June 122021
Days to Race248
June 122021
Days to Race248
With the health and safety in mind of all participants, we are still committed to supporting our mission of breast cancer awareness, education, research and prevention. While we may be virtual this year, there is nothing virtual about breast cancer. Thanks to our runners and walkers, and our donors, we will continue our grant awards program in 2020.
A virtual race means running or walking from any location you choose at any time during the event dates from June 20-27. Run or walk on the trail, the treadmill, on a track or wherever you choose (following local and state mandates and distancing guidelines). Your choice, your time, your race. Run in Alaska or have friends and family from anywhere across the US register and join the fun.
Where can I run/walk?
Wherever you choose, but you must follow local and state mandates and distancing guidelines in place at the time of your event and follow all rules of the roads, trails or venues you run/walk in.
While we cannot experience all of the fun of race day together in one place we are bringing much of the event to participants and the community virtually. Look for the schedule of virtual events and challenges throughout the weeks leading up to and during race week. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and check your email for regular newsletter updates. Virtual events will include:
Show us how the Alaska Run for Women inspires you to kick it into high gear for your health.
Download and take PeaRL on all of your adventures – the treadmill, walking your neighborhood, trail running or wherever— give it your best shot. PeaRL is ready to travel and would love to visit all 50 states. Post your photos of PeaRL’s adventures on your Facebook page or Instagram and tag @alaskarunforwomen #akrfw2020, you might win a prize! Winners: Sue Wemyss (Mt. Washington, NH); Darlene Kearney (Point MacKenzie, AK)
Fun fact: PeaRL (Pink Running Lady) was created by Kim Olmsted for our 2007 race design. We loved her so much, she became our business logo! In 2020, Kevin Hall added a mask and created the Where in the World Is PeaRL? game. We’ve seen her all over the country!
It is an honor to have one of Alaska’s premier athletes as our honorary starter. Born and raised in Anchorage, Lori is a proud alumni of Scenic Park Elementary, Wendler Middle School, East High School (1989), and the University of Alaska, Anchorage (Elementary Education). She discovered her love of team sports at an early age, playing competitive soccer from dawn til dusk. It wasn’t until her early 30s, after years of playing on soccer and hockey teams, she learned to swim, embraced track workouts with her friend, Kristi Waythomas, and bought a road bike. She was on her way!
In 2003, she surprised herself and everybody around her when she won her first triathlon. She beat Kikkan Randall by two seconds in the Gold Nugget Triathlon! Her love for triathlons continued to grow as she competed locally and at out-of-state races. She said 2007 was one of her strongest years. She won the Gold Nugget Triathlon; was named Alaska’s Triathlete of the Year; represented Alaska in the Best of the U.S. Triathlon; placed in the top 5 at USAT Nationals in Oregon; and was ranked first in her age group in the Nation for U.S.A. standings. In 2008 she once again won the Gold Nugget, and in 2009 set the Bike for Women course record with a time of 22:42.
Lori and her husband, Garnet, live in Anchorage and have two sons, Ryder, 15, and Colby, 10. When she had Ryder in 2005, she said she wasn’t an Olympian, but she could juggle work, training, and nursing a child at rapid speed.
The natural trajectory of an aging athlete includes slowing down and Lori said she is no exception. She continues to participate in races all over the country, “not to win, but to live.” She does not keep stats or data of her races, but there is one date she won’t forget – September 9, 2019. She was officially diagnosed with breast cancer on that day. She said it was also the day she would meet her new teammates, the Breast Cancer Sisterhood – a group of warriors she never strived to be part of, but has embraced the bond they share.
Click here for a list of prize and award winners: 2020 RFW Prizes