Along with our partner Fellow Flowers, the American Home Fitness Detroit Women’s Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K are searching for a few amazing women: runners or walkers of any age and fitness level that embody the qualities of an Epic Heart Hero.

What is an Epic Heart Hero? An Epic Heart Hero is a woman who has come back from a heart issue, has taken control of her health, and refuses to let her heart condition stop her. She approaches life with passion and strength, as she knows too well how short life can be. She embraces a healthful lifestyle, knows the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, and takes action to minimize that risk. She helps educate others about these risk factors so that they too can take control of their heart health.

What will an Epic Heart Hero do?

She will share her heart story and serve as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association and the American Home Fitness Detroit Women’s Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K
She will represent the Epic Heart Heroes at the Renewal by Andersen Women Run the D Expotique on race weekend
She will appear at Epic Heart Heroes promotional events
She will share her heart story with the media upon request
She will commit to running her race with courage, integrity, and good sportsmanship
She will serve as an amazing role model for all of our participants
In exchange, an Epic Heart Hero will be given free entry to her distance of choice in the 2017 American Home Fitness Detroit Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K and receive complimentary gear from our sponsors.

Epic Heart Hero FAQsHeartHeroElena
Q. Does an Epic Heart Hero have to be a good runner?
A. No! Our Epic Heart Heroes have varied in running ability, with many of our past Epic Heart Heroes being walkers. An Epic Heart Hero should have prior race experience.

Q. Does an Epic Heart Hero have to be perfect in her heart-health regimen?
A. No, but she has to be actively working towards being healthy and committed to change.

Q. Does an Epic Heart Hero have to be a woman?
A. Yes! While we recognize that men and children also suffer from heart disease, and Epic Heart Hero also represents the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign and must, therefore, be a woman.

Do you know or are somebody who embodies an Epic Heart Hero? Apply here before May 12, 2019.  Our 2019 Epic Heart Heroes will be announced May 31, 2019.

In addition to our three distances, Women Run the D features two special family-awards divisions:

Mother/Daughter
Three Generations of Women

Spend a memorable day on Belle Isle running with your mother, daughter, grandmother, or granddaughter! The family that runs together has fun together, after all, and what better way to show family pride — female pride! — than showing everyone how your family’s women run the D? Participating in these divisions will NOT preclude you from the regular age-group awards. These divisions are in addition to the age-group awards, so be sure to sign up when you register: one mother and one daughter for the Mother/Daughter division, and one grandmother, one mother, and one daughter for the Three Generations of Women award (note: all family-awards participants must be racing the same distance, eg. everyone doing the 5K).