FAQs
WHAT TYPE OF RACES ARE YOU HOLDING?
Races include: 5K, 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Preschooler 100 Yard Pumpkin Dash and 5K Marathon Finisher.
WHERE WILL THE EVENT BE HELD? We are excited for you to join us at our completely Halloween-themed, USTAF certified race course, at 502 Carnegie Center, Princeton. This is a flat, scenic, and fun race course (with live music and Halloween surprises along the route).
WHERE DO I PARK? Parking is at building 502 Carnegie Center Drive with spill over at 302 Carnegie Center Drive. NOTE: ACCESS TO THE CARNEGIE CENTER WILL CLOSE AT 9:45AM SHARP!
WHAT IS HOMEFRONT AND WHO BENEFITS FROM THE RACE? The proceeds from this event support HomeFront's year-round 6 day a week Joy, Hopes and Dreams children's enrichment, mentoring, and tutoring programming, which over 400 children who are homeless or have experienced housing instability attend in a normal year. The Joy, Hopes, and Dreams program includes 2x per week tutoring, art classes, field trips, STEM, coding, music, sports and fitness, life skills coaching, and college preparation. During the summer, we run Camp Mercer, which is a trauma-informed day camp for children, who because of the instability of their housing situations would likely not succeed at other camps. We serve two nutritious meals a day, have academic enrichment each morning, fun activities and field trips every afternoon. Importantly, our camp and year-round programs allow parents to work while their children are safe with us. HomeFront's kids would not have these life-changing opportunities without your help, so thank you for WALKING or RUNNING.
WHERE CAN I GET MY PRE-RACE DAY PACKET? REQUIRED PACKET PICK UP: Pre Race Day Packet Pick Up is REQUIRED for anyone registering for the 5K Run/Walk or the 1 Mile Walk/Run. Pick up is Saturday, October 28 from 10AM - 12PM at the race course: 502 Carnegie Center, Princeton. There will be in person registrations available there until the maximum 1200 runners/walkers limit is reached.
WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF THE DAY?
EVENTS:
All Events BEGIN AT 10:00AM except the Pumpkin Dash which will start at 9:00am and run in phases throughout the morning. Pleas note; ACCESS TO THE CARNEGIE CENTER WILL CLOSE AT 9:45AM SHARP!
RACE DAY REGISTRATION (if spots are available) - From 8:30 - 9:40AM; Please arrive at 8:30AM to ensure your registration can be completed prior to the start of the events. The entrances into Carnegie Center Campus for the event will be closed promptly at 9:40AM. Please check back to this website Saturday night at 8pm to see if "Day Of" registration will be available for people who have not registered previously online. This will depend on whether we have reached our 1200 person sign up limit by that time.
T-SHIRTS - Event T-shirts will be provided to the first 1000 registrants of the 5K, 5K Marathon Finisher and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk events.. Shirts will be distributed with registration packets at packet pick-up on Saturday, October 28th. Registrations after October 10th are not guaranteed a t-shirt or their requested size, but extra t-shirts will be ordered so hopefully they can be provided for all registrants and we may have some available for race day registrants.
RACE DAY SAFETY AND WEATHER In order to keep our participants and attendees safe, access to the course and parking area will be closed fifteen minutes prior to the race start time. PLEASE NOTE ACCESS TO THE CARNEGIE CENTER WILL CLOSE AT 9:45 AM SHARP! The race will continue rain or shine and will be cancelled in case of lightening or thunderstorm threat. The course will be clearly marked with bright colored tape and directional signs. EMT services will be located in the courtyard of building 502, near the registration gazebo, and the location is indicated on the course map, If at any time you find yourself in distress on the course, or notice another participant or attendee in distress, please flag a race course volunteer (they will be wearing black HomeFront volunteer t-shirts) and they will contact someone at the EMT tent to render aid. There will also be two police officers stationed near the route one entrances and one officer monitoring the course and parking lot. Please refer to the course map for locations of the water stations. There are two water stations on the course and one after the finish line in the courtyard of Building 502.
WHEN DOES ONLINE REGISTRATION END? Online Registration Closes - 8AM on Wednesday, October 25.
Pricing - Registration for the 5K is $35 and $25 for the 1 Mile. The 5K is a timed event, the 1 Mile is not timed. Sponsors receive special pricing. See SPONSORSHIP for details. Pumpkin Dash is $10.
CAN I FUNDRAISE FOR HOMEFONT? Of course! Make A Bigger Impact - When you register you will be able to create your own web page so you can ask friends and family to sponsor your efforts! Please consider multiplying your impact on the lives of local children who are homeless by starting a fundraiser. You may also use this off-line fundraiser form.
CAN I FORM A TEAM? Forming a Team is a great way to get friends, family and co-workers involved! Create your team and invite your family/friends/colleagues to join a team you start when you register. This year your team can be a mix of in person and virtual attendees.
IS THE RACE USTAF CERTIFIED? Yes.
WHAT IS THE MARATHON FINISHER EVENT? Looking for a fun fitness challenge? Try our Marathon Finisher Event! Run or walk 23.1 miles over any period of time you choose PRIOR to the day of the HomeFront In Person 5K; track your accumulated miles at this link from now until race day and save the last 5K for the in person event. Run or Walk your last 5K at the event and receive a MARATHON medal! Be sure to select the 5K Marathon Finisher event if you'd like to participate.
WHAT FAMILY ACTIVITIES ARE AT THE EVENT? Family Fun Activities at the In Person Event - Bring your whole family to the event. We will have a Trunk-or-Treat (cars full of goodies decorated in Halloween themes), Costume Contest, Preschool 100 Yard Dash, Pumpkin Decorating, Fun Photo Area for Kids, a DJ and live bands throughout the course. The perfect way to kick off Halloween!
ARE THERE AWARDS? YES, Awards will be given for the Event as follows:
5K trophies awarded for top 3 male/female runners overall and in each age group: 15 and under, 16-22, 23-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-68, and 69+. (Overall winners do not receive trophy in age group as well).
Medal awarded for 1 Mile finishers who are children (12 & under).
All registered Marathon Finisher Event participants will receive a Marathon Medal.
PRIZES awarded for top fundraising individual and top fundraising team.
PRIZES for best adult and child Halloween costumes - no scary costumes please!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Optional: Post your pics and videos here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1434819360369758/?active_tab=discussion
Optional: Post Your Results - Some people like to enter their times from their runs to RunSignUp or photos from their Strava App to have a record of what they did. If you would like to do so, click this link https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/30448#resultSetId-349674;perpage:100
