Race Information

The Run for Shelter 5K is a race/walk sponsored by UMD Habitat for Humanity and held once every spring and fall. The Spring 2010 race is on Sunday, April 11th, and runs from parking lot XX1 on campus and around Lake Artemesia. The fastest male and female runners receive prizes, but many of the people who participate aren’t serious runners. They come to stay fit, enjoy a beautiful morning, or just to meet new people and have fun. There are no age restrictions to participate, and people are welcome to sign up for the race in groups. All proceeds from the race go to Habitat for Humanity and its mission of ending poverty housing and homelessness.

Click Here to view past results and photos

When/Where does the 5k start?

Check in and race day registration for the 5k starts at 9:00am on April 11th in parking lot XX1. The 5k itself starts at 10:00am.

Where does the course run?

The Run for Shelter course starts just inside the main entrance of the University of Maryland campus at parking lot XX1, then joins up with a tree-lined portion of Paint Branch Trail. It soon opens up to a scenic view of 38-acre Lake Artemesia, forming a loop around a portion of the lake and then rejoining Paint Branch Trail for the return to the finish line. The course is entirely paved and mostly flat, making it perfect for participants of any level of ability.

How do I register?

Entry fees are as follows:

Early registration: $12
Race day registration: $15

Register early by filling out the online form below. The deadline for early registration is 9pm on Saturday, April 10thth - after that you should instead register in person, between 9:00am and 10:00am on race day.

Register Early!

The first 50 registrants will receive free T-shirts!!

Water and other refreshments will be available to all participants on race day, including free bagels!

How do I pay?

There are two ways to submit your registration fee:

Pay by paypal using the button below, and fill out the form that follows after you pay.

Pay in person between 9:00am and 10:00am on race day - you can bring either cash or check.

We look forward to seeing everyone on race day!

More about the Run for Shelter 5K and Habitat for Humanity...

The Run for Shelter is UMD Habitat for Humanity's 3rd biannual 5K run/walk. All proceeds from the race and sponsorship go to Habitat for Humanity and its mission of ending poverty housing.

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing simple, decent, and affordable housing to low-income families. In its effort to completely eliminate poverty housing worldwide, Habitat for Humanity enlists the help of volunteers to build houses, which are then sold to carefully selected low-income families at a low price and with a zero interest mortgage. Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built over 225,000 homes worldwide.

The University of Maryland chapter of Habitat for Humanity is a student organization that builds houses in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore. In addition to build trips every Saturday, UMD Habitat for Humanity leads weeklong winter and spring break trips to build in the south, and holds other events throughout the year both publicize the cause of poverty housing and to raise the $25,000 necessary to build each house.

If you have any questions about the race, please don't hesitate to email run@umdhabitat.org.