Welcome to the
NASP 2009 “Do-It-Yourself” Walk/Run (aka THE 5K)
What Does "Do-It-Yourself" Mean Exactly?
Why "DIY"?
It's All About the Donation
About Our T-Shirt
How to Register
Suggested Routes (3-4 miles +/-)
Community
Contact Us With Your Questions/Suggestions
What Does "Do-It-Yourself" Mean Exactly?
In a nutshell, the NASP “DIY” Walk/Run means--you pick the course, grab a map, snag a friend (or more) or go it alone, any time, any day—you choose--and DO-IT-YOURSELF. In the weeks ahead, we will post several courses from which you can choose—all with starting points at or within easy walking distance of our main hotels. (Maps/course descriptions will also be available onsite.) Or, use your imagination and create your own course.
DO-GOOD TIP FOR THE DAY: To save on our overhead, which ensures more funding to our chosen charity - Children’s Fund Boston Community Service Project - download maps/narratives for the courses you are interested in from the NASP 5K Webpage and bring them with you.
If you’d rather join with a group, we’ll have informal sign-up sheets onsite at the 5K Booth or, if you are a NASP member, visit the 5K Walk/Run Community (NASP members only) to organize your own “team”. There is no limit on the number of courses you can walk or run and--BEST OF ALL--if it’s bad weather, sleep in and enjoy your comfy, new, singularly special “DIY” t-shirt, knowing that your registration fee is making a difference to some very special children in need in Boston.
Why "DIY"?
Because of the uncertainty of weather in Boston in February (brrrrrh!!!) and related issues, the Convention Committee asked us to develop an alternative flexible healthy event that factored the unpredictability of the forecast, with our concern for safety, our commitment to support a child-based charity, and our desire to provide a healthy event for our eager and loyal walkers and runners. The solution we came up with is a Do-It-Yourself Walk/Run.
Again, this is a “no frills” event (i.e., no coning, timing, arrows, water, etc), with the added benefit that you totally pick your course/s, the day, the time, and whether to go alone or in a group. Plan ahead or peel out spur-of-the-moment. Or, simply take the t-shirt and sleep in. That’s the beauty of “DIY”.
It's All About the Donation
In real estate its location…location…location. For our “DIY” Walk/Run, it’s about DONATION…DONATION…DONATION and how we can take strides to make a difference in the lives of underserved children in and around Boston. All proceeds from the event, after expenses, will be donated to the Children’s Fund designated charity (Boston Community Service Project), benefiting an underserved school community in or around the Boston area. So, whether you run, walk or nod off, your donation nets you a fond t-shirt momento of your time in Boston AND the knowledge that our convention-goers pulled together, took strides, and made a difference in some child’s life through their participation in the “DIY” Walk/Run. Sweet!!!
About Our T-Shirt
Again, we are offering a uniquely cool shirt. This year it is a navy longsleeve t-shirt (check out our logo!!! featuring a Massachusetts-born sneaker as our inspiration), at a uniquely cool price--$15--if you register before January 28. Also, if you pre-register, you can be assured of getting a t-shirt in the size you select. Because we have to order our t-shirts so far in advance, we cannot guarantee a t-shirt for you after January 28, plus—it will cost you more--$25. In these hard economic times, if you can--REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE!!!
How to Register
(1-A) Register online or download and complete a paper Convention registration form. It’s only $15 if you register before January 28, 2009 AND you are guaranteed your t-shirt size. (THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE YOUR T-SHIRT AND SAVE $10!!!)
Or...
(1-B) Register onsite for $25 at the regular NASP registration booths. A t-shirt cannot be guaranteed.
Then...
(2) All registrants must check-in onsite at the 5K Booth in and around the general NASP Registration Area. Once we see you’ve paid, we can give you your t-shirt. Pre-registrants are guaranteed a t-shirt. We’ll have maps and descriptions to choose from, or SAVE NASP AND THE ENVIRONMENT THE EXTRA SPOILAGE AND CLICK ON THE COURSES OF INTEREST FROM OUR WEBPAGES. Cut-n-paste them, condense onto one sheet, pass along to your friends, and bring with you to Boston.
(3) For those out to enjoy the camaraderie of a group, we will provide sign-up sheets onsite at the 5K Booth for 3-5 informal group walks/runs. (Example: Signup onsite at the 5K Booth for an informal group course. We’ll provide a group leader who will meet you at the start time and place and see that everyone gets on their way together. While on the course, however, you are DIY, which means no coning, no timing, no water. You are on your own, enjoying the spirit of a team “DIY” event.
Suggested Routes (3-4 miles +/-)
Coming soon!!! Check back here in December when maps, narrative, and descriptions will be available.
Community
For NASP members, we’re trying something new. If you’d care to link with other NASP “DIYers”, why not give our Community a try? Maybe you’d like to meet with others from your state for a walk or run together. Post your thoughts in the Community and check out friends you didn’t even know you had. Maybe you’d like to walk to an area restaurant that’s on one of our courses, post your call-out and maybe others will clamor to join you. (We’re trying to map out a “Chowda Dash” that goes in the direction of Faneuil Hall. Nothing like a little chowder after a brisk February stroll.) Be creative, connect with others, see Boston, and make a difference. We are the Village!!!
Contact Us With Your Questions/Suggestions
Coming soon!!!