EARLY START | 7:00 A.M.

We will offer an early start for those who are walking or running a pace that will take more than 4 hours. If you choose an early start, you must start at 7 A.M. sharp, you may not start between 7 – 8:00 A.M.

Please understand that the course will not officially open until the official start time of 8:00 A.M. This means that the police will not be at the street crossings, the volunteers will not be out, and the aid stations will not be open until that time. You will need to have a headlamp or flashlight and hydration for the first hour. You can dispose of anything you are carrying at an aid station when they open, and they will bring it to the gear check station at the finish line.

The course will be marked so you will easily be able to follow the course, but it will be a good idea to be familiar with it and carry a map as well.

If you are interested in this option, please check the apropriate box when registering.

Shop for exclusive gear and rep the race before or after you toe the line! We’ve got super-cute hoodies and more in the American Home Fitness Women Run the D store.

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).

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.

Our Heart Heroes will serve as a spokespeople for the American Heart Association and the American Home Fitness Detroit Women’s Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K, represent the Epic Heart Heroes at the Women Run the D Expotique on race weekend and participate in the races on race day.

Do you have somebody to nominate to be a 2020 Epic Heart Hero?  CLICK HERE for the application.

Meet the 2019 Epic Heart Heroes

Kathy Molinaro, Macomb

“I’m 68 years old and have been working out a few times each week with my daughter, a personal trainer, for about 7 years.  I completed my first 5K in the Spring of 2018, and have done three more since. I don’t claim to RUN the whole time for sure — I do short intervals — but what a difference from barely being able to climb one flight of mall steps!” — Read her whole story

Agatha Gordon, Detroit 

“In April of 2017, I was admitted to the hospital. My diagnosis was sepsis; however, doctors were shocked that I was able to recover and credited my complete recovery to my physically active lifestyle. I was told that I should not have survived.” — Read her whole story

Grace Davison, Canton

“I was shocked, shaken, confused. I had just kayaked the treacherous waters of Lake Superior the year before and white-water rafted with my husband in the River Gorge. Could the aneurysm have burst then? I felt so lucky to be alive, yet I knew that there was no way around this other than to have open heart surgery and as soon as possible. ” — Read her whole story