Littlest Bear Virtual 5K Run/Walk 2020

Join the fun this Summer with the Littlest Bear Initiative, supporting D&I Fellowships for I School students.

This summer, Berkeley I School is committing to wellness and diversity in tech with the Littlest Bear Initiative and the I School virtual 5k!

You can walk/run/roll at your own pace — invite friends and family to join in the fun too! Littlest Bear 5K registration includes a very limited edition athletic T-shirt* and laptop sticker with the new Littlest Bear 5K logo, designed by alumnus Carlos Miguel Lasa (MIMS ’16).

* Due to overwhelming response, we’re unable to guarantee a race T-shirt to particpants who register after July 18.

Net proceeds will be used to support the Graduate Opportunity Fund for Diversity & Inclusion fellowships for Berkeley I School students and financial support for Black STEM student groups on campus.

Please contact Tia Foss, Director of Philanthropy if you have questions about the Graduate Opportunity Fund, or if you would like to contribute directly to the initiative.

What is a Virtual 5K?

FAQs

How can I participate? You can register to run/walk/roll in the 5K, with all proceeds donated to the School of Information Graduate Opportunity Fund.

How does the I School Graduate Opportunity Fund support diversity and inclusion? All money raised to the fund will provide D&I fellowships for Berkeley I School students who have overcome significant challenges in pursuing higher education; who have shown leadership in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion; or whose research addresses social inequality.

The fund may be used for fellowships, conference travel, professional development support, and other ways to celebrate and support our diverse community.

What is a virtual 5K? A virtual race is one that can be run (or walked or wheelchair rolled) from any location you choose. You can run, jog, walk, or roll on the road, on the treadmill, at the gym or on the track. 5K is 5 kilometers or 3.1 miles. Put them together and you get a Virtual 5k!

Who can participate in the 5k? I School students, alumni, faculty, staff, family members, and friends! There is no age limit and we encourage kids to get active and participate as well (there will be a youth size t-shirt available).

What do you get by joining the race? A chance to engage in a fun community event, a special edition race T-shirt, a Littlest Bear 2020 laptop sticker, and a chance to earn a spot on the leaderboard.

Do I need to run the 5K? Participants can choose to run, jog, walk or otherwise traverse 5 km (or 3.1 miles). You can do it outside (on a trail, track, or sidewalk) or indoors (on a treadmill). This is an inclusive event and we encourage participation by people with disabilities — you’re welcome to roll the 5K in your wheelchair or use any regular personal assistive technology that you would typically use for a similar event.

How will the 5K be tracked? Participants will be asked to track their own times and input them into our leaderboard form (coming soon!) along with some additional details.

Participants may use the tracking method that is most convenient for them, so long as they are able to provide the time that it took them to traverse 5 km/3.1 miles. You can use a fitness tracker, a mobile phone app, or even just a stopwatch.

What are the guidelines for safety, injury prevention, and self-care? You can find guidelines for preventing sports injuries, along with a few self-care tips for treating the minor sports-related health problems that happen from time to time on the University Health Services website.

We encourage you to run safely, following local traffic laws and exercising common sense precautions. Runner’s World provides some basic safety tips.

I’ve never run before, but I’d really like to run the 5K. The good news is that you can be trained and ready for a 5K in as few as 4 weeks! You can find plenty of training programs online that will help you prepare to run the distance. Here are just a few:

• Four-Week 5K Training Plan for Beginners (Very Well Fit)
• Run Your First 5K Like a Boss: The 4-Week Training Plan You Need (Women’s Health Mag)
• The 4-Week 5K Challenge Anyone Can Master (Refinery29)

We encourage you to train safely and exercise common sense. If this is your first time running, you may want to consult your doctor (we’re sure they’ll be very excited for you!) and to follow an approved training plan.

Little Bear — Big Winners

We’re upping the fun with participation based contests! Submit your 5K on the leaderboard to let us know how you did!