Rockland Road Runners Women’s 5K Distance Festival to Benefit Center for Safety & Change

3.1-mile run/walk has raised more than $90,000 for Center since 1988

CONGERS, N.Y. (July 8) – More than 400 runners and walkers are expected Saturday, July 13 for the 26th annual Rockland Road Runners Women’s Distance Festival 5K at Rockland Lake State Park. Proceeds from the event are donated to the Center for Safety & Change, formerly Rockland Family Shelter, a nonprofit agency serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes. The Rockland Road Runners have raised more than $90,000 for the center since the race’s inception in 1988.

The distance festival is the only women’s event of its kind in Rockland County. Over the years, hundreds of women spanning an age range from 12 to 90-plus have joined forces to participate in this fun event, which features a 5K run and walk. The run begins at 8 a.m., followed by the walk at 8:05. The course consists of a USATF-certified 3.1-mile flat loop around Rockland Lake, starting in the North parking area and finishing at the North pavilion. A free set of fun runs for boys and girls 11 and younger opens the festivities at 7:30 a.m.

“This is a joyous event celebrating a combination of women’s strength, women’s spirit and especially women’s compassion,” said Mike Seidenfrau, who co-directs the race with Carissa Coslit. “It is this winning combination that has made this race such a fun and enduring success. All women are welcome to take part and men can volunteer to help or join with other women in cheering on the participants. We are short on distance and long on fun.”

Entry fees are $20 for Rockland Road Runners members who register before July 10, and $25 for non-members. For participants ages 12 to 19 and 60-or-older, the fee is also $20 before July 10. From July 10 through race day, the fee is $30 for all. Rockland Lake charges an $8 parking fee after 8 a.m.

Awards go to the top three runners overall and top three in each age category starting at 19-and-younger and in 10-year increments thereafter. Special team awards will go to the winning Mother/Daughter, Sister/Sister and Grandmother/Granddaughter running tandems, as well as five-person running and walking teams. Separate fees apply to team categories. The overall race winner will receive $100 and an additional $100 for beating the course record of 16:05. T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 400 registrants.

The race is continuing its successful participation in the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program, accepting no-longer-used cell phones and accessories in any condition, from any wireless service provider, and refurbishing them for use in support of victims of domestic violence. The race will also participate in the Reuse-A-Shoe program. Participants are encouraged to donate their worn-out athletic shoes, which are recycled by Nike and used in creating running tracks, playground and other athletic surfaces.

There will be a pre-race packet pickup and registration on Thursday, July 11, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Center for Safety & Change, 9 Johnsons Lane (off Route 304) in New City. For more information, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.rocklandroadrunners.org” www.rocklandroadrunners.org or contact Mike Seidenfrau at 845-270-1025 or HYPERLINK “mailto:wdf@rocklandroadrunners.org” wdf@rocklandroadrunners.org.

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