History of Great Legs Road Race
Hard to believe, but in 1980 the longest distance for women in the Olympics was 1500 meters (less than four laps around a track). While still a male-dominated sport, women's participation in running had been growing and and athletes were starting to realize how ridiculous this was. A call went out to the member clubs of RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) to hold women-only races to prove women could run longer distances. The board of Greater Lowell Road Runners decided to join the cause by putting on a women’s 5-miler out of Cawley Stadium starting in 1982. The name "Great Legs Road Race" was the idea of Margaret Mason, a play on the club's initials of GLRR.
Race Director Carrie Steinman at 1st Great Legs Road Race
Carrie Steinman 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. Dennis Conners was also very instrumental in getting this race going. The effort worked; in 1984 longer distances were added to the Olympics and New England’s own Joan Benoit Samuelson won Olympic Gold.
Winner of 1st Great Legs Road Race with her prize, a picture painted by Margaret Mason (on the left). Carrie Steinman is standing behind the trophies.
Volunteers at the first Great Legs Road Race.
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). Below is a photo of Berna's artwork, which she created as the age group awards for the 1999 running of Great Legs. Berna passed away from lung cancer in April 2000. In recognition of her significant contributions to the event, it was renamed after her and we've been proudly carrying her legacy since.
