By DCist Contributor Mikka Macdonald
This month, the races in the District are all about celebration! Fast on the heels of June’s 5Ks and half-marathons, July offers both festivities and some unconventionality: An age-handicapped run where the older you are, the sooner you start? A race where you start at dusk and end in the dark? For the next four weeks, D.C. races are heating up.
Most races, or “fun runs,” are 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) and often aim to raise awareness for social causes and money for their supporting charities. For the majority of participants, a 5K run/walk can take 20 to 80 minutes to complete. Most events take place on trails or roads, and offer technical support like chip timing, water/Gatorade stations, and a cheering finish line section.
Everyone—runners, walkers, joggers, hoppers!—is encouraged to join. You don’t have to be able to run ultramarathons or be in shape, you just have to be willing to join in a community event and have fun.
A friendly reminder to watch out for the heat. Temperatures are expected to hit the high 80s and low 90s for the next couple of weeks. Maybe wait a couple minutes after you run for that celebratory race beer?
Runners finish the Crystal City Twilighter at night. (Photo by Swim Bike Run Photo, courtesy of Pacers Running)
Celebrate Your Age: DCRRC Age-Handicapped Four-Miler
Start off your Fourth of July festivities by running a race where the older you are, the sooner you start! While the country turns 241, the DC Road Runners Club is hosting a four-mile age-handicapped race on the C&O Canal Towpath.
How does this even work? There will be 20 staggered start times that corresponding to a list of descending age groups: The oldest runners get to start in the first wave, and the youngest have to wait their turn for the last wave.
What does this mean? At this event, the fastest runner doesn’t necessarily win, and the slowest runner doesn’t necessarily finish last. Staggering the waves offers a bit of an equalizer. The results are unpredictable, and anything could happen!
Plus, there will be prizes. You can expect pies (in patriotic colors!) for top finishers, and participants are also urged to bring random prizes for the race’s prize pool.
Due to its popularity, this race is predicted to sell out and there will be no same day registration. So get your game face ready, and register soon!
Tuesday, July 4th; $10, or free for DCRRC members; learn more here.
Celebrate Service Members: Firecracker for the Troops 5K
Another option for the morning of the Fourth: knock out a fast 5K, and show support for local military members and their families. The USO (United Service Organizations) of Metropolitan Washington is holding its 8th annual Firecracker for the Troops 5K at Reston Town Center.
Net proceeds of the 5K will directly benefit the USO of Metropolitan Washington, which, per its mission statement, “provides programs and services for active duty troops and their families at area military hospitals; through its Mobile USO program; at five USO Centers, four USO airport lounges and through Operation USO Care Package.”
There will be live music, there will be food, and there will be cash prizes. Top three overall male and female finishers ($300, $200, $100) and top male and female master runners ($100). There will also be awards for the top three finishers in each age group.
Even if you don’t come in towards the top, there are still tons of perks: expect free high-resolution race photos, and all pre-registered runners get a free t-shirt.
Get out your red, white, and blue face paint, and get ready to go!
Tuesday July 4th; $20-40; learn more here.
Runners take off during last year’s track championships. (Photo courtesy of DC Road Runners Club)
Celebrate the Mile: One Mile and 3K Track Championships
Let’s get back on track. In contrast the more frequent road races, the DCRRC is putting on an adult track meet. Heck. Yes.
While a road race is typically run on an urban course at least 5K long, track meets usually take place around 400 meter tracks (the distance around a regulation-sized football field). These 400 meter courses offer a number of key differences: there are heats so that not all participants are running at the same time; the pacing is easier, because you always know exactly how far you have run; the races are more visible to your encouraging bystanders.
If your main priority is to cheer on your friends, track meets were made for you.
For adult D.C. residents, “it’s one of the only chances to race around the track,” said Brian Danza, who has been the race organizer for the last few years. “You also get to run with people who are your speed.” This meet will offer a 1 Mile race and a 3K (1.86 Miles) race. Runners will take off throughout the evening in heats that correspond to their projected finishing time, and the festivities then culminate with the elite mile around 8 p.m.
There will be food trucks lined up outside the track, and … guys … IT’S FREE.
Saturday July 15th; FREE; learn more here.
Celebrate Cool Temps: Crystal City Twilighter
Beat the heat by running at night. This month, Pacer’s Running (a running store with five locations across the region) is returning with its annual Crystal City Twilighter 5K.
Participants start the race at twilight (8:30 p.m.) after the worst heat of the day has passed.
“It should be a fun event!” said Steve Lacio of Pacers Running. “For a lot of people they’re used to running in the morning. The run is run right at twilight, so you’re going to be on the starting when it’s light out, and you’re going to finish it when it’s dark.”
The event follows a fast asphalt course in Crystal City, and finishes at the Crystal City Courtyard Green. The post-race celebrations are “going to be a bit more of a party than in years past,” said Lacio. You can expect a DJ (with playlists curated by the runners), glow sticks, a photo booth, and a beer garden.
And best of all: all race participants get a free post-race brew.
Saturday July 22; $25-35; learn more here.
Celebrate 10 Years of Safe Housing: Dash-for-DASH 5K
This summer the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. DASH is a nonprofit that works with survivors of domestic and sexual assault and their families to offer safe housing in the District. Per its mission statement, DASH “meet[s] survivors where they are and strive to eliminate all barriers that prevent them from accessing safe housing.”
The annual 5K helps to ensure that the organization can continue to offer their programming. “Proceeds from Dash-for-DASH will help to provide funding for Cornerstone,” said DASH’s Development and Volunteer Coordinator, Marla Coyoy. Cornerstone is one of DASH’s residency centers, and provides safe shelter while residents work with caseworkers to find safe and independent housing.
The race itself is flat, fast, and USATF Certified (USA Track & Field is the national governing body for most running-based sports). The course starts at the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Northeast D.C., and folks can either participate in the 5K or the 1K Fun Run and Walk.
“Clif bar is a sponsor, and we’ll have granola bars and bananas. Starbucks is also going to be donating coffee,” said Coyoy. “We have a lot of support from people in the community, it really is a community event!”
Want to help out, but not down to run/walk? DASH welcomes volunteers who want to help set up, help out during the race, or clean up after.
Saturday July 29; $30-40; learn more here.
