Star City’s women’s 5K this Saturday
The Star City Women’s 5K returns to Grandin Village on October 3 for the 26th edition of this historic 3.1 mile distance run. The race, sponsored by the Star City Striders, benefits Children’s Trust as well as raising funds for the club.
The event traces its origins back to the Women’s Distance Festival race first held in the Roanoke Valley in 1983. Races across the USA and abroad were simultaneously held to demonstrate that women were interested in and capable of running distance events like their male counterparts, and their success directly led to inclusion of the first women’s marathon at the 1984 Olympics.
Today, women race at all Olympic distances just like the men, and in fact, many road races consist of well over fifty per cent female entrants.
The SCW 5K pays homage to its roots by remaining the area’s longest continually held non-scholastic female-only race. It has evolved from a celebration of women runners into an event that encourages fitness, family, and fun. Walkers are welcome, and made up roughly one-third of the 253 finishers in 2008.
The out-and-back route begins on Grandin Road and winds its way towards Woodrow Wilson Middle School onto Maiden Lane, then returns back via Windsor Avenue. The race finishes at the Grandin Theatre and Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op.
New for 2009, the pre-race and post race festivities will be held at Virginia Heights Baptist Church near the finish line. Included is an awards ceremony after the race on Saturday as well as packet pickup, a pasta dinner, and a program about women runners and safety Friday evening at the church.
Packet pickup is from 4:30-7:30 pm on Friday, and again on Saturday morning from 7:00-8:30 am. Late entrants will be able to register on race day if necessary.
The Friday pasta dinner is from 6:00-7:00 pm at the church with the program immediately following. The dinner is free for all registered entrants; guests can eat for $5.00, payable at the door.
Pre-registration is $20 for all entries, online or mailed, on or before September 28. Strider members receive a discount and may register for $18. All late entries are $25 (including Strider members). Entry forms may be found by contacting race director Amy Rockhill by email at arockhill@cox.net, or by visiting www.starcitystriders.com to download an entry from the Women’s Distance Race page.
Runners and walkers may register online at the Strider website if they prefer.
All entrants receive a t-shirt and entry to the pasta dinner, and finishers will receive a commemorative medal. Each entrant will be eligible for door prizes given away at the awards ceremony.
Awards will be given to the top five overall finishers as well as Age Group awards, 1st through 3rd places in each division. Snacks and beverages will be available after the race, and the course will have a single water stop courtesy of Fleet Feet that will be passed twice by runners.
