Girls on the Run
of Ottawa and Allegan Counties
Dear Girls on the Run Coaches and Families:
On Saturday, June 3rd, Girls on the Run/Heart & Sole participants, coaches, and registered family
members and friends will run in the GOTR Celebration 5K (3.1 miles). This will be the culminating event for
the 2017 Spring season and will include all schools in the Allegan and Southern Ottawa County Girls on the
Run/Heart & Sole program. The Celebration 5K is your team’s opportunity to celebrate all of the amazing
things you have been able to accomplish together!
The event is being held on the campus of Coopersville Public Schools-James P. Meerman Football
Stadium, 198 East St., Coopersville, MI 49404. Coaches arrive by 9:00am to meet on the field at their school
district sign. Girls should arrive by 9:15am. Please note that it takes time to walk from the parking lots
into the stadium. The pre-run pep rally will begin at 9:45am and will include music, dancing, and of course
Energy Awards! The run will begin at 10:00am and will begin and end at the James P. Meerman Football
Stadium with the course winding throughout the campus. The entire route will be guarded by course volunteers
and the roads will be closed. Route maps will be distributed at the event and are attached to this packet. The
event agenda is as follows:
9:00 am – Coaches Arrive – Drop coaching bags/materials in the U-haul van parked in the East
Parking Lot.
Limited Day of 5K Registration for community runners is available from 9:00 to 10:00 am*Please see
next page for more information*
9:15 am – Girls Arrive: Schools will be outlined by signs on the stadium field. Please look for your
coach/team on the field. Your runner girl is welcome to get her hair “Happified” at the Happy Hair Station
located inside of the stadium before reporting to the field. Cheer on your favorite runner girl and stop at the
Family & Friends table for a special cheer sticker!
9:45 am – Welcome/Pep Rally
10:00am – THEY’RE OFF! *Due to the number of participants we will be implementing a gradual start
11:00am – 11:30 am – Runners finish inside of the stadium, can head back to their team location and grab
refreshments. You are free to leave once you have grabbed refreshments.
12:30pm – All families must be off of the Football Field
We are inviting the girls’ families and friends to participate in the Celebration 5K with them. Please
come support your runner girl and celebrate her accomplishments. Anyone who would like to run that is not a
coach or participant in the program MUST register as a community runner for the event on our website,
www.gotroac.org . We will continue to remind all participants that this is a completely non-competitive event
and that anyone who chooses to take part is there to encourage and support the girls as they work towards their
goal.
Please read all of the attached pages for further directions and answers to some Frequently Asked Questions. Feel
free to contact us if you have further questions.
ANSWERS TO SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How do I get to Coopersville Public Schools?
Since we have coaches, girls, families, and community runners coming from all over Ottawa and Allegan
Counties, we encourage all of you to visit www.googlemaps.com for directions.
1. Once on the website, select DIRECTIONS
2. Enter your current location from which you will be leaving.
3. Then enter Coopersville’s address, 198 East St., Coopersville, MI 49404
4. There are 3 main entrances/exits:
a. Entrance/exit off East St (East St. and South Campus Dr.) West
b. Entrance/exit off East St. (East St. and Grove St.) West
c. Entrance/exit off 48th Ave. (48th Ave and Grove St.) East
5. Please use the entrance/exit which is closest to your place of origin
We hope this will reduce traffic issues.
What happens to the event in case of bad weather?
Participant and spectator safety is first and foremost with GOTR. We will closely monitor weather conditions
for event day, but due to rapidly changing weather we may not be able to make any official decisions regarding
the 5K until a few hours prior. The event will occur rain or shine however it may be cancelled due to severe
weather. If this is the case you will be asked to leave the stadium for your own safety. Information on the status
of the event can be found on our facebook page. If the event is cancelled it will not be rescheduled and no
refunds will be given.
Who may run in the event?
The Celebration 5K Event is open to family and friends who would like to help encourage and support the girls
as they work towards their goals. This event is completely non-competitive so there will not be a clock.
Everything will be centered on celebrating the girls and the culmination of another great season. Girls may
choose to run with their teams or with their families.
How do I sign up to be a Community Runner?
Anyone who wishes to run with the girls must register on our website at www.gotroac.org or at the community
runner registration table at the event between 9:00am-10:00am.The price is $25 and will increase to $30 if you
sign up the day of the event. You will receive a community runner t-shirt (while supplies last) and you may pick
up your packet at several locations, details are on our website. We highly encourage you to sign up and pick up
your packet prior to the event as lines can be long and this year we will be offering a limited number of dayof registrations. This means that once we reach our capacity of community runners, we will no longer
be able to register runners.
