Photo: The start of the 2004 PACE Race 5K in downtown Washington, DC.

Start your day off with a 5K by registering for the 4th Annual Washington DC Metro PACE Race 5K Run/Walk. The purpose of the race is to raise awareness of prostate cancer and its effect on men in our community. The race will begin at 8:00 am on Saturday, October 21, in West Potomac Park in Washington, DC. The USATF certified course with Championship Chip timing by Capital Running Company takes runners down Ohio Drive under the 14th Street Bridge, past the Tidal Basin and FDR Memorial, and finishes on Ohio Drive near Ericsson Circle. Shuttle service will be provided from Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 13th and 14th Streets beginning at 6:45 am and ending at 7:45 am. The last trip from the race to Freedom Plaza will leave at 10:15 am.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 male and female finishers and the top 3 male and female finishers in 5-year age groups. Drawings for random prizes will be held during the awards ceremony. The ceremony will start at 9:15 am with JP from The Junkies, 106.7 FM WJFK in DC and 105.7 FM WHFS in Baltimore, as the Emcee, assisted by Dr. Jason D. Engel, Center for Robotic Surgery at George Washington University Hospital. Random prizes have been provided by United Bank, Glory Days Grill, Potomac River Running, Safeway, Fleet Feet Bethesda, Great American Restaurants, Total Wine & More, and other local businesses.

Refreshments and entertainment will follow the race. Runners' bags will include sunscreen, SPF chap stick, t-shirt, snacks, athletic and restaurant coupons, and other wonderful items. Race day packet pick-up will begin at 7:00 am, with a bag check on site.

On-line registration is available until October 19 at 4:00 pm.

Register in person and pick up your packet on Friday, October 20, between 4:00 and 7:30 pm at the Potomac River Running Store in Reston Towne Center. There is no race day registration in the Park. The race is being sponsored locally by Northern Virginia Magazine and 106.7 FREE FM.

For additional information e-mail bleugenes@earthlink.net or

see www.runwashington.com/other/PACEraceinfo.html.

See you there!

Learn more about prostate cancer and the national PACE Race 5K series by visiting PACERace.org