Fequently Asked Questions
1. Registration
RunSignUp allows you to access your registration through your Profile. From there you can resend your confirmation email if you have misplaced it, or if you have not received it
Note: If you did not receive your confirmation make sure to check the spam folder in your email client.
You will always be able to resend the registration confirmation for any registrations associated with your Profile (including any sub-accounts of yours) by following these steps:
Refunds are allowed until a specified cutoff date. See the refund policy and details here.
Transfers to another runner are available up until 5 days before the race. More info here: Transfer to Another Runner Instructions
Deferrals are not available for Beat the Heat races.
2. Before the Race
Packet Pickup is held on Friday before the race at Fleet Feet Sports Winston-Salem from 3-7pm.
Packet Pickup continues on race day at the event site beginning at 5:00pm
Yes, we allow family members and friends to pick up for other participants. We do not keep a record of who picks up the packet, so please confirm with each other to prevent confusion.
Yes, registration is available on this site up until a few minutes before the race start.
We have discontinued virtual options due to a lack of participation. We encourage those who are unable to join us on race day to make a donation to our charity partners. Donate here!
3. Race Day Logistics
We recommend arriving at least one hour before your race’s start time. This gives you enough time to park, pick up your packet (if not already done), warm up, and find the way to the start line without stress.
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Before 6:00 PM: Park in the Shorefair Parking Lot (east side of Shorefair Drive). Enter via East Gate #7.
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After 6:00 PM: Use the LJVM Coliseum parking lot. Enter through the Northwest Gate.
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Cost: Parking is free for participants and volunteers.
There is no designated bag drop at Beat the Heat. Parking is nearby, so access to vehicles is relatively convenient.
There is no time limit for the 5K, but any participants requiring more than 70 minutes to complete the race may be held up temporarily in the fairgrounds midway area to prevent interfering with the elite race participants once that race gets underway.
Runners, volunteers and spectators will have access to indoor restroom facilities with entrances near the Education/Events Building main entrance.
There are no restrooms or port-a-potties out on the race course.
A water station is located on the 5K course at the intersection of Shorefair Drive and Reynolds Blvd. 5K runners will pass by the water station 3 times at approximately .7 miles, 1.4 miles and 2.4 miles . Water will also be available in the finish chute at the end of your race.
We encourage registered participants to run with their friends! Running or pacinig someone in the 5K event is highly discouraged for non-registered participants.
Running with someone else in the Fun Run is allowed in the case of a 5K participant running with their child in the Fun Run. Otherwise, parents of Fun Runner kids are encouraged to either register or remain off the course to prevent interfering with other participants.
We love it when friends, fans and family members come to cheer on the runnres! We highly encourage cheer zones out on the course. Please note that post race food and refreshments are primarily for registered participants, volunteers and sponsors. We ask that guests wait until all 5K race participants have completed their race before taking any food or beverage items.
Walkers and jogging strollers are allowed in the Cook Medical Beat the Heat events, including the fun run and 5K walk/run events. We ask that strollers begin in a position where they do not impede faster runners or walkers. Participants planning to push a child in a stroller are required to declare this at the time of registration and/or packet pickup and add the child’s name to the race waiver coverage, accepting responsibility for injury up to the death of the child. Waivers can be found under race info on the race website here.
No dogs or pets are allowed during the race or in the start/finish line area of the race
To enjoy all that our race has to offer and for the safety of all participants, Twin City Track Club encourages a headphone-free environment during the running of Beat the Heat events. We believe your race experience and those around you will be greatly enhanced by leaving the headphones at home or in the car. Running headphone-free allows opportunities to develop camaraderie with your fellow runners and to enjoy everything the race has to offer.
4. Awards and Recognition
Participants for the 5K races will receive a free race t-shirt at packet pickup if registered prior to the t-shirt cutoff date. Registrations after this date are based upon t-shirt availability.
Fun Run participantes are given the opportunity to purchase a race t-shirt at the time of registration.
All 5K finishers will received a race medal.
Race results will be availble on this race site real time as runners finish their races. Click here for race results.
Yes! Sort of. An awards ceremony will be held as soon as possible following the Elite race. To keep things moving, we ask that age group winners pick up their awards prior to the awards ceremony. We will recognize age group winners during the awards ceremony. Results will be posted online to determine your finishing place. See awards information here.
Beat the Heat offers many awards based upon overall placement, age and gender. Age groups are determined by the participants age on the day of the race. See all awards categories here.
Awards are based on chip time, except for overall winners, which are gun time.
Yes, photos will be posted on the event website a few days following the race. Click here to see race photos.
5. Elite Runners/Race
The Beat the Heat Elite 5K is an open race for elite runners who meet the following standards. Participation does not require any membership or residency requirements. Note that international elite runners who meet the entry standards are welcome to register and run in the elite race, but we do not provide international invitations.
Entry Standards:
Open Men 17:00 or below
Open Women 19:20 or below
Qualifying information entered during the registration process
Entry capped at 30 men and 30 women. First come, first serve.
Comp Entry Standards:
Men 15:35 or below (83% age graded for 25 year old)
Women 17:45 or below (83% age graded for 25 year old)
Contact the Race Director for comp entry approval at beattheheat@twincitytc.org
Deadline for complimentary entry is 1 week prior to the race
Yes! Cash prizes are provided for top finishers in the Elite 5K race. See more information here.
Yes — all events follow USATF competition rules, and the course is USATF certified.
6. Safety & Medical
In the event of inclement weather, the race may be postponed or cancelled. Announcements will be made on the PA system and communicated by messaging to Volunteer Captains. For rain only conditions (no apparent risk of lightning or high winds), we will continue with the schedule. Absent an announcement to the contrary, the races will proceed as scheduled. See the Race Safety Plan Here.
Yes — medical personnel will be on-site near the start/finish area for the duration of the event.
Absolutely. The event includes extra hydration and trained volunteers to monitor heat stress. Participants are encouraged to hydrate before, during, and after the race.
7. General/Other
Use the Contact Race form on the RunSignUp event page or email beattheheat@twincitytc.org for assistance. Please allow 24–48 hours for a response.
Visit the Volunteer tab on the race website to sign up. Volunteers receive refreshments and our gratitude for helping make this event possible!
