Frequently Asked Questions

About the Undy

What is the Undy 5000?
Do you really mean underwear?
What if I don't want to wear underwear or boxers?
How far is the Undy 5000?
Is the Undy 5000 a run or a walk?
Is the Undy 5000 a timed event?
Are there any cash prizes for top runners?

Registering/signing up

I accidentally registered as an individual and meant to join a team. What do I do?
My company/employer wants to pay for multiple registration fees. Is this possible?
Can I register at the event and pay by credit card?
Is the registration fee included in my fundraising incentive total
What comes with my registration fee?
What do survivors receive?
When I try to register online, I keep getting an error message that I am "already registered".

Donating/fundraising

Is there a fundraising minimum to participate in this event?
How can I raise money?
Can someone donate to me through the mail?
What do I do if someone gives me cash or check in person?
Are there fundraising incentives?
Where does the money go?
How can I learn more about donating to the Undy 5000?

Race day

Can I participate with a baby stroller?
Can I wear headphones while I run?
Can my dog participate?
What happens if it rains on race day?

Miscellaneous

Why am I not getting e-mail updates? 
Can I use Safari to edit and view my participant center?
Are race courses USATF certified?
I was unable to attend the event. Can I have a pair of boxers shipped to me?
I didn't pick up my incentive T-shirt on site. Can I have it shipped to me?
What happens if the Undy 5000 falls on a holiday?

What is the Undy 5000?
  Click here for the Undy 5000 1-Pager.

Do you really mean underwear?
This will mean different things to different people. This might mean matching team boxer shorts for some, colorful boxer briefs for others, or even logo-branded shorts for corporate teams. Some people may even choose to wear their boxer shorts over their favorite running pants. So get as creative as you want! The only thing we ask is that you remember this is an all-ages event…and dress appropriately. Click here to read more about the story behind the underwear.

What if I don’t want to wear underwear or boxers?
Participating in your undies is completely optional. You can show up in sweat pants, running pants, or shorts. Just as long as you show up! We need as many people as possible to help us spread the word!

How far is the Undy 5000?
The Undy 5000 is a 5K or approximately 3.1 miles. There is also a 1 mile Fun Run.

Is the Undy 5000 a run or walk?
We encourage people of all abilities to attend the Undy 5000 events. We expect some people to run or jog, and some to walk.

Is the Undy 5000 a timed event?
Yes. The Undy 5000 5K event will be timed and there will be Undy 5000 plaques for the top finishers in each age group.

Are there any cash prizes for top runners?
There will not be any cash prizes for top runners in the Undy 5000 but there will be Undy 5000 plaques for the top finishers in each age group.

My company/employer wants to pay for multiple registration fees. Is this possible?
Yes, of course! Occassionally employers will offer to cover the cost of registration fees for employees who would like to form a team. The easiest way to do this is to have a CCA staff member set up a discount code for your organization. This discount code can then be used while registering online, waiving all (or a part of) the registration fee. After the event, CCA will send an invoice to your employer for the registrations. To set up a discount code, send an email to undy5000@ccalliance.org expressing your interest in this option.

Can I register at the event and pay by credit card?
Yes, you can pay by credit card, cash, or check at the event. However, please check your city's Undy 5000 web page to confirm that there will be onsite registration. A few locations do not permit transactions onsite.

Is the Registration Fee Included in my fundraising incentive total?
No, because of tax reasons the registration fee is not included in your fundraising amount. Only donations made by you or made on your behalf are included in this total.

What comes with my registration fee?
All participants will receive a pair of Undy 5000 boxer shorts, light food and beverage, and if participating in the 5k, timing services as well.

What do survivors receive?
In addition to the boxer shorts, survivors will receive a special Undy 5000 survivor t-shirt. There is also are special survivor ceremony after the race which honors all those who have fouht or who may still be fighting this disease.

When I try to register online, I keep getting an error message that I am "already registered".
This typically happens when a participant uses an email to register him/herself and then attempts to use the same email address to register a family member or friend. Please try using a different email address and you should be able to complete registration. If you still have trouble, please contact us: undy5000@ccalliance.org or 202-628-0123 x 104.

Why does my bank account have pending charges to the CCA?
If the "complete registration" or the donate button was clicked more than once while making a payment, your account may have pending charges. However, only one charge will actually be processed and the remaining charges will be dropped. It takes some banks up to three days to remove incorrect pending charges. If you have a question about a charge, please contact your bank before us. They are better able to help you with your account. If more than one charge was fully processed, please contact us (undy5000@ccalliance.org, 202-628-0123 x 104) and we will be happy to refund you for incorrect charges.

