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DOG JOG AND 5K RUN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Website Questions
Q. I am trying to apply a friendly URL (richmondspca.org/mypage for example), and the site is telling me that the URL I've chosen is not available. What do I do?
This is most likely happening because you are trying to use the same friendly URL that was chosen by you or someone else in a previous year, and that URL is still attached to a fundraising page. If the friendly URL is already being used by a 2011 participant, you will need to choose a different URL. We can research and fix this for you manually. For assistance with this, please e-mail merhardt@richmondspca.org or call 804-521-1318. Please be sure to include your name and the name of the friendly URL that you are trying to create.
Q. Are there any safety rules or requirements that I need to be aware of?
Yes, we take the safety and security of all participants very seriously, and the following rules are in effect during the course of the day's activities:
- No dogs may run in the 5K, so please have a buddy with you to watch your pet if you plan to participate in both the 5K Run and the 1-mile Dog Jog.
- One dog per person in the dog jog. Multiple people may walk with one registered dog, but we ask that one person not walk more than one dog in the event.
- Please display ID tags on your pet's collar and keep him or her on a short leash and under control at all times. No flex leads permitted.
- We ask that participating pets be current on vaccinations (proof not required), at least 6 months of age, and not be in hear/season.
- Please be kind to your four-legged companion and maintain a leisurely pace during the Dog Jog.
- Stollers/baby joggers are allowed in the Dog Jog but not in the 5K. If you are strolling your child we ask that you bring a friend or family member to walk your dog.
- Water will be available for purchase and we will provide water for human and dog walkers and runners, but you are also welcome to bring your own water and containers from home.
Q. What is the Dog Jog and 5K Run?
You can help save the lives of orphaned animals by signing up to participate in the Dog Jog and 5K Run, or by making a donation in support of the event. The day's activities consist of a competitive, timed 5K Run, a leisurely 1-mile Dog Jog, a Vendor Fair, Awards Ceremony and other activities. All proceeds benefit the pets awaiting homes at the Richmond SPCA's Robins-Starr Humane Center. All activities take place at the Robins-Starr Humane Center, located at 2519 Hermitage Road, on Saturday, March 19, 2011. The 5K course is flat, fast and competitive and is sanctioned and timed by the Richmond Road Runners Club and measured according to USAT&F Standards.
Q. When and where is the Dog Jog and 5K Run?
All events take place at the Richmond SPCA’s Robins-Starr Humane Center at 2519 Hermitage Road on Saturday, March 19, 2011, rain or shine. Please park in the Green Lot located at the corner of Hermitage Road and Robin Hood Road (behind the Flying Squirrels Diamond) and allow yourself a few minutes to walk to our center (approx. .2 miles). There is no charge for parking. The 5K Run, timed by the Richmond Road Runners Club, begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. The Dog Jog begins at 11 a.m. and is followed by the Awards Ceremony. The Vendor Fair will be located on our grounds, outdoors. On-site registration for both events is inside, in our Second Floor Track and Training Center, from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Pre-registration at www.richmondspca.org/race is highly encouraged.
Q: When should I arrive?
A: Pre-registered 5K runners should arrive by 9 a.m. as there is a short walk to the race start line. If you need to pick up your shirt, number and race packet please arrive by 8:45 a.m. Dog Jog participants should arrive by 10:30 a.m., earlier if you need to pick up your shirt, number and race packet. Please allow an extra 5 to 10 minutes to walk from the parking area on the Hermitage Road side of the Diamond (Green lot), located at the corner of Hermitage Road and Robin Hood Road. The walk is approximately .2 miles from the lot to our center.
Q: Where should I park?
A: Parking is free at the Diamond Green Lot (behind the Diamond along Hermitage Road) and at the City of Richmond Traffic Engineering Lot (across Hermitage Road from the Richmond SPCA in the direction of the Diamond). This lot is a short walk (about 2 city blocks) from the Richmond SPCA. As you exit the lot on Hermitage Road, turn right and you will see the Richmond SPCA on your left after the Salvation Army. There will be handicapped parking available at the Richmond SPCA.
