+ Who am I helping at the CASA Superhero Run?
You are helping nearly 3,000 children in Travis, Williamson, Guadalupe, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, Fayette, and Lee counties who have experienced abuse or neglect. CASA speaks up for children by empowering our community to volunteer as advocates for them in the court system. When the state steps in to protect a child’s safety, a judge appoints a trained CASA volunteer to make independent and informed recommendations in the child’s best interest.
+ What difference does CASA make for children recovering from abuse or neglect?
A study by Texas Appleseed, "Improving the Lives of Children in Long-term Foster Care," reports that "If a child has a CASA, the CASA usually is the only person who truly knows the child and knows how the child is really doing." Texas CASA reports that children with CASA are more likely to receive therapy, healthcare, education and other important services. A CASA volunteer is often the child's only link to maintaining family connections and can be instrumental in identifying family members as temporary or permanent placement options. Most importantly, children themselves report that they know and can rely on their CASA volunteers.
+ Where can I pick up my packet in advance of race day?
Packet pick up is on Saturday, September 16 from 11:00am-7:00pm at Hat Creek Burgers in Round Rock (3700 E Palm Valley Blvd. Round Rock, TX 78665), Austin (5400 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756), and Buda (371 Old San Antonio Rd. Buda, TX 78610). We recommend picking up your packet prior to race day, as it will be difficult to return items to your car on event morning.
+ Where do I park?
**All participants should enter from the SOUTH entrance of Circuit of The Americas (COTA) via FM 812
Please note the North entrance on Elroy Rd will be closed. **
Due to a concert that evening, COTA is requesting all attendees to be prepared to show COTA staff proof that you are with the CASA Superhero Run upon entry. Be prepared to show COTA staff proof that you are with the CASA Superhero Run. Any email or screenshot of your registration or informational emails will work.
Please park in Lot C. Once Lot C is full, you will be directed to park in Lot A. There is no walking path from Lot A due to construction at Circuit of The Americas. There will be two shuttles running every ~5min. throughout the morning that will take you near the entry gates.
ADA parking will be in Lot D. Lot A will also have an ADA shuttle.
FOR ALL PARKING LOTS, YOU MUST USE FM 812 TO ACCESS TO VENUE.
Parking is available starting at 7:00 AM at Circuit of The Americas (9201 Circuit of The Americas Blvd, Austin, TX, 78617). Gates open at 7:30AM.
+ How can I learn more about CASA on race day?
Visit the "Learn More About CASA" booth in the exhibitor area. We would love to talk with you!
+ What is the Austin Distance Challenge?
The Austin Distance Challenge is a series of the most prestigious local running events starting in the fall and leading up to the Austin Marathon & Half Marathon in February. The races increase in distance as the series progresses, making the series a natural component of many Austin runners’ training. In its 26th year, the Distance Challenge is hosted by the Austin Runners Club (a 48-year-old local nonprofit). Participants sign up for the series, registering for either the Full or Half Track to compete against personal goals and for awards for Overall, Masters and Age Groups. Participants can register for all 6 races at once on the Austin Distance Challenge website, or register separately. You must participate in the CASA Superhero Run 5K with chip-timing if you're thinking about doing the rest of the challenge! The full 2023-2024 race series includes: CASA Superhero Run 5K, Daisy Dash 10k, Run For The Water, Decker Challenge Half Marathon, 3M Half Marathon, and the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon & Half Marathon.
+ Can I walk in the 5K, bring a stroller, bring a dog?
Runners, joggers and walkers are welcome in our family-friendly 5K (if someone can fly, we’d love to see it), and we're good with you bringing strollers and dogs. Please look for the staging signage that best matches your situation and start behind that.
Please respect our chip-timed runners at the front of the start line so that they can take off as fast as the Flash! If bringing kids or a stroller or a dog, please stay towards the inside lane for safety purposes.
+ What are the staging groups for the 5K?
- Chip-Timed Runners
- Chip-Timed Walkers
- Runners
- Runners with Strollers
- Walkers
- Dogs
- Walkers with Strollers
Please look for the volunteer with signage for your category and start behind them.
+ What are the staging groups for the Kids Fun Run?
We will be staging the Kids Fun Run start by ages and having a separate start for each group (so everyone gets to chase villains). Please look for the signage and volunteers for your age group: 7 and up, 5-6, and 4 and under. If running as a family group, please stage by the oldest child in the group for the safety of our younger runners. We will start with the oldest kids.
+ Can parents run with their children in the Kids Fun Run?
