Twelve event records were set.

The Jingle All the Way 10K is like a big office party without the office. With all of your best friends and none of your bosses. And with Gatorade instead of spiked punch. And jingle bells instead of blinking bow ties. I could go on like this . . . .

And with iPods (shhh!) instead of Bing Crosby. And instead of overweight older guys wearing Santa hats leering at young women, this party features overweight older guys wearing Santa hats leering at young women in tights.

The race, the fourth annual, continues to grow and hosted its biggest crowd ever, with 3,488 finishers, many attired in the aforementioned hats, reindeer antlers, and elf costumes-- runners received a pair of bells to attach to their shoes, so that the throng racing across an otherwise quiet Hains Point sounded like a miles-long sleigh ride.

John Butler, a native of Mechanicsville, PA, broke away from local favorite Bert Rodriguez in the final mile to win in an event record 31 minutes 4 seconds. Rodriguez, ever improving, finished in a personal-best 31:13. [Also faster than the former event record].

"He was with me every step of the way," Rodriguez said. "I threw a bunch of surges at him in the second half, everything I had, but he kept coming. He deserves it."

Butler, who has a mile best of 4:02 and a 5,000-meter PR of 14:09, is a graduate of La Salle University, where he ran under the tutelage of former University of Maryland coach Charles Torpey. Butler is now an assistant at Syracuse to head coach and former area racing standout Chris Fox.

On his winter break, Butler took the opportunity to visit a friend in Arlington who recently lost a friend in a bike accident. Butler said the tragedy has served as a wakeup call. "You've got to find time to keep people that matter close to you," he said. "You just don't know what's going to happen."

Susannah Kvasnicka (36), from Great Falls, VA, competed for only the second time since back surgery in June and showed she has recovered nicely, winning in 36:14. Caroline White (23), from College Park, MD finished second in 36:31.

Kvasnicka qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon in April but, with her back ailing and a limited range of motion, dropped out at nine miles. Repair of a herniated disc and a resumption of workouts with American University coach Matt Centrowitz has her looking toward the future.

"I think I'm going to be a lot better once I get back into the swing of things," Kvasnicka said. "Now I just need to get in shape." She is already running 70 miles per week.

[Last year's runner-up Kvasnicka reset her sub masters record and has the second fastest time in the event's four year history]

Andres Wright (42) ran 33:32 to place first among masters men (on his birthday!), beating Mark Stickley (46), from Winchester, VA, who has dominated the division lately. Samantha Kirby (40), from Arlington, was the top women's master in 39:45.

Mostly, though, the morning was a celebration of running in the winter season--temperatures near freezing at the start reinforced that notion. As did the Boom Mike Operators (don't ask), a team of 11 giddy and mostly first-time road racers who happily posed for pictures at the finish. (More than 500 novices registered for the event, and women outnumbered men overall by more than 1,000.)

"We're supporting Lauren Black--it's her birthday!" said Janet Costigan (24). "She's running a marathon, but this is as far as we go."

Perhaps Jeanette Dumbrell (39), from Falls Church, best epitomized the Jingle All the Way spirit. A clothing merchandiser for Potomac River Running, Dumbrell ran in a pink tutu and matching top, and quickly, too, no doubt to the consternation of the thousands of runners who could not match her time of 39:49.

"Why not?" Dumbrell said of her sartorial splendor, while sharing hugs on her new PR. "I'll be too old to wear this next year. And it helps take the pressure off."