I accidentally registered as an individual and meant to join a team. What do I do?
No worries! If you would like to be added to a team, simply send an email to undy5000@ccalliance.org with the name of the team you'd like to join.

Can I participate with a baby stroller?
Absolutely! This event is for all ages. You are never too young to start spreading awareness about colorectal cancer. We will have a special area at the starting line for people who are walking with children in strollers.

Can I wear headphones while I run?
Yes, you may. Headphones are no problem.

Can my dog participate?
Well-behaved, friendly, leashed dogs are welcome to participate in the Undy 5000 with you. (Especially if they're wearing boxers!)

What happens if it rains on race day?
We will hold all events rain, snow or shine! A race will only be canceled only in extreme circumstances. If canceled, there will be no refunds and your race fee will be considered a tax-deductible donation.

Is there a fundraising minimum to participate in this event?
There is no fundraising minimum but we can’t do this without your help! We are encouraging registered participants to create your personal fundraising page and reach out to your friends and family. By sending your personal page out to all of your connections—you are helping us to spread the word about colorectal cancer prevention, while raising money for this important cause. So…there is no minimum…but no maximum either! The sky’s the limit. Please help! Check out some fundraising tips to get started, then take a look at our great fundraising incentives!

How can I raise money?
When you sign up for the Undy 5000 you will gain access to your own fundraising page that you can personalize with things like pictures, your reason for participating, and a fundraising goal. Your participant center will allow you to upload e-mail addresses for your friends and family so you can communicate with them directly through your website. Your participant center will also keep you updated when people donate to you, and help you send thank you notes, e-cards and updates. Visit our fundraising page for more ideas.

Can someone donate to me through the mail?
Yes. Please click here to download a mail-in donation form for the person who would like to donate through the mail. A link to this form is also located on your personal fundraising page.

What do I do if someone gives me a cash or check in person?
You can download a mail-in donation form, and send the donations directly to CCA. This form is good for sending in a single donation.
You may also download a form to mail-in multiple donations at a time. This is a great form to pass along your office.

Are there fundraising incentives?
Yes! Please click here for a list of fundraising incentives.

Why am I not getting e-mail updates?
If you chose to opt-out of e-mails from us when you registered, you will not receive any updates or information about the race. E-mail us at undy5000@ccalliance.org if you would like to join the mailing list-- we promise we won't bombard you with messages.

Can I use Safari to edit and view my participant center?
Unfortuantely, Safari does not support the participant center. If you are having trouble viewing items in your participant center, please try using Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer. If you are still having trouble, please email us at undy5000@ccalliance.org and we'll be glad to help out.

Are race courses USATF certified?
Some courses are USATF certitied, while others are not. Please check your particular city's event page for this information. All 5K runs are always timed.

I was unable to attend the event. Can I have a pair of boxers shipped to me?
Due to the cost of shipping, we do not send boxers out to participants after an event. If you are unable to attend, you may arrange to have someone else pick up your boxers for you.

I didn't pick up my incentive T-shirt on site. Can I have it shipped to me?
Due to the cost of shipping, we do not send T-shirts out to participants after an event. If you are unable to attend, you may arrange to have someone else pick up your T-shirt for you.

What happens if the Undy 5000 falls on a holiday? 
The Colon Cancer Alliance apologizes in advance if an Undy 5000 event takes place during a holiday. Cities have limited options of when and where an event can be held, and once a permit is granted for a particular date, we must take advantage of the opportunity. Today, the Undy 5000 is held in many cities throughout the nation, making it imperative that the date meets the needs of a particular city as well as fitting in with our national schedule.

The Undy 5000 is held to honor colon cancer survivors while helping bring awareness to a disease that annually affects more than 142,000 people of all races, religions and genders.  We thank you for your support and appreciate your understanding.

When do I get my boxer shorts and race bib?
Unless otherwise indicated on the city specific webpage, boxer shorts and race bibs (also called race packets) will be available for pick race day beginning 1.5 hours before the start of the race. Check out our city's page for more details or email us at undy5000@ccalliance.org with questions.

Where does the money go?
Money raised through the Undy 5000 supports:
        1. Local Community Health Partners in Undy 5000 cities who provide colon cancer services. For more information please visit our Commmunity Partners web page.
        2. CCA's ability to provide its free educational and support tools and help fund advocacy, research and patient services. For more information, please visit our "Why we Fundraise" web page.

How can I learn more about donating to the Undy 5000?
Visit our Donation Frequently Asked Questions page.

Any other questions? E-mail us at undy5000@ccalliance.org