FAQs – Beat The Bay State Team Challenge (2024)
Have a question about the Beat the Bay State Team Challenge? We’ve put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions! If you have a question that is not answered below, send us a message through the RunSignUp page (contact form at the bottom of the registration page) so someone can get back to you.
Last updated: Friday, October 11th, 2024
Virtual Team Challenge FAQs
Q: Is this a virtual or in-person event?
Virtual! No need to travel to get to the event, you can participate from anywhere in the state or indeed the world.
Q: What is the entry fee used for?
Beat the Bay State is a fundraiser for WalkMassachusetts, a nonprofit statewide pedestrian advocacy organization (founded in 1990 as WalkBoston). You can read a little bit about our work and latest strategic plan here: https://walkmass.org/mission/
Q: Can I sign up a friend or family member when I’m signing up?
Yes! You can register multiple people in one transaction on RunSignUp.
However, if you are creating a team, we recommend doing that in a transaction without registering any additional people. (When creating a team, it prompts you to also create a fundraising page for the team – if you were to register other people in the same transaction, it would require a fundraising page to be created for those people, too. While fundraising is optional, creation of the page is required during team registration.)
Q: How do I log my miles?
There are two ways you can do it. Remember, you need to be registered for the Beat the Bay State on RunSignUp in order to submit your miles.
1st way — It can be done through the RunSignUp results page for Beat the Bay State, which can be found on the top bar of the registration site. Click RESULTS on the top bar, and then the orange “Submit Virtual Results” button at the top of that page. The next screen will have participant lookup fields where you can search for your name. You will be able to submit miles you’ve covered by walking or running on the next screen by clicking the “Log Activities” button. This is also the best way to do it if one family member is logging miles for multiple people. (If you can’t find your name through the search, you may not be registered for the event yet.)
2nd way — If you are logged in to RunSignUp with the same info you used to sign up for Beat the Bay State, you can go to your profile: https://runsignup.com/Profile
Scroll down to the event for Beat the Bay State, click “Submit Virtual Results.” You will be able to submit miles you’ve covered by walking or running on the next screen. Please note that the form fields will not appear until November 1st, since miles must be done between Nov 1st and Nov 30th. The submission form will remain open until December 1st at 12PM Eastern so you can log your final totals for the month of November.
You can log your miles daily, every few days, weekly – it is up to you. Remember, as each member of your team logs miles, your team will move along a mapped route. We’ll also be sending weekly reminders via email and daily reminders to the Facebook group (see below) to have people log their activity. You do not need to have MapMyRun, Strava, or a GPS watch.
Q: I want to join a team but I forget our team name. Can I see a list of all the teams?
Yes! Click on Groups/Teams at the top of the RunSignUp page, which will give a list of all the teams and total team members. You can click on the team name itself to see the team and also to share the team link directly.
Q: I want to join a team but I registered as an individual (or joined a different team). Can I switch?
Yes! We have to do that on the back end. Contact Brendan (bkearney@walkboston.org) with your name and the team you’d like to join and we’ll get it squared away.
Q: I only track my steps. How do I log those?
Since each person’s stride is different, we’re using miles to have a way to compare teams. Your fitness tracker may also estimate the number of miles that you’ve logged. If you want to convert from steps to miles, you can use this calculator: https://www.blitzresults.com/en/steps/
Q: How do we know how far along our team is?
All team results / progress will be on the Results page. From there, you can click to your own Team Page, where you can see how you and your teammates are doing as individuals. You’ll also receive badges through RunSignUp and emails along the way as your team hits milestones on your 900 mile journey. (You can also access your team at the bottom of your Profile).
We’ll also send a weekly email to all participants giving everyone an overall event update and reminding people to submit their miles so their team total is accurate.
Q: Can someone join our team even after November 1st?
Yes! There is no cutoff date for when someone can join your team to help log miles toward the 900 mile goal during the month. You can share your team page with them at any point.
Q: Is there a hashtag I should use or a Facebook group for the event?
Yes! We created a Facebook Group for last year’s challenge, which we’ll be using again: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beatthebaystate
There may be weekly events within the Facebook group which will allow for additional individual prize opportunities.
You can also use hashtag #BeatTheBayState on your social media of choice to see other posts from people who are taking part during November. We’ll search public posts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram and pick a few to feature in the weekly update email to participants!
Q: I want a winter hat or a buff from a previous year, but I didn’t purchase one. Can I still get one?
While we aren’t offering them as a swag item this year, we may have a few still available. Please contact Brendan (bkearney@walkmass.org) and we can check in storage.
Q: I registered as an individual (or on a team), but now I want to create my own team.
We can create one for you if needed – but we found last year that it is a lot easier if you have someone who hasn’t signed up yet create the team. They can then give you admin access to help manage it. Read the RunSignUp tutorial on how to do that here.
Q: I don’t want to be in charge of a team, but since I was the first one to sign up I made the team. Can someone else be put in charge?
If you created a team, and want to give someone else admin access to help you manage it, read the RunSignUp tutorial on how to do that here.
Q: Our team will mostly be families in my neighborhood doing walks/runs together. How many members of a family can log the miles? For instance, if I am signed up but my son goes for a 2-mile walk, can I add his mileage to mine?
Something to consider: in a previous year, someone created a team for friends & family to join, and their kids each signed up as team members since they each wanted to know how many miles they contributed to the team during the month. The rule of thumb we’re using: if you’re old enough to sign yourself up, you should be your own team member on the team. (It is your call, though – if you want to have your child signed up as a user, that’s great! But if you find it easier to combine those miles with yours, go for it.)
Q: Are there prizes?
There are prizes for the team that finishes the 900 miles first, biggest team (most participants), and the most money raised (both individual and team). These links will provide rankings: Team rankings | Team participants | Top Individual Fundraisers | Top Team Fundraisers
There may be weekly events within the Facebook group which will allow for additional individual prize opportunities, so we’d encourage you to join the Beat the Bay State Facebook Group.
Q: Does my registration fee or swag purchase go toward our team fundraising goal?
New for 2023: Registration fees DO go toward fundraising goals for your team. The biggest team does not always raise the most money: we do recognize both efforts! All proceeds support WalkMassachusetts. Swag purchases do not go towards fundraising goals.
Q: Fundraising: How do I create a page?
Team captains are required to create a team fundraising page when setting up the team, and participants have the option to create individual pages. (There is no fundraising requirement to participate).
If you would like to become an individual fundraiser, click here. At the bottom of that page, make sure to join your team’s fundraiser so your individual fundraising total will be combined with your team.
Q: Can we keep going if/when our team hits 900 miles?
Yes! While your team marker won’t move around the map again, you’re able to keep adding to your total team miles tracked for the month. A few of the biggest teams were able to do it multiple times, competing with each other to see who could go further!
Q: Help! I got multiple notification emails when I signed up.
You’ll get separate notification emails anytime you: 1.) register as an individual, 2.) create a team, 3.) create a team fundraiser, 4.) make a donation. If you are a captain, you could possibly get all 4 of those emails when you first sign up.
Q: I have a question about something that isn’t covered here.
Send us a message through the RunSignUp page (contact form at the bottom of the registration page) so someone can get back to you.