42nd Annual Berna's!

Berna's Great Legs 5K is a women's only race. Women of all abilities (walkers and runners) are welcomed and encouraged to join us on our course in the Belvidere neighborhood of Lowell. It is an evening to celebrate how far women have come in this sport and how far you have come in your running journey.  We are here to cheer each other on!  We are also here to help other women in need step up to create a better life for themselves. All proceeds from Berna's Great Legs 5K are donated to House of Hope in Lowell, MA.

Race Date: July 20, 2023 at 7 PM

Bib Pick-Up + Race Start
Reilly Elementary School
115 Douglas Rd
Lowell, MA  01852

Gold Level Sponsors

Silver Level Sponsors

Beginnings of Berna’s Great Leg Road Race (G.L.R.R.)


By: Dave Camire

Hard to believe that in 1980 the longest distance for women in the Olympics was 1500 meters. At the time, women made up a very small percentage of the running community; it was a male dominated sport.  People in the sport thought this was ridiculous and a call went out to the RRCA’s member clubs to hold women-only races to prove women could run longer distances.  The board of GLRR decided to join the cause by putting on a women’s 5-miler out of Cawley Stadium.  The name Great Legs Road Race was the idea of Margaret Mason, wife of the legendary Will Mason. I know most of you have noticed the initials for the race are GLRR.  

Dennis Conners was very instrumental in getting this race going. Carrie Stieman of Chelmsford volunteered to be the race director and she assembled a women’s crew to manage the race. Like today, the men worked race day so the ladies could run. The effort worked; in 1984 longer distances were added to the Olympics and New England’s own Joan Benoit Samuelson won Olympic Gold in 1984. 

Berna Finley got involved with the race a few years later. You can see her write up of the race in 1990 by clicking here (her article is on page 8).

 

Berna's Great Legs 5K is hosted by:
Greater Lowell Road Runners
1934 Lakeview Ave, Unit #1
Dracut, MA 01826
www.glrr.net