The tradition of the Washington, DC area Mother's Day race dates back to the 1980s and has had numerous presenting sponsors. Now, in its third year, the Metro Run & Walk 5K for Women is sponsored by Nike, and it will take place on Sunday, May 12, 2002 at 8:00 am, at Tysons Galleria (2001 International Drive in Tysons Corner). Entries are limited to 2,000.

The event is a celebration exclusively for women and is for all ages and levels of fitness. This is a time when generations can participate together, grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and sisters, to share a fitness experience. Metro Run & Walk is committed to keeping the Washington tradition going strong with the area's support.

A donation of at least $5,000 will be made to Special Love, a local charity offering recreational activities to children with cancer. Special Love also offers cancer families a network of support. For more information, visit their website at www.speciallove.org.

The elite race has been eliminated for 2002. The focus is more on the local community with the open run at 8:00 am, followed by the fun walk at 8:45 am. The overall winner and the first masters division finisher will receive round-trip airfare tickets for travel in the continental US. The open race will showcase our local women runners.

Merchandise awards will be presented to the top five finishers overall and to the top three in five-year age groups starting with 19 and under through 75 and over.

The three-loop USA Track and Field certified course (a couple of rolling hills) around Tysons Corner is spectator friendly. The start and finish line is on International Drive (in front of Saks Fifth Avenue).

The prior open and master winners are

2000
Monika Bracken 34 19:51 Comus, MD
Betty Blank 47 20:13 Falls Church, VA

2001
Deirdre McCarthy-Gallagher 31 19:08* Arlington, VA
Joan Benoit-Samuelson 40 19:09* Portland, ME

*Event Records

Our multiple year single-age winners (2000 and 2001) are: Scheyler Tompkins (age 8, 9), Shannon Banks (18, 19), Allyson Schindel (25, 26), Cathy Horvitz (42, 43), Betty Blank (47, 48), Deborah Gebhardt (52, 53), Hideko Pirie (55, 56), Ecris Williams (61, 62), Phyllis Altroggee (64, 65), Hiroko Hunt (66, 67) and Regina Kellams (75, 76).

The youngest competitor has been Mary Claire Byine, age 5, of McLean, with a time of 40:47. The oldest has been Hedy Marque, age 82, of Alexandria, Va., with a time of 30:36.

Registration is available online at www.runwalklive.com and in-person at the three area Metro Run & Walk stores, Falls Church (7516 Leesburg Pike, 703-790-FEET), Springfield,Va., (6119 Backlick Road, 703-913-0301) and Rockville, Md.,(1776 East Jefferson St., 301-984-2900).

Entry fee is $20.00 through May 11, 2002 and $30 on race day. Packet pick-up will be at Falls Church store (one mile east of Tysons) on Friday, May 10th (4pm- 8pm) and Saturday, May 11th (10 am - 4 pm).

The Metro Run & Walk 5K for Women is sponsored by Nike and Metro Run & Walk with additional sponsors Tysons Galleria and Commonwealth Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation.