Monday, November 15, 2021

After much deliberation, we have decided to permanently retire the Lexington Medical Center Heart and Sole Women’s Five Miler.

A number of factors influenced our decision, primarily the closure of Finlay Park. As you know, the event has always been held in downtown Columbia with a large, outdoor wellness expo in the park. With Finlay Park closed for construction for the next several years and the numerous challenges created by Covid-19, we felt that now was best to retire the event.

We are very grateful to you and the thousands of women and volunteers who have supported the Heart and Sole Women’s Five Miler since its inception in 2002. We are also appreciative of the event’s long-time sponsors: Lexington Medical Center, WIS Television and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. And we are most proud of our efforts to create greater awareness of heart disease in women and to encourage healthy lifestyles. We believe this event made an important contribution to the health of women in our community.

The Carolina Marathon Association’s board of directors plans to explore the possibility of creating a new signature event that aligns with the organization’s mission of promoting health and fitness. The non-profit organization will continue to conduct the Governor’s Cup Road Race, which has been held annually in Columbia since 1973. Thank you for allowing me to serve as the race director for the Heart and Sole Women’s Five Miler for nearly 20 years. It has been a true privilege, and I owe everything to my fabulous and faithful race committee who poured their hearts into making the event so special.

Thanks for the memories, and keep those hearts healthy!

Jeanna Moffett
Race Director
Lexington Medical Center Heart and Sole Women’s Five Miler