Women's Awards

FEMALE 
    1 Susannah Kvasnicka   36 F GREAT FALLS VA        36:14 
    2 Caroline White       23 F COLLEGE PARK MD       36:31 
    3 Erin Swain           26 F ARLINGTON VA          36:35 
    4 Hilary Cairns        38 F WASHINGTON DC         37:41 
    5 Laura O'Hara         28 F WASHINGTON DC         37:45 
    6 Lindsey Jerdonek     24 F SILVER SPRING MD      37:56 
    7 Mary Davison         36 F BRISTOW VA            38:13 
    8 Dionis Gauvin        34 F WASHINGTON DC         39:24 
    9 Samantha Kirby       40 F ARLINGTON VA          39:45 
   10 Jeanette Dumbrell    39 F FALLS CHURCH VA       39:49 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 19  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Megan Dunn           19 F WASHINGTON DC         44:13 43:23  6:59 
    2 Marissa Fox          19 F PORT WASHINGTON NY    48:16 46:48  7:32 
    3 Melissa Bell         19 F SAN JUAN CAPISTRAN CA 48:40 48:15  7:46 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 D Melani Hom         23 F WASHINGTON DC         40:24 40:22  6:30 
    2 Lauren Willy         23 F ALEXANDRIA VA         43:37 43:12  6:58 
    3 Allyson Peetz        23 F WASHINGTON DC         43:58 43:43  7:03 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Laura Ramos          29 F N BETHESDA MD         40:05 40:04  6:27 
    2 Jenny Fitzgerald     29 F ALEXANDRIA VA         40:26 40:25  6:31 
    3 Julia Speer          28 F WASHINGTON DC         40:54 40:32  6:32 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Sari Stenholm        30 F COLUMBIA MD           39:53 39:51  6:25 
    2 Kelly Green          32 F WASHINGTON DC         40:23 40:19  6:30 
    3 Krystal Boxeth       31 F WASHINGTON DC         43:00 42:45  6:53 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Christie Yang        37 F FALLS CHURCH VA       43:30 43:24  6:59 
    2 Tammy Lamantia       37 F ARLINGTON VA          43:50 43:27  7:00 
    3 Mijiko Phelps        38 F RESTON VA             44:55 43:59  7:05 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Brooke Curran        40 F ALEXANDRIA VA         43:00 42:54  6:55 
    2 Diana Lazarus        41 F WASHINGTON DC         44:47 43:11  6:57 
    3 Karen Young          40 F BOYDS MD              45:58 45:44  7:22 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Win Persina          48 F WASHINGTON DC         41:42 41:38  6:42 
    2 Patricia Zerfas      46 F KENSINGTON MD         42:16 42:13  6:48 
    3 Teresa Lent          46 F ARLINGTON VA          44:18 44:01  7:05 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Ofelia Perotti       52 F ALEXANDRIA VA         44:06 44:05  7:06 
    2 Carole Roeder        51 F ASHBURN VA            44:52 44:40  7:12 
    3 Merrilee Seidman     54 F ALEXANDRIA VA         48:20 48:20  7:47 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Freyda Greenberg     59 F FALLS CHURCH VA       48:54 48:39  7:50 
    2 Peggy Davis          56 F VIENNA VA             49:35 49:19  7:57 
    3 Marjorie Marque      57 F ALEXANDRIA VA         53:34 51:51  8:21 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Alice Franks         60 F ROCKVILLE MD          47:17 47:07  7:35 
    2 Linda Kearney        62 F OAK HILL VA           49:44 49:30  7:58 
    3 Laurel Clement       60 F HAYMARKET VA          58:02 54:56  8:51 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Robbye Langenfeld    66 F ALEXANDRIA VA         60:33 59:09  9:32 
    2 Sandy Kerby          65 F DUMFRIES VA           86:24 81:01 13:03 
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
    1  4018 Allyson Peetz  23 F Washington DC         43:58 43:43  7:03 

Sixth place Lindsey Jerdonek (24) of Silver Spring, MD is one of six women faster than 38:00, racing in this year's record crowd.

