Event Details



On May 2, 2009 you had better Run For Your Life!

What is it? Only the biggest and best costume party ever! The masquerade will begin with a 5K (3.1-mile) race in costume. There will also be a 1K Family Fun Loop for those who want a shorter course. So get out your wackiest, funniest, scariest, craziest outfit because a panel of judges will give out some fantastic prizes.



If the judges think your costume is the best
YOU GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!!!


All registered participants will get FREE HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS, AND FITZ'S ROOT BEER and will receive a free t-shirt.

The Run For Your Life will take place in beautiful Tower Grove Park. All proceeds will benefit the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter.



Click on a link for more information

Costume Contest




Prizes




Team Registration




Race Course Directions




Start Line Instructions




Photographers




 Safety Rules




Finish Line




Post-race Results




Walkers/Wheelchairs




Training




Transportation

Costume Contest      top

Bust out your wackiest wardrobe or live out your favorite fantasy as you parade through beautiful Tower Grove Park. A panel of judges will rate each of the contestants for creativity, design, and execution. The best costume will win 2 free tickets on Southwest Airlines!

The judging platform is at the southwest corner of the Pool Pavilion. Judging ends at noon, weather permitting. Prizes will be awarded to the top three individual winners, the top three group winners, and the largest group. Winners will be announced and will receive their prizes at the after-party.


Prizes      top

Running awards will be given to the top male and female finishers of the 5K in the following categories: ages 0-15, 16-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and up.

There will also be prizes for the best adult's, junior's, and team's costumes; and the biggest group costume.

There will be numerous raffle prizes including:
  • 2 free tickets on Southwest Airlines!

  • 4 infield box tickets to a Cardinals baseball game on May 21

  • superplush embroidered fleece sweats and jacket from the Extra Hands Athletic Challenge

  • and lots more coming!
Check back here often because we're always collecting more prizes!


Team Registration      top

Grab 5 or more co-workers, friends or club members; put on your running shoes; and form your very own Run For Your Life team! Click here to download the Team Captain's Manual. (You'll need Adobe Reader to open the manual.) Ask your friends, company or organization to sponsor your team with a donation or pledge.

How to Register Your Team Online:
  1. Identify a team captain. The captain registers the team name. Because all registrations involve agreeing to a liability waiver, the team captain may wish to have team members register individually.

  2. The Deadline for Team Registration is April 25.

  3. Runners packets, including your bibs, will be available for the team leader to pick up on May 2 at Tower Grove Park. Get there EARLY! It will take time to process all the registrations.

How to Register Your Team Via U.S. Mail:
  1. Identify a team leader. The leader will collect all individual registration forms and send in all members' registrations with payment to Run For Your Life.

  2. Each team member must fill out and sign his/her application. Be sure to include your team name in the space provided on the registration form.

  3. If you are registering your team using our mail-in forms, all forms must be mailed together in one packet.

  4. The Deadline for Team Registration by mail is April 22.

  5. Runners packets, including your bibs, will be available for the team leader to pick up on May 2 at Tower Grove Park. Get there EARLY! It will take time to process all the registrations.

How to Create Your Team:
  1. Hang Run For Your Life posters and fliers throughout your organization.

  2. Send e-mails and make phone calls encouraging your colleagues and friends to participate.

  3. Ask your HR representative to include the race in your company newsletter.

  4. Make announcements at club and church meetings.

Team Instructions on Race Day:
  1. Teams must check in BEFORE 9am on race morning. Any team or individual members arriving after 9am will not be admitted to the Team Challenge section.

  2. Individuals must write their own name and their team name on their runner number tear-off tag.

  3. Teams will be secured a position at the back of the Racers' section. Placement violations will result in disqualification.

Race Course Directions      top



  • Start on Northwest Drive, just west of Central Cross
  • Go west toward the Kingshighway entrance to the park
  • Follow the road around until heading east
  • Family Fun Runners and Walkers will be directed left to the Family Fun Finish. All others will be directed around the outer loop around the park
  • Finish where you started


Ready, Set, Go!      top

Start Line Instructions: Saturday, May 2, 2008 at 10:00am. Runners to the right will start first. Then walkers, striders, families and groups to the left will start when the runners are gone.


Say Cheese!      top

Photographers will be taking race photos on the race route and at the finish line. There will also be photographers ready to take your picture at the costume judging station. Be sure to wear your bib number high on your chest, so you can find yourself easily among the hundreds of photos we will make available on this website after the event.


Rules of the Road      top

  • Do not run in from the sides. It endangers you and other runners!
  • No roller blades, skateboards or bicycles.
  • Use caution with strollers and assisted wheelchairs.
  • No animals.
  • Walkers and slower traffic, stay to the left and line up at the back of the pack.
  • No plastic bags for warm-ups.


    You Made It!      top

    Finish line officials will direct you to open chutes to record your official time. DO NOT SLOW DOWN OR CHANGE CHUTES WHILE IN THE FINISH CHUTES.


    Who Won?      top

    Here are the official 2008 race results: 2008 results for 5-kilometer run


    Walkers/Wheelchairs      top

    The starting area for walkers, striders, wheelchairs and families is at the back of the pack. You will be directed around the 1-mile Fun Loop rather than the full 5K race course. You will have an opportunity to enter the costume judging area at the end of the 1-mile Fun Loop.

    Both the 5K race and the 1K Family Fun Loop are mostly flat, and wheelchair capable.


    Training      top

    Tips on how to enjoy the Run For Your Life:

    1. Consistency - Training for an endurance event makes consistency key. Stay consistent with your end goal in mind.

    2. Pace - Vary your paces from time to time. Don't run to exhaustion on every run. See our pace explanations here.

    3. Plan - Have a plan leading up to race day.

    4. Partners - Find a partner to train with. Partners increase personal investment, enjoyment and training levels.

    5. Long Runs - Take a weekly long run that fulfills 15-25% of your weekly mileage (eg. long run = 6 miles for someone who runs 25-30 mi./wk.)

    6. Alternate Exercise - Perform at least one alternate exercise training session per week egs. walking, hiking, biking, swimming etc.

    7. Stretching - Make stretching part of your regimen. Complete most of your stretches after you have run. This elongates muscle fibers as they start recovery and regeneration.

    8. Acceptance - Best results are obtained when goals are set on an individual level. Don't try to keep up with the Joneses!


    Transportation      top

    Tower Grove Park has plenty of parking. It is located south of highway 64/40 between South Kingshighway and South Grand Avenue. The park has vehicular entrances on all four sides. Here is a map of the park and interactive guide to help you find it.

    		•


    Copyright © 2003-9 ALS Association                                               info@alsrun.org        Privacy Policy
    Event Details Who This Benefits Sponsors Merchandise Frequently Asked Questions About ALS Contact Us Map Our Sponsors