Do Coaches and Girls have to register for this event?
No, coaches and current GOTR/H&S Spring 2017 participants DO NOT have to register for the 5k. Only
friends and family that want to join the teams in the run must register.
Where can I park? Where do we go when we arrive?
The following parking lots are available for you to park:
Handicap Parking: Several spots are available in the East Parking lot (if you park in a handicap space
in the East Lot you must have a Handicap permit) If you want to see your runner girl on the route, but do
not want to come into the stadium, the NorthWest Parking lot is a great place to watch from your vehicle or on
the sidelines without having to make your way in and out of the stadium!
General Parking: East Parking, Athletic Event Parking, Northeast High School Parking, South High School
Parking, Central Parking, Northwest Parking, West Parking
**If you need handicap parking, please use the East Parking Lot (closest to stadium – permit
required).**
**Give yourself time to walk from parking lots to stadium* Please note you will not be
able to leave the parking lots until the 5k is completed and the attendant allows you to
leave.*
There will be parking volunteers to help direct families and coaches to the stadium where your runner girl will
meet her team by the designated school sign on the field. Parking can be an issue, please carpool together if you
are able. This is a very large and busy event with over 2,500 people attending. Parking can take time, as can
leaving the event. Please plan accordingly. See attached parking map for more details.
What time should we arrive?
Please arrive early! There are activities for the girls to participate in this year prior to the run. Girls do
not have to register when they arrive; they can get their hair “happified” at the Happy Hair Station if
they choose or they can proceed to the field to meet up with their coach & team at their school sign on
the stadium field. Your daughter should meet her coach on the field at 9:30am and no later than 9:45am. The
pep rally begins at 9:45am. Girls will be released to start the 5K at 10:00 am. Please note that the roads will
CLOSED so if you arrive late, you may not be able to get to the event.
Coaches should arrive at 9:00am to make sure they are in position for the girls to arrive at 9:15am. The pep rally
starts at 9:45am. No one will be allowed onto the field before 9:00am.
What is Happy Hair? And when is it?
Before the event begins girls will be able to get their hair "Happified" with a pony tail and hair color if they wish.
Happy Hair stations will be inside the stadium. NO hair color spray is allowed on the football field. All hair
MUST be done with spray color at the Happy Hair Station. Happy Hair station will be open from 9:00am9:45am.
Where is the Family and Friends table located?
The Family and Friends table is located inside the Stadium to the right of the entrance. Get a fun personalized
sticker supporting your favorite runner girl! This table is self-service.
What is the Macatawa Bank Snack Wagon?
Macatawa Bank is a sponsor of Girls on the Run. They will be offering free refreshments to GOTR GIRLS
ONLY. The snack wagon will be located outside the Stadium and will be open for the girls after they complete
the 5k on their way out, with adult supervision as the road is adjacent to the snack wagon. Please remember this
is a special treat for registered girls only and is intended as a snack to go. The concession stand located inside of
the stadium is open for coaches, community runners and family and friends.
Will there be a concession stand?
YES- Coopersville will have their concession stand open for food sales. NO food is allowed on the stadium
field, water only. PLEASE NO GUM ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
Where is the start and finish line for the event?
The event will start and finish at the James P. Meerman Stadium. The girls start by running one lap around
the track inside of the stadium, then run out of the main gate and will finish directly inside the
stadium, coming back in the main gate. If you would like to watch your runner girl cross the finish line, you
may line up outside of the main gate. Please be sure to line up along the final stretch of the route only, and not
to crowd the finish line. Please refer to the attached route map.
Where do I pick up my child after the race?
The race will finish directly inside the stadium. Please make a plan with your runner girl about where you
will meet them after the race. We suggest back inside the stadium at their school sign.
What is a gradual start?
Due to the large number of participants this year, a gradual start will be implemented. This means that there will
be no official air horn to signal the start of the run. Each school district will be called in no particular order to
start the 5K.
What time does the Celebration Run begin?
Girls on the Run participants will be running by 10:00am. It usually takes close to an hour for all girls to finish
the 5K. Therefore, the run should be completely finished around 11:00/11:30am.
What time should I expect the event to be finished?
You can expect the festivities to be finished around 12:00pm.
What if a girl gets injured?
