9th Annual ONEHOPE Autism Care Today for Military Families 5k/10k Run/Walk & Family Festival

Welcome to the 9th Annual ONEHOPE Autism Care Today for Military Families 5k/10k & Family Festival

Since the 2011 inaugural event, this event has raised nearly $800,000 to benefit military families impacted by autism. Autism Care Today for Military Families is a dedicated fund working to improve awareness and delivery of effective autism services, providing financial assistance to military families to help defray out-of-pocket costs associated with autism treatments and other quality of life programs.

This is a terrific opportunity to stay fit, get involved and educate our children in the local community – all while supporting families impacted by autism.

Join our Executive Director of Autism Care Today, Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, as she leads the fight to provide for our military families with autism. She is an autism mom, the widow of a Naval officer, and the daughter of a WWII Marine. Nancy realized many families were fighting two battles – one for their country, another to get proper services for their children with autism.

What better way to honor those who have served than to help the families that depend on them, especially those with special needs children? Our team is available to answer your questions in preparation for our upcoming event, and we are truly grateful for your support of our military families and our community. We hope we can partner with your school. Thank you again for your support.

Event Features

• Flat and scenic course
• Chip timed 5k/10k Run/Walk
• Faster online registration for teams, participants, volunteers and donors
• 1 Mile Fun Run open to children and adults
• T-shirts, age division awards, custom bib numbers and runner photos
• Packet pickup party with food and refreshments
• Prizes for top fundraisers and top teams
• Family festival with live entertainment and resource fair
• Children’s activities including bounce houses, face painting, arts & crafts, games.
• Easter egg hunt for kids of all ages
• Beer/ Wine Tent and NEW VIP tent
• Quiet Zone staffed by ABA Therapists

Resource Fair / Race Festival / Exhibitors

Join us for our post-race party which includes music, entertainment and 40+ awesome race exhibitors. There is a beer and wine tent and Kids' Zone sponsored by Center for Autism & Related Disorders. Our kids zone features a Quiet Zone (10x20 enclosed tent staffed by ABA therapists for children needing a quiet space), inflatable, carnival games with prizes, face painting, art & crafts and fitness area. Interested in becoming an exhibitor at our event? DOWNLOAD VENDOR APPLICATION

NEW FOR 2019

• Easter egg hunt for kids of all ages
• Onsite appearances from the San Diego Padres Pad Squad, San Diego Legion and San Diego Seals

Event Schedule

Packet Pick Up - Two Options!
You have the option to pick up your race packet (bib, timing chip and t-shirt) on Friday, April 19, 2019 at Road Runner Sports San Diego OR on race morning, April 20, 2019, starting at 6:30am at Tecolote Shores Park. Gemini Timing will email your bib number to you on Thursday, April 18, 2019. Pick-up is organized by bib number, so have your bib number ready to help make pick-up a cinch!  We will provide four safety pins to pin your bib number to the front of your shirt and instruct you on how to affix your timing chip to your shoe.

Option #1: Friday, April 19, 2019, 3pm to 7pm (RECOMMENDED)
Road Runner Sports – 5553 Copley Drive, San Diego, CA 92111
Join us for packet pickup at Road Runner Sports’ flagship store! You’ll get $10 from Road Runner Sports to spend on anything you want in the store! or join the VIP Family and save 25% on everything! Don’t miss out on this exclusive gift for race participants only when you join the Packet Pickup Party! Restrictions apply. See store for details. And for each packet picked up at Road Runner Sports, Autism Care Today will receive a cash donation from Road Runner Sports! You may pick up race packets for your friends/family members, etc. on Friday night, but please be prepared to show a copy of their ID. Images on smart phones are acceptable. No ID verification is needed for Youth 17 and under.
https://goo.gl/maps/DKqVq6tvANH2

Option #2: Saturday, April 20, 2019, 6:30am
Tecolote Shores Park - 1300 E. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109
If picking up on race morning, plan to arrive to the park at least 60 minutes prior to picking up your packet. You must be checked in 15 minutes prior to the start of your race.

Event Location (Start/Finish)
Tecolote Shores Park, Mission Bay
(located 1/2 mile south of Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa)
1300 E. Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
https://goo.gl/maps/UZD4pizGB3J2
 
Event Day Schedule - Saturday, April 20, 2019
6:30am - Registration/Packet Pick Up
6:30am - Festival Starts - Check out the Festival and Kids Zone activities
7:30am - 10k Start
8:00am - 5k Start
8:00am - ONEHOPE Wine & Stone Brewing Co. Beer Garden Open / Live Music by Northstar
9:30am - 1 Mile Fun Run Start
9:45am - Overall & Top Fundraiser Awards
10:30am - Easter Egg hunt
11:00am - Festival Concludes

Event Directions and Parking
Directions: Take 1-5 and exit Clairemont Drive/ East Mission Bay Drive, Turn WEST (towards the ocean) and park north of the event site using the parking suggestions below.
 