Parents are welcome to run with kids 6 and under in the Kids Fun Run, although we do ask that you register as part of the 5K group or purchase a festival pass to show your support for CASA. Kids who have registered for the Kids Fun Run can also go with their parents through the 5K course (please start towards the back of the group behind the appropriate staging volunteer and signage if you have small children or strollers with you).
+ Is this a dog-friendly event?
We love dogs: we even have a Super Dog category in our superhero costume contest! We ask that all dogs be well-behaved, leashed and vaccinated, and that you please clean up after your pet.
We recommend that you bring a portable water bowl for your pet in case the Texas heat overwhelms them on the course. You will see 5K staging volunteers with signs for dogs. Please start behind that signage.
+ Are roller blades, roller skates, scooters, skateboards or bikes allowed on the 5K or Kids Fun Run course?
Due to safety concerns we cannot allow participants to have roller blades, roller skates, scooters, skateboards or bikes on the race courses or festival grounds.
+ Where is the first aid tent?
The first aid tent will be located near the 5K start/finish line.
+ How far is five kilometers?
5 kilometers equals 3.1 miles.
+ Will there be mile splits?
There will be markers at each mile.
+ What do I get for my entry fee?
All race participants will receive a race number bib and access to the event day festivities and vendors. 5K participants will receive a reusable grocery bag. Kids Fun Run participants will receive a take home bag and CASA Superhero Run sidewalk chalk. Children with Kids Fun Run bibs will each receive a medal upon crossing the Fun Run finish line.
Everyone who raises (or donates) $50 or more in additon to their race fee will receive a CASA Superhero Run sticker. Everyone who raises (or donates) $100 in addition to their race fee receives a custom-designed CASA Superhero Run t-shirt! Those who raise (or donate) $500 or more will also receive a CASA Superhero Run picnic blanket and be entered to win an Ultimate Austin Staycation Package.
You can pick up these items at Packet Pick Up or the Swag Tent on race day.
+ Can I register on race day?
Yes, you can register for the 5K up to 8 am on race day, and up to 9 am for the Kids Fun Run.
+ Can one person pick up packets for an entire team?
We encourage team packet pick-up on Saturday, September 16. For teams larger than 4 team members, we ask that you complete [this form] and email it to Sandy@CadenceSports.com by Wednesday, September 13 at noon. Please make sure to select the location where you’ll be picking up the packets.
+ Where will race results be posted?
Race results will be posted near the main stage. The 5K awards ceremony will be at the main stage after the run. If you miss this, you can come to the main stage later to pick up your award! Race results will also be available post-event online.
+ Do 5K race or costume contest winners have to be present to pick up awards?
Winners do not have to be present during the awards ceremony. We will contact anyone who did not pick up their prizes, medals or trophies after the event. We will contact all fundraising winners after the event with prizes.
+ How do I enter the costume contest?
You can register for the costume contest at the tent next to the main stage. Judging will start at 7:30 am and end at 9:30 am. See all the costume contest categories on our Details page!
+ Will there be photos and video of the event?
We will have a videographer and multiple photographers roaming the event on race day. Event video will be sent via email in the weeks following the event, and photography will be available for free download on Flickr soon after event day. While registrants have already signed a video and photography agreement as part of their race waiver, if you have a child in foster care or have any reasons not to be photographed, please just let our photographers know.
+ What are you going to do if it rains?
Provided there’s no lightning, the race will go on. If there is lightning, we will postpone the race for up to an hour at the latest. If we cancel the race due to weather, there will be no refunds issued since this is a fundraising event benefiting children. This website will be updated to reflect any cancellations or delays due to weather, so please check here if you have questions regarding weather.
+ What happens if a child is lost?
If your child gets lost please alert a volunteer in a CASA Superhero Run volunteer shirt, and give them a description of your child and your cell phone number. Our volunteers will alert CASA staff that we have a lost child and we will communicate with our team members across the park. Please tell your child in advance that if they get lost, to go to the registration area and tell one of the volunteers that they can't find their parents.
We request that at least one parent stay wherever they said they would meet their child, and allow our volunteers to take care of the communication and searching process. We will alert parents by cell phone as soon as we have news of lost children.
+ Where is Lost and Found?
All found items will go to the main stage. Please ask a volunteer there if you've lost anything.
+ What are the refund/transfer policies?
There are no refunds or transfers.
+ What do I do in case of an unforeseen event?
In the event of a non-emergency, please call the event hotline at 1.833.988.7853 and event personnel will attend to you. For any emergencies, please call 911 prior to calling the event hotline.