New Year's Day 5K - charlottesville track club

Fee (in-person or virtual)
$40 ($35 CTC Member)

*CTC Members receive a $5 discount. Membership must be valid on 1/1/24 to receive discount.  The price increase to $50 for race day signup 1/1/24

Free Long Sleeve poly performance tee with CTC logo in male and female sizing for Free union race day participants.  Female tee has scoop neck.  

Charlottesville Track Club was established in 1976 and the CTC is the driving force behind running in Central Virginia.  Each year, the CTC directs some of the most popular local races including the New Year's Day 5K, Charlottesville Women's 4 Miler and Men's 4 miler, Charlottesville Ten Miler, Bruce Barnes Mile, and All-Comers Summer Track Meet Series.  These well-organized, not-for-profit races attract thousands of runners and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities annually.​  In addition, we provide Half Marathon and Marathon training programs as well as training for the C10M.  

Proceeds Benefit ReadyKids

Mission: ReadyKids creates positive childhood experiences by providing counseling, family support, and early learning opportunities to kids, families, and early childhood educators in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Nelson County, Louisa County, Fluvanna County, and Green County.  

ReadyKids Relationship Ready Program:

-Healthy Families helps pregnant moms and parents of young kids develop healthy family relationships and a safe, enriching home environment gets kids ready to succeed in school by improving the quality of child care and preschool settings.

-REAL Dads support and encourage fathers who want to rebuild or strengthen relationships with their children.

-Teen Counseling (TCP) program provides individual and family counseling to foster positive, nurturing family relationships and to ensure that teens are safe and healthy.

-Inside Out provides counseling to help kids and families who have experienced trauma or abuse begin the healing process and create safer environments.

Learning Ready Programs:

-Growing Minds improves the quality of childcare and preschool settings to get kids ready to succeed in school.

-Ready Steps brings a preschool-like early learning experience to kids and caregivers within their home community.

-STAR Kids teaches preschool-age kids to develop interpersonal, social and emotional skills so that they are ready to make safe and healthy choices.

In FY22, ReadyKids impacted 6,840 ($3,663,611) local kids, families and early childhood educators! Social services organization founded in 1921 and provides family-oriented service and free counseling to under privileged families in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Nelson County, Louisa County, Fluvanna County, and Green County.  

https://readykidscville.org/

Thanks to Blue Ridge Timing for providing chip timing on the Free Union course

VOLUNTEERS
Jobs are parking (5) and course guidance (7). Time would be from 8:20 am to noon. Please contact Keith McLaughlin at [email protected]

Jan 1, 2024 starting at 11:00am

VIRTUAL OPTION AVAILABLE!
Run your 5K anywhere between 12/30/2023 and 1/01/2024

THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OR DEFERRALS. NO strollers or dogs will be allowed on the race course.
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Frequently Asked Questions 

How hilly is the course?
The course will is relatively flat. 

Will it be a mass start?
Yes 

Do I need to wear a mask? 
No as the race will be adhering to the current state guidelines.  

Will there be bathrooms out at Free Union?
Yes. We will have porta-johns with hand sanitizers. 
​
If I can't make it to Charlottesville, is there another option for me?
Yes, we are also doing a Virtual ANYWHERE option!

Should I bring my own water on the day of the race?
That would be very helpful but we will have water at the finish.

Will there be medical coverage?
Yes

Are strollers or baby carriers allowed on the race course?
No. The Charlottesville Track Club follows the guidelines of the Road Runners Club of America. 

Are dogs allowed on the race course?
No. The Charlottesville Track Club follows the guidelines of the Road Runners Club of America. 

It looks like it might rain on race day! What is the weather plan?
The race happens rain or shine, However it may be canceled in the event of snow/ice.  Please dress appropriate for the weather.   .  

I don’t want to run 5K, is it okay if I walk?
YES!  We will have a separate path for walkers only that will be parallel to the runners course.

Is there packet pickup?
YES, there is race day packet pickup at Free Union from 10:00-10:45 am 

Who are the race beneficiaries?
Proceeds benefit ReadyKids

Can I switch from the Anywhere virtual event to the Free Union event?  
Absolutely! The following link explains how you can transfer events. 
How to transfer events:
https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000062922-transfer-to-another-event
How to access your RunSignUp profile:
https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000062604-access-and-explore-your-profile

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

DIRECTIONS:
5404 Wesley Chapel Rd, Free Union VA
From Barracks Road Shopping Center take Barracks Rd. west for approx. 1 mi. to the intersection at Georgetown Rd.
Continue straight on Barracks Rd (which becomes Garth Rd./Rt. 601) approx. 4.2 mi. to Hunt Country Store.
Turn Right and continue on Rt. 601 approx. 4.2 mi to Free Union, VA.
As you come out of Free Union continue on Rt. 601 bearing to the left for approx. 75 yards.
Turn left on Millington Rd. for approx. 0.3 mi. and turn right on Wesley Chapel Rd.
Stay on Wesley Chapel for 2.4 miles where you will bear to the right (staying on Wesley Chapel) for 0.1 mi. to the parking area on the left.
As you come down Wesley Chapel you will pass the starting line on the right and Wesley Chapel on the left.
Please do not park anywhere on the side of the road nor in the chapel parking lot. Volunteers will assist you with parking.

Please plan your return route in advance as it's a race day packet pickup in Free Union and there may be limited cell service and GPS access at the race.​