Parking is available north of the race site on the east and west side of East Mission Bay Drive AND the numerous parking lots on the west side of East Mission Bay Drive. There are two lots south of the Hilton, lots north of the Hilton at Playa Pacifica Park and lots both north and south of the Mission Bay Visitor Center.

All these lots are within a 5-15 minute walk to the start. You may walk to the event site by walking along the grass alongside Mission Bay Drive or just follow the sidewalk to the water and enjoy a pretty (safest for strollers and families!) walk south on the sidewalk to our race site.

Course Info
5K and 10K participants will start adjacent to Tecolote Shores Park on E. Mission Bay Drive and run south on the road and then turn right on Fiesta Island Dr. to Fiesta Island. 5K participants will complete one small loop of Fiesta Island and return to Tecolote Shores via Fiesta Island Dr. & E Mission Bay Drive. 10K participants will complete one large loop of Fiesta Island and return to Tecolote Shores via Fiesta Island Dr. and E. Mission Bay Dr. 1 Mile Fun Run participants will start on the sidewalk on the west side of the event venue. Look for the Start Line which will be moved after the 5K begins. Note: Historically, this course is a little longer than 5K or 10K. 

5K Course Map
10K Course Map

Entry Fees

*Active Military receive a $5 discount off the adult 5k/10k registration fees.

Awards

Awards go to top overall Male / Female in each of the 5K and 10K and the top three finishers in each 5K/10K division. Back for 2018 is a Stroller division!

Age Groups: Age 9 & Under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
Special Divisions: Stroller

All medals need to be picked up after race. 

• Morning coffee from Starbucks Coffee
• Post race treats from Barons Market and Suja Juice
• Complimentary drinks in the Beer & Wine Garden sponsored by ONEHOPE Wine and Stone Brewing Co. (must be 21+)
• Family Festival sponsored by Center for Autism & Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) with live music from Northstar, resource fair with 30+ booths and tons of freebies
• Awesome CARD kid's zone with inflatables, carnival games, face painting, Easter egg hunt and quiet zone
• On-site appearances from the San Diego Padres Pad Squad, San Diego Legion and San Diego Seals
• Great incentives for top fundraising individuals and teams
• T-shirts, finisher medals and high fives for all!
  

Baby Strollers & Dogs

We welcome strollers at this race and have a new Special Stroller division - for use in either 5K, 10K or 1 Mile divisions. Please use caution starting the race and yield to runners without strollers. When approaching the finish-line, please use also caution as there is a curb from the road up to the finish-line on the grass. Race crew will be stationed to assist. 

We welcome participants to run/walk with leashed dogs (6-foot, non-retractable), but please note that dogs must be off the Tecolote Shores park grass/sidewalks at 9am. This City of San Diego law will be enforced by park management and race crew on race day.

Virtual Participant

Do you live out of town or simply can’t make our event? We would love for you to participate virtually! REGISTER as a Virtual Participant, select Virtual Participant during the registration process. We will mail you an event t-shirt no later than 2 weeks after our race. We encourage you to wear your event t-shirt as you walk, run, play, or just do something positive for your community.

Volunteer

Our event can't be a success without our awesome volunteers! REGISTER as a volunteer. Volunteers will be assigned to areas such as registration, packet pick-up, event set-up/maintenance, vendor load-in, post-race food, t-shirt handout, finish-line, beer garden, kids zone, VIP tent, course guide, water station, cheer zone and event tear-down.

Photos

Photos will be available within 24-48 hours after the races conclude.

Where to Stay

A block of rooms at the newly remodeled Best Western Mission Bay has been reserved for Friday, April 19, 2019 through Sunday, April 21, 2019. The special room rate will be available until March 31, 2019. 

The Best Western Mission Bay is a family-oriented; pet friendly property centrally located in the heart of San Diego.

 

Special rates:

Double: $116

*Rates include free parking, full hot breakfast and free high-speed internet access.

 

The Best Western Mission Bay

2575 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117

 

To make reservations, call 619-275-5700 and mention "Autism Care Today" or register online directly with the hotel using the group block.

 

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A block of rooms at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa has been reserved for Friday, April 19, 2019 through Sunday, April 21, 2019. The special room rate will be available until March 21, 2019. Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, situated on the beautiful sands of Mission Bay, is located just 0.5 miles north of the race site.

Special rates:

Standard Room (King or Queen): $235-$245/room

*Rates do not include fees for overnight parking ($40/night), CA Tax, additional adult fee ($20/night) and Resort Charge ($32/day).

 

The Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa

1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, California 92109

 

To make reservations, call 619-276-4010 and mention "Autism Care Today"

 

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact info@act-today.org.