Lexington Medical Center Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler
Columbia, SC
- 5 Miler, 3.5 Miler
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Lexington Medical Center Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler will take place at Gills Creek Memorial Park in Forest Acres, SC. Mark your calendars for this event that continues to celebrate and inspire women! The event starts on North Tremholm Road near the entrance to Gills Creek Memorial Park … MORE
Local Historical Weather (May 15):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 79 | 87 | 85 | 83 | 85 |
| L (°F) | 48 | 66 | 64 | 70 | 63 |
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Inclusive Women's Race in Forest Acres
This is one of the few races in Columbia to return from the COVID cancellations and I'm really pleased that it's back. Columbia had a TON of great races that … MORE
This is one of the few races in Columbia to return from the COVID cancellations and I’m really pleased that it’s back. Columbia had a TON of great races that fell off due to covid and never came back (or ran one time post covid and then dropped off), so an inclusive women’s race with major sponsors from LMC and WIS is awesome.
I’ve done this race twice now – 2025 and 2026. 2025 was well run with a few hiccups that were ironed out in 2026, so I think this is a solid race that’s worth the trip to Columbia or worth making your first race.
Packet Pickup – they offer it two days in advance at the Fleet Feet across from Trader Joes. Parking is tight in that lot, so heads up. In your packet you get a shirt, bib, a little gift (a lens cloth with the race logo and a magnetic to-do list from LMC were in the 2026 packet). They also offer day of packet pickup.
Pre-Race: Lots of portajohns. I used the Sbux bathroom across the street because I wanted to wash my hands since there was going to be food at the finish line. There are several parking lots around the race site that are open for parking including the LMC parking lot, but I think most people parked across the street in the Publix parking lot and called it good. Be careful crossing both before and after the race – it’s a bit of a blind curve and you’re most likely jaywalking across Forest Drive.
The race does a few pre-race events a half hour before the race starts. Since it’s a smaller race, I’m usually using the bathroom/warming up and make my way to the start line a couple minutes before, so I tend to miss those moments. Last year they released doves.
Last year they didn’t do starting corrals, this year they had flags with pace on them (6,7,8,9,10 min, etc) as well as pacers. Last year I ran with the 9 minute pacer who hit sub 8:30s for the first 3 miles. I didn’t run with a pacer this year, so IDK if they figured it out or not — so, be aware if you decide to jump in with a pacer. Respectfully, nobody at this race understood the pace flags, so there were walkers in the 7 minute mile line, etc. So, if you’re a speed demon or know you’re going to race (as opposed to just being out there for the vibes), just get up toward the front. I had to run around walkers at the start and I was doing an 8:20 pace for the first couple miles. The race can only do so much, every big or small race I’ve ever done has people who line themselves up incorrectly and then act surprised when people sprint around them.
The race itself is good. It’s the same course Strictly Running uses for most of their races, so it’s familiar if you’ve done their events. Some hills, but just enough to keep things interesting for your legs. I’d also been aggressively hill training for the last year to prepare for Flying Pig weekend and Hatfield and McCoy, so my definition of little hills are a little skewed at this point – in the past I’ve definitely been like “that’s a hilly course!”.
This race really shines that it’s so inclusive for all abilities- both years I’ve finished in 41st place (LOL), this year it was out of 417 women in the 5 miler. There’s also an untimed 3.5 miler that also gets a finishers medal. I finished in around 43 minutes this year, which means there were still 300+ women in the five miler and hundreds in the 3.5 miler still on the course when I crossed the finish line. Lots of women walk, jog, walk/run, or gently run this race, which is great – it’s a nice step between a 5K and 10K and a supportive space. The finish line announcer is as enthusiastic for the first finishers as the last, there are roses and medals for all, and free race pics from the finish line.
My only complaint is I wish the race shirts weren’t only in women’s cut – that’s just a personal preference, they fit on my body weird so I never get to wear them. I think more women would wear them/select if they had a unisex option as well. I never see them at races during the year or when I’m out and about, which is a shame bc they’re beautiful shirts, but they are *tight*. My other complaint (lol) is they run this at the same time/day as the zoo run. Which is frustrating bc the zoo run always sells out, so the running community is split between two popular events. I wish the women’s race would shift back a smidge to March or April so they could get more USC students and, honestly, I think even more women would come out if they weren’t in the midst of end of school chaos. This year was cool, but last year was warm and humid and that’s a hard condition to race in if you aren’t used to it.
So, all in all, a good race and way to spend a couple hours of a Saturday morning. If you’re looking for a first race to dip your toes in, this is a great option.