5K Celebration - Confidence through Accomplishment

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 participant high fives running buddy at 5K
Hero stars right
Girls on the Run participant high fives running buddy at 5K
Two Girls on the Run participants smile while showing off 5K medals

5K Event Details

Event
Capital Region Girls on the Run Fall 5K (Not Chip Timed)
Date
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Location

Jennings Landing

1 Quay Street 

Albany, NY 12207

Time

Registration Opens on 8/10! 

8:30 AM - Event Opens, Celebrations Begin!

9:45 AM - Group Warm Up

10:00 AM - Girls on the Run 5k Starts

Price

Registration Type 8/10-11/7 Race Day
Community Runner $25 $35
5k Buddy $25 $35
Youth Community Runner (Under 16) $20 $30
     
**5k T-Shirts Available for Purchase (Through October 25)** $10  

All registered runners will receive a 5k Finisher Medal.

**Commemorative 5K T-shirts are available for pre-purchase during registration through October 25th. Don’t miss your chance to grab one — shirts will not be available after this date, as we’ll be placing our order with the vendor in advance. **

NOTES: Program participants & coaches have already been registered for the 5K and DO NOT need to register. Online registration closes at midnight on November 7th.

5K Registration

Join us on Saturday, November 14th at Jennings Landing in Albany, NY.

The GOTR 5K is the culminating celebration of our season—a joyful, empowering day where girls showcase their hard work, growth, and confidence. It’s a community-wide event filled with energy, encouragement, and plenty of smiles as our runners cross the finish line. Whether you’re a girl on a team, a Running Buddy, or a community participant, this day is about celebrating every step of the journey!

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5k Event Guide:

We can't wait to celebrate with you on November 14! To help everyone feel prepared and excited for the big day, we've put together a few helpful resources for families.

5K Event Guide: Everything you need to know for race day, including arrival details, what to wear and bring, event activities, and important reminders. Explore the 5K Event Guide

5K Social Story: We want every participant to feel comfortable, confident, and ready to celebrate! For girls who benefit from knowing what to expect, including those on the autism spectrum, we've created a visual guide that walks through the race day experience. View Our 5K Social Story.

We hope these resources help your family feel ready for a fun, joyful, and memorable 5K celebration!

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REGISTRATION:

  • Running Buddies: Every girl needs to have a registered Running Buddy to accompany her on race day. A Running Buddy is any trusted adult 16+, who can run/walk alongside their girl and cheer her on through this day of accomplishment. A running buddy can be a parent, grandparent, uncle, teacher, family, friend, favorite babysitter - anyone 16+ your girl knows and trusts! 
  • Community Runners: Our 5k is open to all! We invite all runners and walkers to join us for the 5k. Ask other family members, siblings and friends to join us also!

All Running Buddies, parents and friends running the 5k must register. The registration fee varies based upon the timeline above and includes a, finisher medal and a GOTR branded swag item. 

Commemorative 5k t-shirts are available for purchase for $10 through until 10/25/26. After October 25th, no 5k t-shirts are available for purchase. 

Online run registration closes on 11/7. 

Day of race registration is $35.

Reminder - all GOTR participants and coaches are automatically registered for the 5k!

 

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Packet Pick Up:

5K Buddy packets will be available for pickup on 11/12/26 from 4-7 at Fleet Feet in Albany. Their address is 155 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205.

A GOTR shop will be available at packet pick up - come and get a first look at race day merchandise!

All packets not picked up in advance will be available from 8:30-9:30 AM at the Race Day Registration Tent. 5k giveaways are available first come, first served while supplies last.

** Please note that packets for girls and coaches will NOT be available at packet pickup — they will be distributed on race day. ** 

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Course Map:

Coming in October! 

5k Course Overview:

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Weather:

The GOTR 5K is a celebration rain or shine! 🌦️


Please dress appropriately for the weather and make the decision that’s best for you and your girl. If conditions become unsafe, we will communicate updates via email, text and social media.

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Race Etiquette:

The GOTR 5K is non-competitive—every runner is encouraged to go their “happy pace.” 💜

To keep the course safe and fun for everyone:

  • Walkers and slower runners, please stay to the right.

  • Faster runners may pass on the left.

  • Pets are not allowed on the run course or in the start/finish areas. For the safety of our girls and families, please leave pets at home.

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Join the Celebration—Make a Difference!


Cheer, support, and help make the 5K a joyful, empowering experience. Whether you want to run, walk, cheer, or take photos, there’s a volunteer role for everyone!

Interested in volunteering at our upcoming 5K event? Fill out our volunteer form below! 

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Our 5k volunteers perform a variety of functions on race day including but not limited to the following*:

  • Set-up and Tear Down
  • Registration
  • Course Marshalls
  • Running Buddies
  • Merchandise Tables
  • Water Stations & Refreshments
  • Cheer Stations

Ideally, we would love for volunteers to be with us for the duration of the event, approximately 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM. We do understand that not everyone can commit to the entire event so we have time blocks available to choose from.

*Please indicate in your application if you have any restrictions that prohibit you from volunteering for certain tasks.*

5K Volunteer Form

5K FAQs

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 encourages every participant to get a running buddy, and only critical 5K volunteers have access to confidential information.

To ensure every participant crosses the finish line, we monitor the course and conduct head counts. Our council has a safety plan in place, which trains staff and volunteers on how to respond during an emergency or incident.

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. Designated parking spots are available.

A 5k Buddy is an individual 16 or older, designated by the council or 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 participant who completes the 5K will receive a medal.

Yes! Family, friends and community members outside of our program can participate in the event, but must register.

Yes. All 5K registration forms include liability waivers.

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 bib decorating stations, temporary tattoos, photo ops, and more! Of course, we’ll have merchandise for sale, too!

The price will increase for individuals registering on the day of the event. 

Email Us - 5K

Interested in sponsoring our council’s programs,
5K or a future event?

Email Us

Join us for our 5K

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!

5K Registration 5K Volunteer Registration