SMHS Makin' Hay 10K & 5K

Join us for the 37th annual Frederick Women's Distance Festival!

The Frederick Steeplechasers are bringing this exciting event back to Frederick Community College in 2026!

As with all Steeplechaser races, we will pay your processing fee. The registration fee you see is exactly what you'll pay! No sneaky add-on fees.

Net proceeds will again be donated to The Women's Giving Circle of Frederick County.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, see our website at https://frederickwdf.com

HISTORY

In 1979, the RRCA started the Women’s Distance Festival in response to the lack of distance running events in the Olympic Games for women. The first Women’s Distance Festival events were held on July 13, 1980, the date of the men’s marathon at the Moscow Olympics. Today, the Women’s Distance Festival celebrates the history of women’s right to participate in running events at any distance and at any age. While women’s participation in distance running nearly matches that of men, the Women’s Distance Festival continues to serve as a celebration of the determination and dedication of women runners across the country.

TEAMS

Participants of the 5k Run/Walk may optionally register as part of a team. In-person runners who are competing on a team are also eligible for individual awards.

Team Type Description Minimum Team Size

Family Any combination of mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, granddaughter, wife, partner, etc (you know who your family is!) 2

Friends Any company, civic organization, club, friends 4

Registrants who wish to participate in the team competition must provide the team name and team category during registration.

If you are registering a large team and would like to pay in a single payment, contact the race director at [email protected].

SPONSORS

Please consider supporting the event through one of our sponsorship opportunities. See www.frederickwdf.com/sponsors.

TRAINING

The Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club offers a nine-week summer training program for women in preparation for the Frederick Women's Distance Festival 5k. The coaches are excited to be able to bring our beloved women's 5k training program back this year for in-person training runs.

Registration for the training program is separate from registration for the race. Signup at: https://runsignup.com/fsrcwdf5ktraining. The training program is free for members of the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club. If you're not already a member, you will need to signup before registering for the training program.

​For more information about our training program see: https://steeplechasers.org/training/training-programs/wdf-5k-training-program/

THE 2025 SPOOK HILL CIDER & WINE 4-MILE RUN HAS BEEN CANCELED, but we hope to bring this classic back in 2026, so put it on your calendar for next year!

Why did we cancel the 2025 race? The short answer is that one of the key landowners on the course has put their property on the market, thus our ability to utilize the orchard portion of the course is in question. We will reach out to the new owners at the appropriate time to begin land-use negotiations.

I’ve always prided myself on giving our runners a great course and a wonderful, inclusive race-day experience. Hopefully we will be able to bring Spook Hill back, bigger and better than ever, in 2026!

Most appreciably, Bill Susa, Race Director, SMHS Runs

email: [email protected]

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Bike Doctor Frederick Grand Fondue

October 24, 2026

Presented by Bike Doctor Frederick & Dirty Kitten Productions; Hosted by Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery; Benefiting Heartly House

Join us at Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery on Saturday, October 24th for a casual and fun, yet challenging, ride on a variety of terrain (road/gravel/dirt). The routes begin in Middletown, MD and tour through various parts of Frederick County. Be prepared to ride a mixture of terrain both on and off-road: pavement, gravel, and trail!

Event entry includes: Custom routes (along with GPS files and cue sheets), stocked aid stations (Half & Grand routes only), event glasses with ONE free drink per participant served at Orchid Cellar following the ride (for participants 21 and over only), ride snacks, live music, and various prizes/giveaways!

Registration opens May 2026 (prices increase 7/1, 8/1, 9/1, 10/1):

• Grand Fondue - $50, $55, $60, $65, $70

• Half Fondue - $40, $45, $50, $55, $60

• Mini Fondue - $30, $35, $40, $45, $50

Junior rides U19 receive a $5 discount

Sorry, NO refunds, transfers, or deferments. All no-show registration fees will be donated to Heartly House.

Start Time Windows: 7:00-8:30am (Grand); 9:00-10:00am (Half); 10:00-11:00am (Mini)

*Ride times are “rolling” which means you can start anytime during your designated time slot. This is to spread out arrival for parking and check-in, as well as keep ride groups smaller on the roads. The venue will open at 6:30am (Grand Fondue riders may start as early as 7:00am). Please do NOT arrive earlier than 6:30am

Location: Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery - 8546 Pete Wiles Rd, Middletown, MD 21769

Distance & Elevation:

• Mini - approx 25 miles & 2,000 ft elevation (moderate)

• Half - approx 50 miles & 5,500 ft elevation (challenging)

• Grand - approx 100 miles & 10,000 ft elevation (extremely challenging)

Terrain (mixed-surface): pavement, gravel, and some optional trail- Road bikes with narrow tires are NOT recommended (at least 32mm and up, treaded tires recommended)

*ALL route info, GPS files, cue sheets, and maps can be found HERE the week of the event (by Wed PM).

Aid Stations: Half (50 mile) & Grand (100 mile) routes ONLY (@ThorpeWood Barn - 13002 Mink Farm Rd, Thurmont, MD). The ThorpeWood Barn Aid Station will be open 10am-4pm.

Support: Pre-Ride bike check & support provided by Bike Doctor Frederick

Music: Matt Stowell Music will be playing (2-5pm) at Orchid Cellar Meadery

Food: La Carreta Tacos y Tortas Food Truck will be on-site (12-6pm) or bring your own food

Drinks: Mead & wine served by Orchid Cellar (absolutely NO outside alcohol permitted)

Gear Swap: Bring lightly used cycling gear, parts, and accessories to donate or swap/trade (no For Sale items). Leftover items will be donated to a local cycling nonprofit (i.e. Bikes for the World or Phoenix Bikes)

Medical: Provided by On the Trail First Aid (Wilderness First Aid, Standard First Aid, CPR/AED, Health Care)

Contacts: Alex & Chris Howell - Dirty Kitten Productions ([email protected]) 240-215-4818; Bike Doctor Frederick ([email protected]) 301-620-8868

This event benefits Heartly House in Frederick, MD: A non-profit organization that provides services, free of charge, to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, and child abuse. Heartly House also works to develop community awareness programs and prevention education in the area. Proceeds from this event will be donated directly to Heartly House. You may choose to make an additional donation during registration.