Sunday, June 12, 2016

Course Guide: Women's Distance Festival 5k

The Women's Distance Festival is a small race with a ton of spirit. The race is for women only and most of the volunteers are men.

There are fun decorations, signs, and awards (age group & multi-generational) that are selected to go with the annual theme. Past themes include:

  • 2014: Ladies Go Green (potted plants for awards)
  • 2015: Ladies Sizzle (frying pans for awards)
  • 2016: Ladies Power Up (handheld dumbbells for awards)

The race premiums also match the theme, and include a technical race t-shirt, specially designed socks, a small bag, and a finisher hat or visor. Sometimes there are extra surprises, too. Post-race food and beverages are plentiful.

Most of the race is on the W&OD and neighboring trails such as the Sugarland Run Trail. The first two miles are net downhill; the third is net uphill.

Elevation Map - scale is exaggerated; mile markers are approximate

course map from my Garmin

Official Course Map (source)

Mile 1

  • Loop around the Reston Executive Center - the least scenic part of the race. Watch for potholes & uneven surfaces.
  • Onto the W&OD Trail for about 1/2 mile
  • Begin loop around a small lake; mile marker 1 is on the far side of the lake
  • Some short, steep hills, but overall a net downhill

Mile 2

  • Water stop about 3/4 mile in (mile 1.75)
  • Finish loop around the lake
  • Back onto W&OD Trail
  • Into the woods, working towards Sugarland Run Trail (watch for poison ivy)
  • Turn around at Elden St, mile marker 2 is just past turnaround
  • Again, some short, steep hills, but overall a net downhill

Mile 3.1

  • Water stop about 1/4 mile in (mile 2.25 - same stop you passed last mile)
  • Sugarland Run Trail out to W&OD Trail
  • W&OD trail back to the turn for the YMCA
  • Mile marker 3 is a bit past the top of the last hill
  • What goes down, must come up - this section is a net uphill
  • It's hard to see where the turn is
    • Watch where the runners ahead of you are turning to help you decide when to kick
    • The finish line is just after the turn, which is a little awkward to navigate when you are at top speed

Recaps from past races:

8 comments:

  1. This sounds like a great race! I really liked your three-year perspective -- it IS a journey, isn't it?!

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    1. Thank you Anne! It is indeed a journey...usually with a surprise destination :)

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  2. As always such a well described race recap. Love the fact that most of the volunteers are men. Volunteering is something I have not done yet, but sometime in the future I would like to be on that very important other side of the race!

    And great sounding swag that would be cool to come home with! :)

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    1. You will make a wonderfully supportive race volunteer. Maybe you can volunteer for a race Caron is running that you aren't also running :)

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  3. I've not even heard of this race! How is that possible?

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    1. You'll have to run it next year! You would almost surely win an age group award. My understanding is that years ago this race was part of a series of races in the DC area and that they were huge and well-publicized. I think this is the only one that is left and it's pretty small and under the radar at this point. I'll remind you to sign up next year ;)

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    2. it looks like there may still be one in Frederick: http://www.frederickwdf.com/

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    3. Wow - there is still a whole series in Maryland: http://www.dcroadrunners.org/images/forms/WDFSchedule2016.pdf

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