This year, in order to continue the tradition of our annual Arizona Fallen Officer Memorial 5K while maintaining social distancing measures recommended by the CDC, we will host a virtual run event.
This fundraiser makes a huge impact on our C.O.P.S. Arizona chapter, and we will miss spending time together as a community this year. But in order to allow as many people as possible to safely participate, we have decided run the race separately while we remain connected in spirit.
Whether you are a brand new participant or a regular who has attended the event for 16 years, you may be wondering exactly how a virtual 5K is supposed to work. Here’s everything you need to know about our Arizona Fallen Officer Memorial 5K coming up April 25 – May 1.
How can I participate in the Arizona Fallen Officer Memorial 5K this year?
First you need to register for the race on our website and create your Virtual Race Page. This will allow you to add your personal race time to the database and receive a t-shirt, a mask, and a medal for participating.
The time window to complete the 5K is April 25 – May 1 2021. There is no official starting line – you can run the 5K from anywhere you want! (Even on a treadmill.)
Once you have completed the race and tracked your time, you will submit it on your Virtual Race Page.
How do I add my time to my Virtual Race Page?
There are 2 ways to enter your time.
1. Use the link in your Athlinks Virtual Race email to get to your exclusive Time Input page. Once you’ve entered a time, you’ll be able to claim your result to your Athlinks profile.
2. You can search for your name on your Event Result Page, then claim your Virtual Race Page (which will require that you either sign into your Athlinks account), or join Athlinks, and post there.
How are times verified?
Virtual Races use the honor system. Every participant will receive the same t-shirt, mask, and medal, so there isn’t really any incentive to cheat.
Why is the event virtual this year?
While we always enjoy gathering as a community for this event, we want to be respectful to the needs of all 5K participants. We understand that not everyone is comfortable running together in person yet, and that some runners are immunocompromised. We look forward to future events that will allow us to spend quality time together as a community.
How will the event proceeds be used?
C.O.P.S. Arizona has more than 300 members, including spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty according to federal government criteria. There is no membership fee to join, because the price they’ve paid is already too high.
We provide a police week orientation for new surviving family members and co-workers, peer-support, and trial and parole support. We offer law enforcement agency training, scholarships for students, as well as separate grief retreats for partners, children, and co-workers of the fallen.
The proceeds from the Arizona Fallen Officer Memorial 5K will go directly toward these efforts.
We hope you will join us for our virtual Arizona Fallen Officer Memorial 5K!
Registration is open here, so don’t forget to sign up! Then join us April 25 – May 1 as we run the race and log our times. Thank you for supporting C.O.P.S. Arizona.
C.O.P.S. Arizona is dedicated to rebuilding shattered lives of survivors and co-workers affected by line of duty deaths. We offer programs and scholarships for survivors in our local Arizona chapter. For more information, visit https://www.copsarizona.org/.
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