Run, Walk, and Roll: Women of the ELCA 5K for Raising up Healthy Women and Girls

Run, Walk, and Roll is a 5K on the Principal River Walk in Des Moines, Iowa. It starts early in the morning and is open to runners, walkers, and participants using wheelchairs or mobility devices. This event is part of the Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering, a four-day conference held every three years for women leaders, participants, and newcomers from across the church. The race raises funds for Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls, a health initiative of Women of the ELCA. Registration is open to all, not just gathering attendees. The course follows Des Moines' downtown riverfront, aligning with the gathering's Iowa Event Center and convention-center location. The wider gathering typically attracts 1,500 to 3,000 attendees for worship, speakers, workshops, service projects, and an exhibit hall. Its program features sessions on storytelling, leadership, body positivity, images of God, and supporting women clergy. This provides the 5K with a clear purpose beyond the finish line; it is a community race connected to a larger event focused on faith, health, and women's leadership.