Q: What if the weather is bad?
A: The Dog Jog and 5K Run is a rain or shine event and there is no scheduled inclement weather date. Because this is an important fundraiser that the Richmond SPCA depends on to support the care of orphaned animals, it is not our policy to issue refunds to participants who are unable to attend.
Q: Will the Richmond SPCA's retail shop and adoption center be open?
A: Yes.
Q: Will food and drinks be available for purchase?
Yes.
Q: When can I pick up my race packet, number and t-shirt?
A: Pre-registered Dog Jog and 5K participants may drop off donations and pick up their packets, shirts and numbers from Noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 and on Friday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. here at the Richmond SPCA (2519 Hermitage Road) in our Second Floor Auditorium. We encourage participants to pick up their packets in advance if possible to avoid lines and reduce congestion in the registration area on the day of the event. You may pick up packets on behalf team members or friends. No special ID will be required but we will ask you to sign your name by their name on the registration list, stating that you picked up their materials. If you are a team captain and plan to pick up packets and t-shirts for your entire team, please notify us in advance and don't forget to let your team members know so that they don't also try to pick up their materials.
Q: When is the awards ceremony?
A: The awards ceremony will be held as soon as 5K results are posted and fundraising totals for prizes have been tallied after the end of the Dog Jog. Awards are announced before 1 p.m., and we encourage everyone to enjoy the Vendor Fair while we tally results.
Q. How do I register to participate?
Pre-registration is encouraged. Register online at www.richmondspca.org/race or using our paper form. Online registration is highly encouraged as it conserves resources and allows more time and funds to be dedicated to our core mission. Registration will also be available on the day of the event from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. for the 5K, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for the Dog Jog. Packet/shirt pick-up and donation delivery will be on March 17 from 12 to 7 p.m. and on March 18 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Q. I want to walk in the Dog Jog with a registered dog, or no dog, or I just want to sign up to raise donations. How much does that cost?
There is no charge for these participation options, which do not include a t-shirt or race packet. We encourage you to go ahead and register your participation though, so that you can take advantage of our fundraising tools and be counted in our total number of participants.
Q: When can I pick up my race packet, number and t-shirt?
A: Pre-registered Dog Jog and 5K participants may drop off donations and pick up their packets, shirts and numbers from Noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 and on Friday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. here at the Richmond SPCA at the front desk (2519 Hermitage Road). We encourage participants to pick up their packets in advance if possible to avoid lines and reduce congestion in the registration area on the day of the event. You may pick up packets on behalf team members or friends. No special ID will be required but we will ask you to sign your name by their name on the registration list, stating that you picked up their materials.
Q. I created a username and password when I registered, and now it's not working. How can I log in to the site and access my fundraising page?
This issue usually occurs when a participant with an existing username and password on our site registers for an event and creates a secondary username and password. When this happens, a duplicate account is produced.
There are two solutions to this problem. First, you may visit our site login page and request that your original log in credentials be e-mailed to you, then proceed with registration. Second, you may e-mail merhardt@richmondspca.org or call 804-521-1318 and ask for assistance.
Q. I registered as an individual but would now like to form or join a team. How do I do this?
Your participation and team status can easily be changed, but unfortunately not through the event website. To make this change, please e-mail merhardt@richmondspca.org or call 804-521-1318.
Q. What is the overall fundraising goal, and how is it reached?
Our fundraising goal for the Dog Jog and 5K Run this year is $125,000. That goal is reached through sponsorship dollars, registration fees, donations in support of registered participants, and other donations. Expenses to present is event are just 8% of the funds raised, thank to the generosity of our sponsors.
Q. Can matching gifts be applied to my fundraising total?
Yes. Gifts that you or others make to your team or individual fundraising effort may be matched by employers if they approve the match. Please check with your employer to find out if a match can be made for the gift, and to get the necessary paperwork. Copies of any matching gift paperwork may then be sent to the Richmond SPCA to the attention of Katherine Sparks by fax to 804-521-0540 or by e-mail to ksparks@richmondspca.org. Once we are in receipt of your paperwork we will apply the match to your total. Please be sure to make a note on the paperwork that the match is to be applied to the Dog Jog and 5K Run.
