The Women's Distance Festival starts at 8:00 AM on July 11, 2026, in Springfield, Illinois, so plan your arrival accordingly if you're traveling from out of town. The event takes place at 1501 S Grand Ave W and features a 2-mile running distance. Entry fees range from $5.00 to $35.00 depending on registration options. This summer race offers a straightforward distance for runners looking for a shorter competitive effort or a solid training run. If you're building a racing calendar around multiple events, the manageable entry price and early start time make logistics straightforward. Arrive with enough time to handle parking, check-in, and a warm-up before the gun goes off.
From the Race Organizer
Ladies! Bring your mother, daughter, sister, other family member, colleague or friend and run or walk this beautiful two mile course through Washington Park. This race is for women and girls of all ages, whether you are a competitive runner or just plan to stroll through the park. Strollers are welcome. Due to insurance liability restrictions, please note pets are NOT permitted in the live race. Carrie Ward & Melissa Wiseman are back as your Women's Distance Festival race directors - we can't wait to see you out there! IMPORTANT NOTES! Race shirt guarantee deadline for all participants is J une 17. All participants in the 2-mile run/walk will start at 8AM! Please note: There are no refunds. If the live race cannot be held as planned, all registrants will be converted to the Virtual Race option. FINISHER AREA There will be bottled water, bananas, and snacks in the finisher area. RACE RESULTS & AWARDS Participants who opted in during the registration process will receive a text message with their time shortly after crossing the finish line. Results will also stream live throughout the morning and be available at: http://www.ItsRaceTime.com Award categories are Overall, Masters, 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80+. Awards will be available following the race. CURBSIDE PACKET PICKUP Curbside packet pickup will be held on Friday (day before the race) at 3:00-6:00 pm at the Springfield Running Center, 2943 W. White Oaks Drive, Springfield, IL. Look for the SRRC signs & drive right up to pick up your packet; no need to exit your car. Feel free to arrive anytime during the pickup time, but please be patient if it is busy and you must wait a few minutes for your items. If you registered by the t-shirt deadline, we will have a shirt for you! If you registered after the deadline but were still able to choose a shirt during online registration, we should have a shirt for you! Please note you will receive the size you selected during registration. If you registered after our shirt supply was exhausted, unfortunately, you will not receive a shirt. We can only guarantee shirts for those registered by the June 17 deadline. Any additional race swag/giveaways will be distributed with race packets on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Please do your best to attend the Friday evening packet pickup. You are welcome to have someone else pick up your packet for you if cannot make it. RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP Limited race day packet pickup will be available on race day morning in Washington Park at 7:00-7:45 a.m. Packets for the live race that are not picked before the race starts will be forfeited. There is no packet shipping option. NOTES FOR VIRTUAL RACE PARTICIPANTS - Run or walk your two miles wherever you choose! - Beginning on race day you will be able to submit your time on this page (click on this year's results): https://runsignup.com/Race/WomensDistance/Page/RaceResults - By your name, click EDIT TIME. - You can submit results for one week after the race date. Virtual participants will appear in the race results but are not eligible for age group awards. Race packets for virtual participants will be available for free curbside pickup. There is no shipping option. KIDS' FUN RUN The Kids' Fun Run will be held immediately following the live 2-mile race and will start at the top of the hill near the finish line. This is an untimed event for children ages 12 and under. All participants in the kids' fun run will receive a medal and treat bag at the finish line.
Hotels Near This Race
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Race Travel Insurance
Don't forget travel insurance for July 11.
You've trained for months and booked a trip to Springfield, IL.
A pre-race injury, a delayed flight, or a family emergency can derail the whole thing.
Travel insurance can help cover your race entry fee, hotel, and flights if you can't make it,
and may cover medical costs if something goes wrong on the course. Plans typically only run
5-7% of your total trip cost — and running events are covered under standard plans with no
additional coverage needed.
Trip cancellation up to 100% of prepaid costs
Running events covered under standard plans — no add-ons needed
Trip interruption up to 150% of non-refundable costs
When is Women’s Distance Festival 2026 — Springfield, IL?
Women’s Distance Festival 2026 — Springfield, IL takes place on July 11, 2026. The race is held in Springfield, Illinois.
Where is Women’s Distance Festival 2026 — Springfield, IL held?
Women’s Distance Festival 2026 — Springfield, IL is held at 1501 S Grand Ave W in Springfield, Illinois.
Where can I find hotels near Women’s Distance Festival 2026 — Springfield, IL?
RaceHotelFinder shows hotels sorted by distance from the race venue in Springfield. Use the map or list view on this page to compare options and book race weekend accommodation.
