september, 2021
Event Details
Women Run the D Half Marathon • 10K • 5K
We have returned to racing!
The mission of Epic Races is to professionally manage safe, fun, and rewarding multi-sport and endurance events that appeal to beginner through elite athletes, raise money and awareness for important causes, and make each participant feel like a champion.
To keep you all safe, we follow the most up-to-date health and safety guidelines for the state of Michigan. You can find them here.
The American Home Fitness Women Run the D event is Detroit’s premier women’s running event, supporting various women’s charities. We will offer both live and virtual events this year. The 5K, 10K, and half-marathon live events all take place together at the beautiful Belle Isle State Park and the virtual events can take place wherever you choose.
This year Women Run the D is also part of Michigan MarathonHER!
How do I become a Michigan MarathonHER? A Michigan MarathonHER is an exclusive title for women who complete two Epic Half Marathon events. The first, 3 RUN 3 Half Marathon, sometime between mid-January and mid-March, and the second, Women Run the D, in September. Combining these two 13.1 miles races you’ll make yourself one 26.2 mile running marathonHER. Complete both races and get extra swag! One State. Two Races. Three Medals.
By signing up for both events you are automatically registered for Michigan MarathonHER. Haven’t heard about the 3 Run 3 Half Marathon? Click here for more information.
Deferrals and Transfers
We offer a liberal transfer and deferral policy. You may defer your race entry to the following year up until 3 weeks before race day. You may transfer your race to another person up until race morning. See instructions on how to do this and more about our policies in our FAQs.
Women Run the D is about celebrating strong women and we are proud to announce our women-focused charities! When registering for the race you will have the opportunity to select which of these charities you would like a portion of your registration to be donated as well as raise money for the charities yourself.
Women Run the D medals, Ts and tanks coming soon!
Michigan MarathonHER medal (13.1 in the 3RUN3 + Women Run the D 13.1 = Michigan MarathonHER:
PACERS (not available for virtual race)
We are thrilled that GoalMakers and Run Detroit will be providing pace teams for this year’s race. Looking to run a certain pace or achieve a goal? Choose the right pace group for you and look for them holding up signs in the start area. You can also stop by their booth at the expo the day before for a meet and greet.
5K – pacers for :21, :24, :27, :30, :33, and :36 total finish time
10K – pacers for :42, :48, :54, 1:00, 1:06, and 1:12 total finish time
Half Marathon – 1:35, 1:45, 2 hours, 2:15, 2:30 total finish time
Not sure what pace to run? Check out the pace predictor here to help choose your group.
Interested in being a pacer?
In order to be a pacer, you must have extensive running and racing experience and plan to run a pace at least 2 minutes per mile slower than your typical race pace. For more information on pacing the 13.1 or 10K, please contact Bruce Seguin from Goal Makers at seguin.bruce@gmail.com. For information on pacing the 5K, please contact Justin Craig at justin@run-detroit.com.
Shop for exclusive gear and rep the race before or after you toe the line!
www.epicracestore.com
Info coming soon.
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.
Meet this year’s Epic Heart Heroes
Tracey Koblarz
While driving home from work on August 14th, 2018, my heart stopped beating and I crashed into 2 telephone polls. By all accounts I had no vitals at all for almost 30 minutes. I experienced a severe V-Fib attack and was not expected to live through the night. — Read her whole story
Lisa Cardillo
My husband Dominic and I planned a fun getaway in Grand Rapids, MI, to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. Dominic had recently completed treatment for brain cancer, so we booked a stay at a bed & breakfast, bought tickets to see one of our favorite bands, and planned to visit breweries along the Lake Michigan coastline. Shortly after we arrived, I felt a burning sensation in my chest and a hot pain sear through to my back. I immediately knew something was wrong and that I needed help. — Read her whole story
Kaylee Smith
I was 14 years old when my primary care physician first detected a weak heart murmur and ordered a heart echo. I was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect (ASD). It was small and my heart murmur was barely noticeable. The doctors decided to monitor the situation rather than perform surgery. At 18, it was recommended I have the defect repaired, partially, because I had developed breathing issues especially while running. — Read her whole story
Diane Nylander
“I work out regularly to stay in shape for snowboarding and adventure trips with my brother and sister. We take a trip together every year – usually climbing mountains. A few months after we completed a backpacking trip on Isle Royale National Park in 2006, I was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer.” — Read her whole story
The event is a Leave No Trace event. Learn more about our race-day recycling and composting efforts here. Want more information about running a great race and leaving no trace? Click HERE to see our 2018 solid waste report.
All courses are subject to change at the discretion of the race directors.
Age Groups:
8 and under, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17, 18-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
13.1
1st Place Overall
1st Place Masters
1st place in each age group
10K & 5K
1st Place Overall
1st Place Masters
1st place in each age group
Mother Daughter, 3 Generation
& Largest Team Awards
Mother/Daughter and 3-Gen: 1st Place Overall