Half marathon celebrates milestone fifth year
More than 1,600 participants made the fifth annual Bellin Women’s Half Marathon and second annual Pink Pumpkin 5K a success on Saturday, Oct. 5, celebrating sisterhood through the only events of their kind in Northeast Wisconsin.
Six hundred sixty race participants registered for the 13.1-mile half marathon as individuals, while another 216 were part of two-person relay teams and 773 took part in the second annual Bellin Women’s Pink Pumpkin 5K. The event also welcomed eight teams from myTEAM TRIUMPH, the organization that pairs challenged athletes with able-bodied individuals for an inclusive race experience.
Conditions were cloudy and calm when the races began at the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay. Temperatures were in the low 50s.
Dubbed “a race to empower women,” the Bellin Women’s Half Marathon was created in 2015 to celebrate and motivate female athletes of all levels and abilities. The focus also provides an opportunity to spotlight training and health issues specifically related to women, such as the unique challenges facing runners who are mothers.
In 2018, Bellin joined forces with the Breast Cancer Family Foundation’s annual Pink Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk to create a new event for participants in Northeast Wisconsin. The partnership was a natural fit for a race that seeks to call attention to training and health issues specific to women, while also providing the opportunity for even more women to get active, organizers said.
The Bellin Women’s events offer a one-of-a-kind race weekend experience that starts with the Friday night Women’s Inspiration Dinner. Participants receive a unique collectible finisher medallion and quality long-sleeve finisher shirt. Runners and walkers sip pink lemonade and snack on chocolate and other delicacies as they celebrate their finish.
The celebration continued after Saturday morning’s events, when participants and their families gathered for a dance party and awards ceremonies on the CityDeck behind Hagemeister Park. For the fifth consecutive year, Fox 11 Good Day Wisconsin co-anchor Rachel Manek emceed the awards.
Complete race results and more information are available at bellinwomenshalf.com.
The sixth annual Bellin Women’s Half Marathon will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.