Team RYC at the Napa Valley Marathon
Run Napa. Back Jamaica's new program.
March 7, 2027Napa ValleyMarathon, half or 5K
Run with Team RYC and raise money for Run Your City's newest program, in Jamaica, led by a local team who knows the community best.
Your miles back a new local program in Jamaica
Run Your City pairs college athletes with kids for free, team-based running programs, with 13,000+ kids and 100+ chapters so far. Our international programs are led by local teams who know their communities best, and pair running with meals, healthcare and education during an 8-day camp. Jamaica is our newest, and this team helps fund it.
100% of donations go directly to programs. Run Your City is fully volunteer-run.
$28,292
Raised by our first marathon team: 10 runners and 203 donors at the San Francisco Marathon in July 2026, which completed the endowment for our Rwanda program.
Why run with us
- 01
Chase a personal best
The marathon is a Boston qualifying course and drops 303 feet from start to finish along the Silverado Trail.
- 02
Make it a weekend
A Saturday team dinner in Napa, then a post-race celebration in wine country.
- 03
Optional coaching
Raise $1,000 and you can get a custom training plan from Mary, a former fastest miler in the nation (2013), D1 runner at UVA, and Boston and Ironman 70.3 Worlds qualifier. Totally your call.
- 04
Any level
Pick the marathon, the half or the 5K. First-timers are welcome.
- 05
Run as a team
A team chat, a team dinner the night before, and a cheer squad on race day.
Two ways to join
Both are fundraising goals, not fees. The easy math: 10 friends giving $50 each gets you to $500.
$500
Team RYC
- RYC racing shirt
- Water bottle, gels and race-day goodies
- Saturday team dinner in Napa (you cover your own meal)
- Team chat and race-day cheer squad
$1,000
Team RYC Plus
- Everything in Team RYC
- RYC sweatsuit, top and bottom
- Optional: a custom training plan from Mary, starting the week your page hits $1,000
Only commit what you know you can raise or give
Your goal counts everything on your page, including what you give yourself. We place one team gear order on February 15, only for pages that have hit their goal, so not a dollar meant for kids goes to gear.
ways to get there
Host a workout or a run
A spin, yoga or bootcamp class, or a run with your club. Friends give to your page to join.
Turn a celebration into a fundraiser
A birthday, a section happy hour or a watch party. Ask for gifts to your page instead.
Ask about a company match
Many employers match gifts to nonprofits, which can double what you raise.
Pledge by the mile
Ask friends to give $1 or $5 for every mile you train or race.
Share your why
Our social team makes the posts and graphics. You hit share.
Send one message
A text and an email you can send to 10 friends in under a minute.
Four steps to the start line
- 1
Register for the race yourself
Race entry is separate from Team RYC and paid to the race. Every distance sells out, so sign up early.
Register for the race - 2
Join Team RYC
Fill out the form: your distance, your level and your sizes. Your welcome email with next steps arrives right away.
- 3
Start your fundraiser on Every.org
On Run Your City's Every.org page, tap Start a fundraiser. Paste the title and story from your runner kit, set your goal to $500 or $1,000, and send us your link.
Open our Every.org page - 4
Raise it, then run it
Hit your goal by February 15 to get your gear: we place one team order that day so it arrives before race weekend. Fundraising stays open until February 28. Coaching, if you opted in, starts once your page hits $1,000. Then run Napa on March 7.
Right after you join, you'll get a welcome email with your next steps and runner kit, including the link to the team WhatsApp.
Before you register
Bibs can't be transferred to another runner. Until January 25, 2027 you can switch distances ($20, plus the price difference to move up) or defer to next year ($100, not for the 5K).
Key dates
Add all to my calendarThe calendar file works with Apple Calendar, Outlook and Google Calendar.
Your runner kit
Everything you need to hit your goal: a title and story for your Every.org page, a text and an email for friends, captions for Instagram and LinkedIn, and graphics to post.