There will be medical personnel on site and volunteers with communication throughout the course to assist the
girls. All participants will have their emergency contact information attached to the back of their race bib, which
will identify them by name, school, and will have a parent’s name and contact number. Coaches please make
sure the emergency information is filled out on the back of your runner girl’s race bib. This information
will be hidden from plain sight; however it will make it easier for emergency personnel to identify her and
contact you and her parents immediately.
Do the girls on each team have to stay together?
No. Every girl can run, walk, or skip at her own pace. We do recommend she stay with a buddy whether it is a
coach, parent, friend, or another GOTR participant.
What happens after the run is finished?
The girls will finish directly inside of the stadium and will be applauded by teammates, parents, coaches, and
fans. They will also receive water and refreshments to go. Please note there is no food/drink allowed on the
field. **Parents and Coaches: Please make a plan with your runner girls on where to meet after the run
is finished.**
What should I (Coach) bring to the event?
Bring each girl’s race number/bib with her emergency information sticker on the back and safety pins for the
race numbers/bibs.
**Coach bags and curriculum need be returned to GOTR at the Celebration 5k. It is essential that
these items are returned to us at GOTR in order for us to keep the cost down. There will be a U-Haul
trailer parked in the East Parking Lot. Please place your coach bag in the trailer.**
**Please DO NOT bring ipods or other mp3 players for the run. The coach’s responsibility is to be 150%
available for the girls during the 5k event—they need you!!! Please run with members of your team and
encourage the girls toward the finish line! Coaches should not bring any devices that would detract from
the team experience.
Can we bring strollers, scooters, bikes, and animals?
NO- for the safety of our girls.
What if I need extra event supplies?
If you find that you are missing some of your event supplies we will have extras at the event at the volunteer
check in table. We will have ribbons, bibs, pins, etc.
How do I buy GOTR merchandise?
Merchandise will be for sale before and after the event. Please stop by to see the great options available for
purchase! For payment GOTR accepts Visa, Master Card, Check or Cash. Please remember to bring payment to
the event to purchase some great items! Please see attached merchandise list!
What should the girls (coaches) wear/bring to the event?
*Comfortable shorts or pants
*Asics running shoes
*Socks
*Event t-shirt (this will be provided in advance)
*“Do My Best” attitude!
*Bring a FULL water bottle with you to the event!
*Remind girls and parents to use discretion if the weather is cold. Remember layering is always a good
idea, so the girls can remove layers as they warm up.*
Notes:
*The field is for coaches and girls only. We are asking that parents and families make sure their runner girl finds
her team and then finds a place to watch from the bleachers.
*Water will be available to the girls immediately following their return as well as 2 water stations along the route.
Other after race refreshments will be available inside the stadium and girls may pick them up as they exit the
event. No food is allowed on the stadium field.*
Want to volunteer?
We are always in need of event volunteers to make the Celebration 5K a success! We are unable to host the
event without volunteers. We have a variety of volunteer positions available, from working the happy hair tables
to cheering on the girls along the course! If you are a parent and want to be able to volunteer as well as watch
your child on course, volunteering as a course volunteer is the way to go! Please pass on the opportunity to
anyone who may be interested. To sign up or for more details, please visit our website www.gotroac.org
Parking Map
Available Parking:
Handicap Parking- East Parking Lot *Permit Required*
General ParkingEast Parking Lot, Athletic Event Parking, Northeast High School Parking, South High School Parking, Central
Parking, Northwest Parking, West Parking
**Spectators! If you want to watch your runner girl on the route, without walking into the stadiumpark in the NorthWest Parking Lot***
Remember that roads will be closed until the last runner crosses the finish line
Stadium
Track
Girls meet their
teams/coaches on
the football field
Happy Hair
After race
refreshments
Merchandise
Main Gate
5k Start/End
Community
Runner
Registration
First Aid
Family/
Friends
Table
Volunteer
Check In
Macatawa
Bank Snack
Wagon
Stadium Football Field Team Placement
10
20
West Ottawa Schools
30
Hopkins/Dorr/Martin
Zeeland/Douglas
40
Stage
50
Wayland/St. Mary’s
Visitation
Holland Public Schools
40
Hamilton Schools
30
20
10
Celebration 5K Route
GOTR MERCHANDISE!
Check out the fun GOTR merchandise available at the event!
Frames*Magnets*Headbands*Keychains*Tattoos*Water
Bottles*Hats and Visors*Shirts*Sweatshirts*And More!
Look for the Merchandise table inside the stadium! Limited Supply of
items!
Cash/Check/Visa or MasterCard accepted