The Washington metropolitan area's running community is built upon tradition and the ability to adapt to the dynamics of the sport of running. For the past 20 years, the racing season in Washington, DC has been opened by the St. Patrick's Day race.

The 21st edition of this classic event will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 9:00 am. The race starts and finishes on Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, NW.

A new 8K course is being developed to give runners more room to run and to eliminate most of the 180-degree turns. The race is already fast, and race organizers expect to see some new event records this year. Register online now. The entry fee is $30, and increases to $35 on race day. On-site registration and packet pick-up will be held at the Old Post Office Pavilion, located on Pennsylvania Avenue at 12th Street, on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13, from 11 am to 3 pm both days. On race day, registration and packet pick-up will be held in a tent on Pennsylvania Avenue next to Freedom Plaza.

The race features a flat course, fast competition, a kids fun run, bagpipers on the course, runners in costume, and a good time for all!

After the race, the festivities take place at Freedom Plaza (Pennsylvania Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, NW), and include an exhibition of Irish dancing by the O'Neill-James School of Irish Dancing, and the awards ceremony. The race features Capital Running Company's signature awards structure: ten deep overall and three deep in five-year age groups from 19 & under to 80 & above. In addition to prizes for the fastest runners, many random prizes will be awarded, including six Garmin Forerunners, gift certificates to local running stores such as Fleet Feet of Adams Morgan, restaurants, and Irish pubs. The grand random prize is a four-day cruise for two!

A Little History
On March 13, 1988, the first St. Patrick's Day race was hosted by the Government of the District of Columbia, Challenge International, Hero, Inc., and Colonial Running Company (now Capital Running Company). The tag line was "Help Shake Off Old Man Winter," but the warm weather brought out more runners than the organizers expected. Instead of 700 runners, 1,112 registered and 983 finished (709 males and 274 females). No matter how many years an event is run there will only be two first year winners: Scott Celley of Washington, DC led for the men (32:19) and Andrea Volpe of Springfield, VA was the women's winner (36:32). The top male in the masters division was Paul Zink of Reston, VA in 35:20 and for the women it was Chris Stockdale of Alexandria, VA in 44:12.

The future of the race was forged from its history. The standout names of the St. Patrick's Day race include Edmund Burke of Burtonsville, MD, the only three-time consecutive winner ('97-30:52, '98-31:06, '98-30:50). The Irishman was on target for a fourth win in 1999 until he met up with the Frenchman, Philippe Rolly from Lyon (now living in Arlington, VA), as Rolly posted a new record with 30:27. Rolly won again in 2001 (30:51) and 2004 (30:48). In photo left, Rolly ran 25:46 for 7th place in the '08 race.

The top females were Jennifer Stearns of Stafford, VA, the winner in 1997 (36:17) and 1998 (36:49). Naoko Ishibe of Washington, DC, won in 1999 (36:05) and 2000 (36:44). Casey Smith of Arlington, VA, won in 2002 (35:57) and 2003 (35:42).

The event record for the 10K was set in 2004 by Heather Hanscom of Annandale, VA, with a 34:12, the only female who ran under 35 minutes.

The leading male in the masters division for the 10K was the three-time consecutive winner and record holder, Jim Hage of Kensington, MD ('01-32:19 record, '02-32:48, '03-33:13).

The leading female master was Patti Shull of Ashburn, VA, record holder and four-time winner ('99-37:12 (record), '00- 37:49, '04-38:58, and '05-38:40).

The records for the 8K:

Open
2006 Gurmessa Kumssa, 27, 23:36, Ethiopia
2006 Mary Kate Bailey, 31, 27:50, Arlington, VA

Masters
2008 Mark Stickley, 48, 26:51, Winchester, VA
2006 Alisa Harvey, 40, 29:11, Manassas, VA

"I felt bad because I was behind all of the way and I could have run faster. He (Michael Wardian) did not run smart and he would not let me lead. I tried to pass him several times to take the lead. This was my first good race in three years since leaving and I miss Washington, this was a great race," stated Philippe Rolly after winning in 2004 (30:48).

"I wanted to run in the lower 34 range, ideally I would have liked to break 34 minutes. I was pleased and I raced as well as I could. My legs were a little weary from all of the mileage and training, so I was happy I ran as hard and fast as I did," said Heather Hanscom after setting the record in 2004.

The race organizers were not able to secure the permit for the racecourse of the 10K and on March 12, 2006 the distance was changed to an 8K. The finisher totals increased over the 10K to 4,738 (53%, 2,489, were females).

The inaugural 8K was won by Gurmessa Kumssa of Ethiopia after opening with a 4:50 mile followed by a 4:45 mile split. Kumssa was able to drop prior 10K winner Philippe Rolly and Chris Banks.

"I was impressed with the level of competition at St. Patrick's Day 8K. It was good to see groups of women competing from start to finish. I was extra impressed with the sight of local U.S. women grouped together - that bodes well for the future of America running! My game plan was to go out and race as hard as I could, and I did," said masters record holder (29:11) Alisa Harvey of Manassas, VA.

"It was a decent way to start the spring season. I was very thankful for the competition; it really helped me push when I wasn't feeling so great. Mary Kate Bailey, Vanessa Hunter, and Casey Smith all ran tremendous races, and we all did a little bit of work to help keep the pace going. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and I always seem to think of a place in the race when I should have given a little extra, but all in all, it went well. I lost a little focus in the last mile but I think that is still part of me regaining my competitive mind after a long layoff from racing. I was 30 seconds off my PR," stated runner-up (27:53) Christina Wells of Woodbridge, VA.

Full details about the event can be found on the race Web site.