Your fundraiser title
[Your name] runs Napa with Team RYC
Your fundraiser story
I'm running the Napa Valley Marathon on March 7, 2027 with Team RYC, and I'm raising money for Run Your City's newest program, in Jamaica. Run Your City pairs college athletes with kids for free, team-based running programs. It has reached 13,000+ kids through 100+ chapters, and 100% of donations go directly to programs. Its international programs are led by local teams who know their communities best. Last year, the first Team RYC raised $28,292 at the San Francisco Marathon, which completed the endowment for Run Bugesera, the program RYC runs with Rwanda Children in Rwanda. This year we're backing the new program in Jamaica. [Add one line about why you're running.] Every gift helps a kid reach their starting line. Thank you for backing me!
A text to send
Hi! I'm running the Napa Valley Marathon in March to raise money for Run Your City's new kids' running program in Jamaica, which a local team will lead. Would you chip in $50? 100% goes directly to programs: [your Every.org link]
An email to send
I'm running Napa with Team RYC Hi [name], I'm running the Napa Valley Marathon on March 7 with Team RYC, and I'm raising money for Run Your City's newest program, in Jamaica, which a local team will lead. Run Your City pairs college athletes with kids for free running programs, and 100% of donations go directly to programs. My goal is [$500 or $1,000], and a gift of any size gets me closer. Here's my page: [your Every.org link] Thank you so much! [Your name]
An Instagram caption
I'm running the Napa Valley Marathon on March 7 with Team RYC, and I'm raising [$500 or $1,000] for Run Your City's newest program, in Jamaica. Run Your City pairs college athletes with kids for free, team-based running programs, and its international programs are led by local teams who know their communities best. 100% of donations go directly to programs. Back my run: link in bio.
A LinkedIn post
In March I'm running the Napa Valley Marathon with Team RYC, a group of Stanford GSB and Bay Area runners raising money for Run Your City. Run Your City pairs college athletes with kids for free, team-based running programs. It has reached 13,000+ kids through 100+ chapters, and 100% of donations go directly to programs. Last year the first Team RYC raised $28,292 at the San Francisco Marathon, which completed the endowment for Run Bugesera, the program RYC runs with Rwanda Children. This year we're raising for RYC's new program in Jamaica, which a local team will lead. My goal is [$500 or $1,000]. If you'd like to back me: [your Every.org link]
A progress update
Update: I'm [X]% of the way to my [$500 or $1,000] goal for Run Your City's new program in Jamaica. Thank you to everyone who has given so far! [X] days until Napa. If you've been meaning to give, here's my page: [your Every.org link]
A thank-you post
I hit my goal! Thank you to [tag friends] and everyone who backed my Napa run. Every dollar goes to Run Your City's new program in Jamaica. See you on March 7, Napa.
coaching, if you want it
Mary Blankemeier
Former fastest miler in the nation (2013), D1 cross country & track runner at UVA, and a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Founder and CEO of Run Your City and a Stanford GSB MBA student. Raise $1,000 and you can opt in to a custom training plan from Mary, or train your own way.
Questions
- Do I register for the race through you?
- No. Register on your own at napavalleymarathon.org, then join Team RYC to fundraise.
- Do I have to be fast?
- Not at all. The 5K and the half are great first races, and the team runs every pace.
- Do I have to train with Mary?
- No. Coaching is an offer for runners who raise $1,000, not a requirement. Train however you like, and opt in or out anytime by replying to your welcome email.
- What if I don't hit my goal?
- Run with us anyway. Every dollar you raise still goes to kids. Gear goes to every runner whose page hits their goal by February 15, when we place our one team order.
- Where does the money go, and is it tax-deductible?
- Every dollar goes to Run Your City's new program in Jamaica, which a local team will lead. Run Your City is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 85-4324984), so gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Donations are processed by Every.org.
- How do I back a specific runner?
- Use the runner's personal link, or find them under Fundraisers on Run Your City's Every.org page. To give to the whole team instead, use Donate to the team.
- What about logistics?
- We'll coordinate Airbnbs, dinners and race-weekend plans for everyone signed up, and you book and pay for your own stay. There's no parking at the marathon or half starts, so plan on the race bus.
together we can.
Help every kid reach their starting line
Run with us, or back someone who is.
Team RYC is Run Your City's own fundraising team. Race registration is through the Napa Valley Marathon.