Savannah to host inaugural Every Woman's Marathon on Saturday, expected to draw 7,000 runners

Credit: Every Woman's Marathon

Thousands of runners and visitors are expected to descend on Savannah this weekend for the inaugural Every Woman's Marathon on Saturday, billed as the only U.S. marathon designed by and for women.

A sold-out field of about 7,000 female runners have registered for the race, which will start in the heart of downtown outside City Hall, weave through 15 neighborhoods as far south as Savannah State University, and end on the east side of downtown near the Trustees' Garden event venue, where the finish festival will be held.

In designing the event, organizers consulted an advisory team of experienced female runners including Kathrine Switzer, who became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967 — registering under her initials to conceal her gender — during which the male race manager tried and failed to forcefully remove her from the race.

Road closures along the 26.2-mile route will begin early Saturday morning ahead of the 7 a.m. race start time and reopen to traffic no later than 3 p.m.

According to the city, operational costs will be fully paid for by race organizers from the Milk Processor Education Program, a dairy industry trade group based in Washington, D.C.

The event will mark Savannah's first marathon since 2021, when the city ended its partnership with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, following complaints of dayslong traffic disruptions and downtown congestion.

“We were looking for a marathon that was a better fit for our community, and a marathon that would have more of a global impact,” said Savannah Office of Special Events, Film and Tourism Susan Broker. “We believe we found that in Every Woman's Marathon.”

The event is part of an effort by organizers to improve gender parity in marathons, which have historically seen men make up the majority of the field after decades of sexual discrimination. For example, even after Switzer's trailblazing run in 1967, it would take another five years before Boston Marathon organizers allowed women to register.

Just under half of the participants in Every Woman's Marathon will be first-time marathon runners, as organizers encouraged runners of all experience levels to register, offering them free 16-week training guides for beginner and advanced athletes, as well as a postpartum plan tailored to women who recently gave birth.

“We're really excited for this to be truly an ‘every woman's marathon,'” said race director Malain McCormick, who added that about 97% of participants will be visiting from outside of Savannah. “We are going to enjoy your city and everything it has to offer.”