Every Woman's Marathon
| Every Woman's Marathon | |
|---|---|
| Date | November 16, 2024 |
| Location | Savannah, Georgia |
| Distance | 26.2 miles (42.2 km) |
| Primary sponsor | Milk Processor Education Program |
| Established | 2024 |
| Course records | women: Khia Kurtenbach (2024), 2:46:14 men: Jacob Alexander (2024), 2:46:22 non-binary: Flor Ward (2024), 4:28:40[1] |
| Official site | everywomansmarathon |
| Participants | over 7000[2] |
Every Woman's Marathon (EWM) is an annual marathon that takes place in Savannah, Georgia in the United States. It is significant because it was designed to be a female-centric marathon on a "for women, by women" model.[3] The race's advisory board includes Kathrine Switzer, Desiree Linden, and Deena Kastor.[4]
Despite its name, men and non-binary runners are welcome to and have competed in EWM.[5][6][7]
Race course
[edit]
The race starts in front of Savannah City Hall on East Bay Street. The course visits 15 Savannah neighborhoods and landmarks such as Trustees' Garden before finishing at the YMCA of Coastal Georgia on East Broad Street.[8][9] The race was designed to be flat and fast and has a total elevation gain of 304 feet (93 m).[10]
The course boasts several features designed to appeal to women runners.[11] First, the portable toilets at the start, finish, and along the race course were promised to be numerous, clean, and stocked with tampons, pads, and hair ties. Second, the course was kept open for 7 hours and 45 minutes which is longer than many other marathons. Third, there were lactation stations at the start of the race and along the course. Fourth, strollers were permitted in the race.
Race history
[edit]The creation of the EWM was announced by the city of Savannah in January 2024.[12] Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson said it was important the race "respects our city" and underscored that "Savannah is a place to live first." The race's sponsor, Team Milk, agreed to pay all operational expenses. This was important to the city because the city terminated its agreement with the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series in 2022 due to a perceived excess focus on profit and lack of respect for the city itself.[13] EWM agreed to donate up to $200,000 to local non-profits including the Historic Savannah Foundation and offer eight event management internships for students at Savannah State University.
The inaugural EWM was run on November 16, 2024. Khia Kurtenbach won the overall and women's race in 2:46:14, while Jacob Alexander won the men's race with a time of 2:46:22 and Flor Ward won the non-binary race with a time of 4:28:40.[14][1] Kathrine Switzer was at the finish line greeting finishers.[15]
The start of the 2024 race was briefly disrupted by a protest organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) who protested the race's affiliation with the dairy industry in the United States.[16] In addition, PETA released an advertisement criticizing poet Amanda Gorman for promoting the EWM.[17] The Milk Processor Education Program commissioned a poem from Amanda Gorman to create an "international mantra" of women's strength and empowerment, which was used to promote the EWM.[18]
British singer Natasha Bedingfield performed at the 2024 EWM post-race celebration.[19]
In December 2024, Savannah city leaders discussed the future of EWM.[20] On the positive side, the event was viewed positively by participants and the race brought an estimtated 4,500 participants from outside of Savannah.[21][22][23] On the negative side, residents complained about road closures.[24] To minimize the impact on local residents, the director for the Office of Special Events, Film and Tourism said the city was developing "performance criteria" to be applied if the race is held in Savannah in 2025. A community session was held in August 2024 to discuss race day road closures and cheering zones.[25][26]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Results". Every Woman's Marathon. November 16, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Neveaux, Kyron (November 18, 2024). "Over 7,000 women take to the Savannah streets for the 'Every Woman's Marathon'". WJCL News (Savannah, Georgia). Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Mayer Irvine, Heather (January 23, 2024). "Let's Go, Girls: Every Woman's Marathon Is Designed By Women, For Women". Runner's World. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Arnold, Mallory (January 24, 2024). "Amanda Gorman, Des Linden, and Others Combine Forces to Announce the Every Woman's Marathon". Women's Running Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Arnold, Mallory (November 13, 2024). "10 Things You Should Know About Every Woman's Marathon on November 16". Run Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Lasseter, Evan (January 25, 2024). "Will Savannah's new marathon be welcomed by the community? Here's what residents say". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ Dawers, Bill (January 28, 2024). "Will women's marathon go the distance for Savannah?". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ Payne, Benjamin (November 15, 2024). "Savannah to host inaugural Every Woman's Marathon on Saturday, expected to draw 7,000 runners". Georgia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Lasseter, Evan (November 16, 2024). "Every Woman's Marathon races through Savannah with fanfare, some neighborhood concerns". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Arnold, Mallory (November 18, 2024). "Did the First-Ever 'Every Woman's Marathon' Live Up to the Hype?". Run Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Zapata, Kimberly (November 19, 2024). "Why the Every Woman's Marathon Was All That I Hoped For". Parents Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Lasseter, Evan (January 23, 2024). "Savannah marathon announced for 2024. What to know about the race". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Nussbaum, Katie (April 18, 2022). "After 10 years, the City of Savannah cancels 2022 Rock 'n' Roll marathon". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ "MilkPEP and GALE Change the Game with Every Woman's Marathon". Little Black Book. November 18, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Hamilton, Tish (December 4, 2024). "Every Woman's Marathon Race Report". Another Mother Runner. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Hollie (November 16, 2024). "PETA allies disrupt start of Every Woman's Marathon". WSAV News (Savannah, Georgia). Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Groves, Sara (February 1, 2024). "'Amanda Gorman: You Can't Be a Dairy-Defending Feminist!' PETA Wants Poet to Pull Out of Milk Industry–Funded Women's Marathon". Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Dawers, Bill (January 28, 2024). "Will women's marathon go the distance for Savannah?". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ Wingenroth, Lauren (November 29, 2024). "After Running an All-Women Marathon, 'Normal' Races Will Never Feel the Same". Well and Good Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Lasseter, Evan (December 14, 2024). "On Our Radar: Local leaders discuss Every Woman's Marathon at city tourism committee meeting". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Blackstone, Lydia (November 19, 2024). "Savannah split over 'Every Woman's Marathon': Mixed reactions from businesses and residents". WJCL News (Savannah, Georgia). Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Hetzel, Christine (December 4, 2024). "Every Woman's Marathon Recap: Transformative Stories of Resilience, Friendship, and Growth". Extraordinary Strides (Podcast). Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Petty, Keith (December 12, 2024). "Popular PHS teacher completes Milestone Marathon". Pickens County Progress (Georgia).
- ^ "Residents voice frustrations following the Every Woman's Marathon". WTOC News (Savannah, Georgia). November 19, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Stenger, Lindsey (August 2, 2024). "Community meeting held ahead of Every Woman's Marathon". WTOC News (Savannah, Georgia). Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Lasseter, Evan (August 20, 2024). "Every Woman's Marathon organizers engage Savannah neighborhoods ahead of November race". Savannah Morning News.