Indy Runners Charity XC Challenge

Sixth Annual Indy Runners Charity XC Challenge
Monday, September 4, 2023 (Labor Day)
Check-in: 7:00-8:00 a.m.
5K race: 8:30 a.m.

North Central High School cross country course
1801 E. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46240

We’ll once again use scoring adjusted for both age and gender, so we’ll all race in the same division and divide the prize money accordingly. Half of your entry fee goes to your chosen charity. The other half is divided among the charities based on team race results.

You can join one of our designated Anchor Charity Teams or create your own charity team. The more people on each team, the more funds are raised for that charity, so recruit as many friends as you can!

Our 6th year now of hosting our Charity XC Challenge! We’ve been blessed to raise over $13,000 for multiple fine charities the previous five years.  

We are back at North Central High School this year after a great race at Brebeuf last year. Read on below for details on how it all works.

Cross Country Course

TBD

Anchor Charities

We will once again be hosting several “Anchor Charity Teams” that anyone can join and support.  This year will start a permanent placement of Team Dono supporting Outrun the Sun and honoring our dear friend, Don Keller, who passed away in the summer of 2020 after a long journey that started with melanoma.

We have identified four “Anchor Charities” for 2023:

1. Outrun the Sun (Team Dono)
   https://outrunthesun.org/
   Outrun the Sun, Inc. is dedicated to building awareness of melanoma and other skin cancers, educating communities about preventive measures that reduce melanoma’s incidence rate, and to raising funds for melanoma research, leading to effective treatments and a potential cure.
   
2. Back on My Feet
   https://backonmyfeet.org/indianapolis
   Back on My Feet uses running as a platform for addressing homelessness and recovery by fostering confidence, community, and connectedness for members, volunteers, and those working to build a stable, healthier lifestyle.
   
3. Girls on the Run
   https://www.gotrci.org
   Girls on the Run teams coaches with young girls using physical activity to promote care and compassion for self and others, building confidence and encouraging healthy habits for life. 
4. Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center
   https://www.faybiccardglickcenter.org/
   Located at 71st/Michigan in Indianapolis, the Glick Neighborhood Center is one of several Community Centers that serves families, adults, and kids through a variety of programming including after school services, health and wellness programs, and intergenerational engagement.  

We hope to get as many people as we can on each team, with $15 of the entry fee going to those charities directly, then $15 to the pot to race for more. The top five scores will count towards the team score during the race.

Virtual Option

New this year, with our move to Labor Day, we realize several folks will have other fun plans that weekend and not necessarily make it back on Monday to join us in the Charity XC fun.  If you would still like to support our causes, but can’t make it on-site, please consider signing up virtually and donate whatever you feel comfortable with, and we’ll add it in the pot for distribution to all the charities according to finish.

Sponsorship or Additional Donations

If you or your company are interested in making an additional charitable donation to the racing pot, please contact Brian Schuetter at medical@indyrunners.org.  (Note: Indy Runners itself is a 501(c)3 non-profit, so that donation could be tax deductible to the extent the law allows. Then that money will be distributed to charities based on the placement percentages noted.  Our goal is to get as much money distributed to as many good causes as we can.)

Create a Team

We still encourage forming your own team and representing your own charities as well. Gather as many people as you can for your team, as half of those entries go to your charity directly, then half to the pot to race for more. The top five scores will count towards the team score during the race. In years past we have had teams representing children’s hospitals, fundraising and research for different diseases, animal shelters, services for veterans, etc. (see the links above for our distributions from 2018 through 2022).

Note: We will need the EIN/Tax ID number and a current mailing address for your charity for verification and for distributing funds as part of registration.

Age/Gender Percent

We’ll use the Age Grading Percent to level the playing field across both age and gender – giving everyone a “score” based on their time compared to their age/gender, then rank everyone in order. So your specific place could change slightly or significantly based on your age/gender ranking.

Jerseys

Through a generous donation from Greg Humrichouser, we are able to provide jerseys for everyone on the Anchor Charity teams who signs up by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023.

If you form your own team and would like to make a jersey, please contact Scott Fihma at TNT Promotions at sfihma@yahoo.com.

Club Tents

Please bring along a tent, set up shop, and have fun.

Cancellation Policy

In the event we are forced to cancel by weather or any unforeseen circumstances, our policy has been to simply turn everyone’s donation into a full donation to their designated charity. So instead of $15 to your charity and $15 to the racing pool, we’ll just donate your $30 entry to your charity in its entirety.  

Registration

Frequently Asked Questions

When?

Monday, September 4, 2023 (Labor Day)
7:00-8:00 a.m.: Check-in
8:30 a.m.: Race start

This isn’t a relay? How do teams work?
We will utilize a form of a time trial start, but basically all start together and race together on the cross country course. Standard cross country scoring will apply with 1-point for first place, 17-points for 17^th place, etc. – using the Age Graded Percent to adjust finishing times/places based on age/gender. Winnings will then be distributed to the top teams as described below.

What if I don’t have a team?
That’s totally fine! Please consider joining one of the Anchor Charity teams and contributing to and representing that charity.

Will times be age-graded?
Yes, this year we are doing even more by using the Age Graded Percent, which creates a “score” across both age and gender, meaning we will all compete with each other.

Is this a walker-friendly event?
Yes. The course will be open for one hour after the last person starts – roughly a 19:00 minute/mile pace for the 5k.

When is the registration deadline?

• If you are joining an Anchor team and wanting a Jersey, please register by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
• Otherwise, registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, 2023.  Registration may be available onsite, but we strongly request registering in advance.

Will there be awards?

With all of us being in the same division using the Age Graded Percent, we will distribute winnings to the Top 10 placing teams this year:

• First Place – 24%
• Second Place – 18%
• Third Place – 15%
• Fourth Place – 12%
• Fifth Place – 10%
• Sixth Place – 8%
• Seventh Place – 6%
• Eighth Place – 4%
• Ninth Place – 2% 
• Tenth Place – 1%

Are spectators allowed along the course? 

Yes.

Any other questions?
Questions can be directed to Brian Schuetter at medical@indyrunners.org.