The inaugural Every Woman’s Marathon kicked off under blue skies in Savannah, Georgia on November 16, 2024, bringing thousands of women together to run the cobblestone roads of a historic city. The race was put on by Team Milk’s 26.2 initiative with the goal of bringing more women into the sport.
“I think it’s so incredible to see so many women come together from 50 states, 12 countries, and they’re all here to support and cheer each other on. That energy has been incredible and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” Danielle McLaughlin, a former national and world champion paratriathlete and running captain for the race, told Half Marathon Guide.
The premise of a women-focused marathon attracted a lot of first time marathoners — 42% of the over 7,000 participants, in fact. They were likely drawn to not only the idea of an all women’s event, but also a longer than average time limit (7 hours and 45 minutes), free training plans designed for women, and a flat course with pleasant weather. Approximately 2% of registrants identified as male and less than 1% identified as non-binary.
I was lucky enough to spectate the race on behalf of Half Marathon Guide. You never know how an inaugural event will turn out. I wanted to know, did they truly have women runners in mind? Or were they merely paying lip service?
At the starting line, it was announced that Every Women’s Marathon would return in 2025. Here’s how the first Every Woman’s Marathon panned out – and if it’s the right marathon for you?
Women in Charge
The race was championed by five running captains, each an icon of women’s running:
- Danielle McLaughlin, a former national and world champion paratriathlete
- Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon
- Des Linden, Olympic marathoner and winner of the 2018 Boston Marathon
- Deena Kastor, Olympic bronze medalist
- Alison Mariella Désir, an activist and author of “Running While Black”
The captains could be seen throughout the weekend’s festivities as symbols of how far women have come being included in long distance running – but also a reminder of the work that still needs to be done in the sport.
A Female-Focused Festival
Sure, no one signs up for a race because of the expo. But this one felt like a true event itself. Branded as a “Wellness Fair,” the race expo had a lot of what you’d expect at such an event: packet pickup, photo opps, places to buy last minute gear, inspirational talks given by the aforementioned running captains.
The extras, though, are what kept many racers in orbit of the fair for the entire day, pre-race. I heard more than one participant express regret that all the festivities made them forget that the next day they’d be running 26.2 miles. Taking advantage of the free hair braiding station, yoga classes, cooking classes by marathon legend Deena Kastor, and non-stop entertainment from the DJ were fun, but before you knew it you’d spent the entire day on your feet.
Speaking of that hair braiding station, it was the hit of the expo, with more than an hour wait at times. The following day you could see hundreds of women show up at the starting line rocking their pristine braids, some with colorful extensions woven in, or glitter, or some other dash of their unique personality, adding to the joy of the weekend.
The Course
I was surprised to find the race course dodged the Savannah riverfront. But racers were still treated to plenty of sights: chiefly among them eight of Savannah’s 23 iconic squares — picturesque cobblestone plazas, each with their own history. Chippewa Square, for example, is known as the filming location for the “Forrest Gump” bench scene. It was here a Forrest Gump impersonator stationed himself to participate in short spurts of the run.
Runners also trotted through Forsyth Park, past the notable fountain; past Grayson Stadium where the Savannah Bananas play; and around Savannah State University’s campus where the marching band played loud and proud.
“It was really beautiful,” said first-time marathoner Jessy Coe.
Though some parts of the course were dead in terms of spectators, the winding, doubling-back design allowed spectators to see their loved ones at multiple locations and easily walk much of the downtown portion. The best cheer section by far was that of the Girl Scouts, whose organization started in Savannah. (Yes, they gave out cookies.)
“People cheering, people in front of their houses, the community coming out, that was my favorite part,” said second time marathoner Monica Lewis.
No course is perfect, though – not even one designed with only 85 feet of elevation gain on a day when temperatures ranged from a pleasant 48 to 72 degrees.
There were two grueling miles towards the end, run on the Harry S. Truman Parkway that were described by finishers as “torture” and “panic-inducing.” Even a calming post-marathon leg massage in the recovery room wasn’t enough to erase the memory for the runners I spoke with.
But in what marathon are miles 21-22 ever easy?
The post-race festivities ended with food trucks and a surprise Natasha Bedingfield concert. The “Unwritten” singer lovingly promised to serenade the crowd from their seats in the grass field. Dancing – if you could do it – was optional.
Is the Every Woman’s Marathon a Race for You?
Ultimately, this race is for:
- Women runners looking for a fun, non-intimidating 26.2-mile race
- Women looking to turn race weekend into a girls trip
- Male runners who want to show up as an ally
- Anyone who appreciates a flat, fast fall course with a high probability of nice weather
Registration for 2025 opens on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2025). See you in Savannah.