Q. Are donations raised in support of my participation tax-deductible for the donors?
Yes.
Q. How do I raise donations in support of my participation?
Encourage friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers to make a donation to the cause. Fundraising tools, including personalized web pages, customized solicitation and thank you e-mails and donor tracking are available when you register at www.richmondspca.org/race. Every dollar makes a big difference in the lives of homeless animals and fundraisers are eligible to win fabulous prizes for their efforts! Donations may be made by mail, in person, or online at www.richmondspca.org/race.
Q. My registration fee isn't showing up on the fundraising total on my personal or team page. Why not?
In order to get an accurate snapshot of donations raised in support of this event, registration fees do not count toward fundraising/donation totals. One reason for this is to level the playing field when it comes to fundraising prizes, so that small teams have an equal chance to compete for prizes as teams with many members. Another reason is that we account for registration fees separately from donations, for tax purposes, so it is important that we differentiate between the two.
Q. I'm entering an offline pledge that that I received using my fundraising page dashboard and am being asked to enter a check number for the gift, but I don't have it. What should I do?
Unfortunately, we are not able to make Check Number a not required field. To bypass this requirement, you may enter any random number in the field and the system will accept your gift. We will assign the actual check number when the donation is received at the Richmond SPCA.
Q. Can I make a donation to a team?
No. Donations may be made in support of individual participants, not entire teams. If you donate through an individual's fundraising page and they are a member of a team, your donation will show up as part of the team's fundraising total, as well as the individual's.
Q. How do I form a team?
Have a group of friends, neighbors or co-workers who would like to participate together? Form a team with a fundraising goal and compete for great prizes! You can create a team online at www.richmondspca.org/race or using our paper form. You can create a customized team page to communicate with your team, invite people to join, and rally the support of friends and family at www.richmondspca.org/race! Learn more about being a team captain.
Q. I am a team captain. How do I invite people to join my team?
There are two ways to add members to your team.
- You may send prospective team members an e-mail inviting them to join by clicking Send E-mail on your Admin Page.
- Prospective team members may also search for your team using the search function on the main race page (www.richmondspca.org/race) and join from there, whether or not they have received an invitation from you.
Q. I'm a team captain and I can't figure out how to enter a goal for my team. How do I do this?
The online fundraising pages are configured in such a way that the team goal is a composite of the goals of each team member. For example, if four team members all have a goal of $250, then the team's goal will be listed as $1,000. If you are a team captain and you would like to communicate a goal to the public and to your team members, we suggest using the custom text on your team page to input the team goal, as well as custom e-mails available through your admin page. We have filed the ability for team captains to set or change team goals as a suggestion for the future with our software company, but do not know when or if it will be implemented. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.
Q. Do I have to join a team?
No, you may participate as an individual or as part of a team.
Q. Is there a minimum or maximum number of members per team?
No.
Q. Is there a minimum amount that each team has to raise?
No. We encourage all team members to fundraise, but there is no minimum requirement.
Q. Do all team members have to register for the same event(s)?
No. Some team members can run the 5K, some may walk the Dog Jog, some may participate in both events. It's up to the individual to decide.
Q: Can my dog run the 5K with me?
A: Dogs are prohibited from running in the 5K, for safety reasons, and we encourage those who are participating in the 5K to treat their pup instead to a leisurely 1-mile walk in the Dog Jog. If you're participating in both events, please have a buddy there to watch your dog while you run the 5K.
Q: Can I walk the 5K?
A. Yes. The 5K run is a competitive, timed event but participants are also welcome to walk the course.
Q: Are strollers allowed?
A: Strollers are not allowed in the 5K run. They are allowed in the 1-mile Dog Jog.
Q: When and where will the 5K finish times be posted?
A: They will be posted within an hour and a half of the finish of the 5K by the Richmond Road Runners Club at the front entrance of the SPCA. They will also be posted on the Richmond Road Runners Club website after the event.
If your question was not answered here, please e-mail merhardt@richmondspca.org or call 804-521-1318. Thanks!