Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

·       Will I receive confirmation that you’ve received my registration? Yes. Individuals who register receive email confirmations.

·       What if I need to change events or make a correction to my registration information? You can log into your RunSignUp account and make changes to your personal information and transfer from one event to another.

·       What are the deadlines for registration? The deadline for group registration (7 or more entries) is midnight on Friday, April 18. The deadline for early registration for individuals is also April 18. Entry fees increase after this date and are $50 the day of the event.

·       Can I get a refund if I am unable to participate in the event? No, unfortunately, we do not offer refunds. However, you are welcome to contact Carolina Marathon Association after the event to pick up your shirt (although your preferred or requested size might not be available.) We hold all unclaimed awards and shirts for one month after the event. The office is located at 1215 Anthony Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 731-2100.

The Course

·       How are the miles marked along the course? We have standing signs at each mile along the course,

·       What fluids are available on the course? We provide water at two different stations along the course, at 1.5-mile mark for everyone and at the 2.5-mile mark for the five-milers. Gatorade and water are available at the finish line and expo.

·       When does the course close? The course closes at 10 a.m. At this point, no police officers or course monitors are available to direct or provide support to participants.

·       When does the refreshment area close? Food and beverages are provided for participants at the expo area in Gills Creek Memorial Park until 10 a.m.

Race Day Details

·       What time does the race start? The five-mile run and walk starts at 7:30 a.m. The 3.5-mile fitness walk begins at 7:35 a.m.

·       Where should I park on race day? A limited number of parking spaces is available near Gills Creek Memorial Park at 24 Forest Lake Place. Parking is also available at the Forest Acres City Hall at 5209 North Trenholm Road and at Lexington Medical Park Forest Acres at 5143 Forest Drive. Please refer to the parking map for details.

·       Where are restrooms located?

o   Start Line. Porta potties and hand sanitizer stations are available at Gills Creek Memorial Park near the start line.

o   On the Course. Porta potties are located on the course near the intersection of Shorebrook Drive and Spring Lake Drive (around mile 1.5.) A porta pottie is also located at the intersection of Eastshore Road and Lakeshore Drive.

 

·       Will the event be rescheduled or postponed due to bad weather? The Heart & Sole event is held rain or shine. Due to the cost and logistics of putting on an event of this magnitude, we cannot reschedule the event if the weather is unfavorable. While the Heart & Sole event has experienced its fair share of rain and thunderstorms in the past, the event has only been delayed once due to threatening weather.

·       Where do I fasten my race bib? Race bibs should be secured with safety pins (provided at registration) to the FRONT of your shirt or running top at all times. You should pin all four corners of the bib securely to keep it from moving during the event. Race bibs also allow us to identify you in the event of an emergency and help course monitors direct you so that you stay on the correct course during the event.

·       Why are race bibs different colors? Race bibs are color-coordinated to distinguish five-mile participants from 3.5-mile fitness walk participants.

Packet Pick-Up

·       Where is packet pick-up held? Packet pick-up is held on Thursday and Friday before the event from noon to 7:00 p.m. at Fleet Feet Sports, located at 4525 Forest Drive, Columbia SC 29206. You may also register and pick up your packets the morning of the event from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. at the same location. However, participants are advised to arrive early due to limited parking.

·       Can I pick up someone else’s race packet? Yes. You can pick up the race packets of your friends and family if you have their confirmation information on your phone.

·       I ordered the wrong size shirt. Can I switch? Unfortunately, we order shirts based on the information provided on your registration entry. That’s why we cannot guarantee them to late registrants OR make switches until after the event is over and we assess our remaining inventory. If your shirt does not fit, you can certainly check with us after the event to see if there are any remaining shirts available. If so, we will gladly let you switch sizes.

·       What do I need to bring to registration? Please bring your cell phone with the email confirmation you received when you registered online.

Packet Pick-Up For Groups

·       Can the team captain or group leader pick up the race packets for an entire group at once? Yes. However, we strongly advise that you double-check each of your race packets BEFORE YOU LEAVE to make sure they contain the proper shirt sizes, the correct names on bibs for each of your participants, etc. It is also a good idea to make arrangements to meet your group before the race begins to give them their bibs and shirts. Your group can get really miffed if they come to packet pickup only to realize you already picked up their race packets!

·       If I’m part of a group, can I pick up my packet individually? Yes. You can pick up your packet individually from the group. To avoid confusion, please make sure that your team captain or group leader is not picking up the packets for your entire group.

·       What should I bring to packet pickup to get my race packet if I’m part of a group? You must know the SPECIFIC NAME of your group and the names of each individual member. If you’re picking up the packets for ALL your group members, you should have a list of all names in your group to double-check that you have all your race packets.

Race Results

·       Where are race results posted at the event? Individual race results will be sent via text or email if you requested this option when you registered. You can also scan the QR code on your race bib to directly view the race results.

·       After the event, results of all five-mile participants who completed the race are posted online at HeartAndSoleRun.com. A listing of all 3.5-miile fitness walkers registered for the event is also posted on the website.

·       I just found out that I won an award at the Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler. How can I pick it up? All awards are available for one month after the event from the Carolina Marathon Association office at 1215 Anthony Avenue, Columbia, SC.29201 (803) 731-2100.

Post-Event Expo and Celebration

·       What time does the awards ceremony take place for the five-mile event? The awards ceremony for five-mile participants takes place at approximately 8:45 a.m. We wait for all participants to cross the finish line to have accurate results.

·       What time do the door prize drawings take place for 3.5-mile fitness walkers? We draw door prizes around 9:15 a.m. We try to wait until all walkers have crossed the finish line before drawing so that all fitness walkers have a chance to win. Walkers who wish to be eligible for door prizes will be asked to place the stubs from their race bibs into a container at the awards stage. Participants must be present to win.

Strollers

·       Are strollers allowed at the Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler? Yes. However, we ask that women with strollers be mindful of other participants and not impede the progress of runners and walkers.

Dogs

·       Are dogs allowed at the Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler? Yes, we’re a pet-friendly event. However, we ask that owners with dogs move toward the back of the line so as not to impede the progress of other runners and walkers.

Music Devices

·       Are iPods and other music devices allowed? Yes. However, for safety reasons, participants need to be aware of their surroundings and be able to hear instructions provided by course monitors at the event.

Pacers

·       Can my husband or boyfriend run alongside me to help me keep pace? No. The Heart & Sole is a women’s-only event, and we do not allow men to participate as runners and walkers. We encourage them to cheer you along on the sidelines, though!

Proceeds From Event

·       Where do the proceeds go from the Heart & Sole event? The Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler is not a fundraiser. It is an awareness event hosted by the Carolina Marathon Association to call attention to the importance of women’s health. In the past, funds from this event allowed us to donate numerous Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to organizations throughout the community. Other years, a portion of the proceeds were used to provide cardiac rehabilitation services to women who could not afford their care.

Shoe Donations

·       Where do the shoe and hat donations go that are collected by participants? The Heart & Sole Five Miler collects “gently used” shoes and hats/caps and donates them to migrant farm workers who need them.