It is time to step out of your comfort zone and surprise your competition and do what is right and not what is easy: take your racing to the next level. On Sunday, April 22, 2007 runners will be taking over the George Washington Memorial Parkway from historic Mount Vernon into Old Town Alexandria (Oronoco Park) for the 23rd George Washington Parkway Classic 10 Miler. The 9th George Washington Parkway Classic 5K will start from Belle Haven Park and finish at the same location. The two events will start at 8:00 a.m.

The USATF certified race course is scenic with gently rolling hills for the first five mile of the 10-miler set parallel to the Potomac River.

This is the only annual opportunity to run along the Parkway and to enjoy the scenery with your family, friends, and co-workers. You run 5Ks and 10Ks every weekend and you have those perfected so it is time to take your running to another level.

The race beneficiary is the Olympic Chapter (Alexandria) of the Boys & Girls Club.

In person registration runs through April 21, 2007 at Pacers Running Store, 1301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 (703-836-1463).

10 Miler - $40.00 - $30.00 Active Duty Military
5K - $25.00 (no military discounts)
No Race Day Registration

New Balance technical race t-shirts to all registrants.

Free bus transportation from 700 North Fairfax Street (near finish line). There is no parking at Mount Vernon. The last bus will depart at 7:15 a.m. There will no transportation provided back to the start line from the finish.

Volunteers are welcome and may contact Pat or Kristen Wyckoff. All volunteers receive a commemorative t-shirt.

Cash Awards (Total $5,750)
10 Miler (M/F) $500-300-200
Masters: $200-150-100
Wheelchair: $75
New Record Bonus (M/F) Open Only $400
Male: 48:54 Jynocel Basweti 2006
Female: 56:24 Mary Kate Bailey 2006

5K (M/F) $150-125-100
Master: $100
Wheel chair: $25

Merchandise awards:
19 & Under
20-29
30-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85 & over

The General Douglas MacArthur Cup (10-miler only) will again be sponsored by BAE Systems. The top active duty military team will receive a $1,000 donation to that service's relief organization. The top five active duty members will score (minimum one female) from each service (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy).

The George Washington Parkway Classic was first held as a 15K on May 19, 1985. The inaugural year winners were Bruce Coldsmith of Alexandria, VA (46:43) and Martha Orem of Annandale, VA (57:41) an All-American at Gettysburg College. In 1998, Martha Orem Merz returned to win with 56:26. In 2005, Merz established the master's record in the 10-mile at 1:01:29.

Event Records

The event records for the 15K:
        Open
	Leonid Shvetsov	        27	44:31	Russia			1996
	Jane Welzel 		34	52:01	Lee, NH		1989
	Masters
	Mark Donahue	        41	46:24	Newport News, VA	2000
	Rose Malloy		43	55:55	Annapolis, MD	1992

The inaugural 10-miler was run on April 21, 2002.
The change in the course was due to the construction of the replacement 
Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The finish line was at Jones Point Park.
The event records for the 10-Miler:
        Open
	Jynocel Basweti	        19	48:54	Kenya			2006
	Mark Kate Bailey	31	56:24	Arlington, VA		2006
	Masters
	Albert Okemwa	        40	50:39	Kenya			2006	
	Martha Merz		42	1:01:29 Mystic, CT		2005
The 5K event was started on April 18, 1999. 
The event records are:
        Open
	Philippe Rolly		27	15:44	(France) Arlington, VA 2000
	Heather Hanscom	        24	17:23	Alexandria, VA	2002
	Masters
	John Tuttle		41	14:49	Douglasville, GA	2000
	Maria Spinnler	        40	19:08	Hagerstown, MD	2002

2006 Winners:

5K- Open
	Chris Banks	   28	15:32	Alexandria, VA
	Ray Pugsley	   37	15:37	Ashburn, VA
	Scott Anderson	   32	15:56	Washington, DC
	Jackie Gruendel	   31	18:03	Burke, VA	(4-time consecutive winner)	
	Jill Laurendeau	   25	18:18	Arlington, VA
	Maria Spinnler	   44	19:08	Hagerstown, MD
5K- Master
	Jim Wadsworth	   49	18:04	Washington, DC
	Mile Fitzgerald	   51	18:05	Hagerstown, MD
	Alan Thatcher	   42	18:08	Manassas Park, VA
	Maria Spinnler	   44	19:08	Hagerstown, MD (4-time winner)
	Win Persina	   46	19:44	Washington, DC
	Sushila Nanda	   44	21:35	Arlington, VA
10-Miler- Open
	Jynocel Basweti	   19	48:54	Kenya
	Demesse Girma	   23	50:20	Ethiopia
	Albert Okemwa	   40	50:39	Kenya
	Mary Kate Bailey   31	56:24	Arlington, VA
	Susan Graham-Gray  37	59:38	Greencastle, PA
	Erin Moore	   30	1:05:34 Woodbridge, VA
10-Miler - Master
	Albert Okemwa	   40	50:39	Kenya
	Chris Chattin	   42	55:30	Columbia, MD
	Christopher Hamley 41	56:16	Silver Spring, MD
	Rebecca Nathan	   40	1:05:36 Arlington, VA
	Linda Foley	   44	1:07:43 Oak Hill, VA
	Sandra Adams	   56	1:08:38  Winchester, VA

On-line registration and full race details are available at: www.gwparkwayclassic.com

The George Washington Parkway Classic is presented by BAE Systems along with New Balance, Pacers Running Stores, Signs By Tomorrow, Keany Produce, and Blue Ridge Outdoors. The supporters include Runner's World magazine, DCACCESS, and Potomac Runners.