Sri Chinmoy Marathon

The Women’s Distance Festival is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of strength, community, and the power of women supporting women. With every stride, every mile, and every finish line crossed, we are helping advance the vital work of the Center for Safety & Change, whose mission is to support, shelter, and provide services to victims and survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes.

This year’s theme, TOGETHER WE RISE, captures the true spirit of the Women’s Distance Festival. It reminds us that when we come together—lifting each other up, standing side by side, and moving forward as a community—we create real and lasting change. Every participant, volunteer, and supporter plays a role in building a safer, stronger, and more equitable future for all.

The Women’s Distance Festival began as a powerful movement. Created by the Road Runners Club of America, the event originally served as a protest against the lack of long-distance racing opportunities for women. As recently as the 1980 Olympics, it was widely believed that women could not compete at distances greater than 1500 meters—less than one mile. In response, the first Women’s Distance Festivals were held in July 1980 across the United States, running parallel to the men’s marathon at the Moscow Olympics.

The Rockland Road Runners brought the Women’s Distance Festival to our community in 1988, and it has since grown into the largest Women and Girls 5K in the tri-state area.

Join us for the 38th Annual Women’s Distance Festival 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, July 12 at 8:00 AM at Rockland Lake State Park. For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual race option will be available from Sunday, July 12 through Sunday, July 19.

Come experience the energy, strength, and determination of hundreds of women and girls moving forward together. Whether you run, walk, volunteer, or cheer from the sidelines, you are part of something bigger.

Lace up your sneakers, show up with your community, and remember: when women support women, TOGETHER WE RISE.

Date: Sunday, June 19th, 2026 at 8:00am

Join us for Tri the Park at Tarrytown’s Pierson Park, a youth triathlon designed for fun, challenge, and community spirit! Participants will compete in a POOL swim, followed by a closed bike loop and park run. Whether your athlete is tackling the long course or giving the short course a go, it’s a great way to race this summer.

The entire race should take athletes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes as it is a beginner course, and each participant will receive a finisher’s medal!

Long Course: 100m swim, 2mi bike, 0.50mi run

Short Course: 50m swim, 1mi bike, 0.25mi run

Participants can compete in either distance race and must be between the ages of 6-16.

Register by noon on June 21st to guarantee your event T-shirt! After that, shirts will be available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Registration closes on July 12th.

Come & join us at the only race we offer in New York State!

The aHUS Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people affected by atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and their families. Founded by caregivers and patients, the Foundation provides up-to-date information, educational resources, and a supportive community to help individuals and loved ones navigate the challenges of this ultra-rare disease. It fosters connections among patients, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare professionals to raise awareness, share experiences, and improve quality of life through conferences, outreach, and advocacy.

Race Information

THE 2026 RACE WILL BE ON SUNDAY 13th SEPTEMBER. REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN MAY

Once again the race will follow the varied and scenic course from Franklin Street Park along the Hudson to Piermont and back.

The race starts at 8:30, and the course will close at 11:00, after which the water stations will be dismantled and there will be no Marshalls or police escort on the course, so this event is not recommended for walkers.

The proceeds from this race benefit local first responders, Nyack-area food programs and the Rockland Road Runners Scholarship Fund.

Rockland Road Runner Club members receive a 15% discount at checkout. All registrants can receive a $20 refund if they refer 5 friends.

Packet Pickup

To avoid the crush on race morning, we encourage you to pick up your race number and shirt on Saturday from 12:00 - 3:00 at Dicks Sporting Goods in the Palisades Mall.

Awards

Awards will be given to the top overall runners (Male, Female and Non-binary), and in 5-year age groups for the remaining runners.

Virtual Run and Kids Fun Run

• If you are not able to join us for the in-person race, you can sign up for the Virtual event and run 10 miles at a time and route that is convenient for you.

• Before the race, we will hold a kid's fun run along the Esposito Trail, to end at the race finish line. Distances of 200 and 400 meters will be offered.

After Party and Nyack Street Fair

• The after-party at Franklin park will include water, bagels and bananas for finishing runners, ice-cream and craft beer.

• After the race, plan to visit Nyack's Famous Street Fair, only a few blocks away

The Empire State Half Marathon and 5k are on the flattest and fastest road course on the East Coast: Rockland Lake State Park In just a few laps around the lake, just north of the NJ/NY border, you'll walk away with a big shiny medal, a tech race shirt, and hopefully a shiny new personal best!

Follow us on IG: @empirestatehalfmarathon for future updates!

Please arrive before 8am to avoid paying the park admission fee!

Race Schedule

8:00am - 5k Start

8:45am - HM Elite Introductions

9:00am - Half Marathon Start

9:15am - 5k Awards Available

10:00am - Beer Garden Opens

11:15am - Half Marathon Awards Available

Course

The course is a USATF-certified loop around scenic Rockland Lake.

Course Profile

As shown on the Rockland Lake Half Marathon Strava Segment, the course has 135' of elevation over the 13.1 miles. The difference between its highest elevation point (170') and lowest (155') is just 15', making it a pancake flat loop.

Fueling Stations

There are three aid stations with both water and Gatorade along the course.

Elite Athlete Program (EAP)

The EAP provides a complimentary entry, personal water stations, preferred baggage claim, and for some, free lodging. Please email [email protected] your running resume for consideration.

NEW for 2025:

Individual Prize Structure

$500 - Top M/F and top M/F Masters

$300 - 2nd M/F and 2nd M/F Master

$200 - 3rd M/F and 3rd M/F Master

Team Prize Structure

$500 - Top M/F Teams (3/Team)

HM and 5k Medals: 5 Year Age Groups

Top 3 finishers to male/female finishers in 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

HM AG Winners win ice cream from the Sweet Guy Ice Cream Truck

Bib Pickup

Bibs can either be picked up at Road Runner Sports (Paramus) on Friday evening (5pm-7pm), Saturday morning (10am-1), or at the race site on Sunday morning.

Empire State Challenge Medal

Any runner finishing both the Empire State Half Marathon and the Garden State 10 Miler (or the Empire State 5k) will receive the Empire State Challenge Medal at the conclusion of the Empire State Half.

Lodging

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Nanuet (425 NY-59, Nanuet, NY 10954): 845-623-6000

Element Spring Valley (90 Spring Valley Market Place, Spring Valley, NY 10977): 845-694-8200

Hilton Garden Inn (270 W Route 9, Nanuet, NY 10954): 845-623-0600