pre-arrange a drop-off with Kelli Diaz at [email protected].

Awards: 
Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers, top overall male and female masters finishers, as well as the top three in each age/gender category for the 5K Run.

Age Group Category
Overall
Masters Overall
Ages 8-9
Ages 10-12
Ages 13-15
Ages 16-19
Ages 20-24
Ages 25-29
Ages 30-34
Ages 35-39
Ages 40-44
Ages 45-49
Ages 50-54
Ages 55-59
Ages 60-64
Ages 65-69
Ages 70+

Awards will not be given in the 5K Walk or Kids 1 Mile. Awards will also be given to the top fundraisers and to those with the best costumes (see above). Our award ceremony will begin at 11:00am. Costume contest awards in the kids categories will be announced after the second heat of the kids run (approximately 12:30). If you are unable to stay for the awards ceremony, you can pick up your age group award at Riverside Runners starting on Monday, November 6. If you win a costume contest prize but can't stay for the ceremony, you can arrange to pick up your prize from the CASA office by emailing [email protected]. 

Parking on Race Day:
Parking information will be available in your race guide at packet pickup and online the week before the race. We are working at the speed of light to once again provide free shuttle service to several large downtown parking lots. Stay tuned!

Race Day Hydration and Refreshments: 
There will be one water stop for the 5k (near the halfway point) and one for the kids run. Kids run participants will receive a snack bag at the finish line. 5k participants will have access to food and drinks at our finish line food tent.

Refund Policy:
All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Stroller Policy:
Due to the narrow path of the course, strollers are discouraged in the 5K for safety purposes. If you choose to push a stroller, you must start in the back and stay on the right side of the path at all times. Because the course is out and back and the path is narrow, strollers cannot line up side-by-side. This is for the safety of all participants.

Headphone Policy: 
For safety reasons, please do not wear headphones while running or walking on the course. The course is narrow and out and back so you will need to be race aware at all times.

Assisted Athletes Information: 
Assisted athletes with disabilities are welcome. Both the assisted athlete and the pusher must register and sign the waiver but will each only pay half price for registration. Please register as an assisted athlete team to get your discount. Assisted athletes will have a 3-5 minute advance start for course safety purposes. On race day, please go to the front of the starting line and our team will get you lined up. We will also have several parking spaces reserved near the event. Please look for our parking attendants and let them know you are an assisted athlete team.

Pet Policy: 
For safety reasons, dogs and other pets are not permitted on the course.