Initiation: In 1979, the RRCA started the Women’s Distance Festival in response to the lack of distance running events in the Olympic Games for women.
First Event: The first Women’s Distance Festival events were held on July 13, 1980, the date of the men’s marathon at the Moscow Olympics.
Celebration: Today, the Women’s Distance Festival celebrates the history of women’s right to participate in running events at any distance and at any age.
Participation: While women’s participation in distance running nearly matches that of men, the Women’s Distance Festival continues to serve as a celebration of the determination and dedication of women runners across the country.
Teams
Team Registration: Participants of the 5k Run/Walk may optionally register as part of a team.
Awards: In-person runners who are competing on a team are also eligible for individual awards.
Team Types:
Family: Any combination of mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, granddaughter, wife, partner, etc (you know who your family is!). Minimum Team Size: 2
Friends: Any company, civic organization, club, friends. Minimum Team Size: 4
Team Registration: Registrants who wish to participate in the team competition must provide the team name and team category during registration.
Contact
Payment: If you are registering a large team and would like to pay in a single payment, contact the race director at info@:frederickwdf.com.
Sponsors
Support: Please consider supporting the event through one of our sponsorship opportunities.
Training Program: The Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club offers a nine-week summer training program for women in preparation for the Frederick Women's Distance Festival 5k.
Coaching: The coaches are excited to be able to bring our beloved women's 5k training program back this year for in-person training runs.
Membership: The training program is free for members of the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club. If you're not already a member, you will need to signup before registering for the training program.