The Delightful® Run for Women (formerly Freihofer's Run for Women) is an annual five-kilometer

road running Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road. This differs from track and field on a regular track and cross country running over natural terrain. These events are usually classified as long-distance ru ...

competition for women that is usually held in late May or early June in

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldes ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. First held in 1979, the race has grown into a sizable event that holds IAAF Silver Label Road Race status and had 3,927 participants at the 2010 edition.Pardham, Ed (2010-06-06)
Chebet beats the heat to set course record in Albany 5K
IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-01-18. The 2011 edition garnered 5,000 entries, four-fifths of whom were distance runners. A 10-kilometer race was held concurrently with the 5K race from its inaugural edition, with the longer race serving as the elite race until 1989. The 5K race has been the elite race since 1989 while the 10K was removed from the annual race's events in 1991. The race has been the venue for the national road championships on many occasions: acting as the 10K championships from 1979 to 1988, and then serving as the 5K nationals in 1989, 1990 and 1993 to 2004. Five women have participated in the Run for Women every year since it began, including Denise Herman, a local runner who won the 5k in 1984 and again in 1987. Lynn Jennings is the race's most successful runner, having won the 10K race twice and the 5K race a further six times over the period between 1987 and 1998. Marla Runyan, who is legally blind due to

Stargardt disease Stargardt disease is the most common inherited single-gene retinal disease. In terms of the first description of the disease, it follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, which has been later linked to bi-allelic ABCA4 gene variants ...

, won three consecutive national titles at the Freihofer's Run for Women from 2002 to 2004. In 2005, the race was won in record time by

Asmae Leghzaoui Asmae Leghzaoui (; born August 30, 1976) is a Moroccan middle-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian for Morocco. Biography In 1999, Leghzaoui made a running breakthrough by improving her 3000 metres personal best by a minute and breakin ...

, though several world class athletes boycotted the event due to Leghzaoui's history of using illegal substances. Her course record was broken by Emily Chebet who ran a time of 15:12 to win the 2010 race. Betty Jo Geiger remains the record holder for the 10K race with her 1986 winning time of 32:13. For many years the 5K course, certified by

USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is a United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running, and racewalking (known as the sport of athletics outside the US). The USATF was known between 1979 and 1 ...

, began and ended near the

New York State Museum The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York, Albany, New York (state), New York, United States. It is located on Madison Avenue, attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and to ...

on Albany's

Madison Avenue Madison Avenue is a north-south avenue in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, New York, that carries northbound one-way traffic. It runs from Madison Square (at 23rd Street) to meet the southbound Harlem River Drive at 142nd Stree ...

. It headed west entering Washington Park after the first kilometer. The course twisted along the

footpath A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians and not other forms of traffic such as Motor vehicle, motorized vehicles, bicycles and horseback, horses. They ...

s through the park before heading north along Lake Avenue around the half-way point. After heading east along Western and Washington Avenue, the route turned south, looping back onto Madison Avenue, and then headed downhill directly to the finish.5 km running course
Freihofer's Run for Women. Retrieved on 2010-06-06. The course now starts on Washington Avenue, in front of Albany City Hall and in the shadow of the

New York State Capitol The New York State Capitol, the seat of the Government of New York State, New York state government, is located in Albany, New York, Albany, the List of U.S. state capitals, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. The seat ...

. The 5k (and 3K) run up Washington before turning into Washington Park for a scenic loop. The race exits the park back onto Washington for a fast downhill finish. In 2024 the sponsor changed from Freihofer's to Sara Lee® Delightful® Bread. The race continues to offer bread (Sara Lee Delightful) and a box of cookies (Freihofer's) to all participants (including cookies for the Capital Kids 3K and Kids Runs). A popular health and fitness expo is held on the Thursday and Friday before the event at the Armory at Russell Sage College.

Past winners

5K race

Key:

10K race

Statistics

*''Note: Statistics for elite races only''

Winners by country

Multiple winners

References

{{reflist ;List of winners
Freihofer's Run for Women 5 km

Association of Road Racing Statisticians The Association of Road Racing Statisticians is an independent, non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics regarding road running races. The primary purpose of the ARRS is to maintain a valid list of world road record ...

(2010-06-05). Retrieved on 2010-06-06.

External links

Official website
5K runs Sports in Albany, New York Road running competitions in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1979 Women's athletics competitions 1979 establishments in New York (state) Women's sports in New York (state)