Men's Awards

MALE 
    1 John Butler          24 M SYRACUSE NY           31:04 
    2 Bert Rodriguez       29 M ARLINGTON VA          31:13 
    3 Aaron Church         33 M SOUTH RIDING VA       31:36 
    4 Wilson Komen         30 M WASHINGTON DC         31:42 
    5 Jake Klim            28 M N BETHESDA MD         31:46 
    6 Ray Pugsley          39 M POTOMAC FALLS VA      31:54 
    7 Patrick Reaves       24 M SILVER SPRING MD      32:18 
    8 Justin Fritzius      24 M PURCELLVILLE VA       32:41 
    9 Greg Lane            22 M ARLINGTON VA          33:06 
   10 Christopher Sheaffer 24 M PURCELLVILLE VA       33:18 
MALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Michael Kerrigan     17 M FAIRFAX VA            36:07 36:06  5:49 
    2 Kyle Gutierrez       19 M WOODBRIDGE VA         37:17 37:17  6:00 
    3 Luke Mastalli-Kelly  16 M BETHESDA MD           39:51 39:50  6:25 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Patrick Hughes       22 M WASHINGTON DC         33:48 33:47  5:27 
    2 Jimmy Daly           22 M WASHINGTON DC         34:46 34:46  5:36 
    3 Patrick Murphy       24 M WASHINGTON DC         35:33 35:33  5:44 
MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Billy Askey          25 M ARLINGTON VA          33:25 33:24  5:23 
    2 Allen Carr           25 M WASHINGTON DC         33:55 33:53  5:28 
    3 Chris Sloane         25 M N POTOMAC MD          34:16 34:16  5:31 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 David O'Hara         32 M WASHINGTON DC         33:44 33:43  5:26 
    2 Christopher Bain     31 M ROCKVILLE MD          34:12 34:11  5:30 
    3 Steven Moore         30 M BETHESDA MD           35:18 34:30  5:33 
MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Pekka Stenholm       36 M COLUMBIA MD           34:05 34:04  5:29 
    2 Eric Makovsky        35 M WASHINGTON DC         34:10 34:10  5:30 
    3 Jon Torrance         37 M WASHINGTON DC         36:21 36:20  5:51 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Andres Wright        42 M FREDERICK MD          33:32 33:30  5:24 
    2 Bill Bray            43 M FAIRFAX VA            35:42 35:41  5:45 
    3 Matt Anderson        42 M FAIRFAX VA            38:07 38:06  6:08 
MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Mark Stickley        46 M WINCHESTER VA         34:02 34:01  5:29 
    2 Bryan Sperry         45 M LITTLETON CO          38:53 38:52  6:16 
    3 Don Cline            48 M BRISTOW VA            40:28 40:22  6:30 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Michael Cannon       50 M SPRINGFIELD VA        40:38 40:37  6:33 
    2 Gustavo Olmedo       50 M MCLEAN VA             41:16 41:08  6:38 
    3 Lewisghton Bezerra   50 M SILVER SPRING MD      42:07 42:04  6:47 
MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Richard Adams Jr     57 M HERNDON VA            38:04 38:03  6:08 
    2 Dan Eddy             57 M ALEXANDRIA VA         39:43 39:39  6:23 
    3 Jim Wright           59 M GAITHERSBURG MD       40:38 40:36  6:32 
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Eric Melby           60 M BETHESDA MD           43:50 43:37  7:02 
    2 Geoffrey Vincent     60 M ALEXANDRIA VA         44:22 44:17  7:08 
    3 Dick Conway          61 M SPRINGFIELD VA        46:02 45:57  7:24 
MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Malcolm O'Hagan      68 M CHEVY CHASE MD        44:52 44:45  7:13 
    2 Sonny Barber         67 M FALLS CHURCH VA       45:19 45:11  7:17 
    3 Mike Driskel         68 M WASHINGTON DC         51:04 51:00  8:13 
MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 74  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 Chan Robbins         71 M ARLINGTON VA          47:13 47:10  7:36 
    2 Ken Quincy           71 M VIENNA VA             52:03 51:59  8:22 
    3 Philip Hager         71 M FALLS CHURCH VA       52:28 52:23  8:26 
MALE AGE GROUP:  75 - 79  (NET TIME - NET PACE)
    1 George Yannakakis    77 M SPARKS GLENCOE MD     50:34 50:31  8:08 
    2 Jerry Lewis          75 M RESTON VA             50:52 50:49  8:11 
    3 Edward Green         77 M WASHINGTON DC         64:36 64:28 10:23 
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
    1    53 Joe Devine           21 M Washington DC         36:09 36:09  5:50 

Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty (#22) told the thousands of his fellow racers to run fast because it was cold. He then took his own advice and blasted home with nearly a minute negative split to finish in a fine 38:44.

Full Race Day Results
Race Day Report for 2008
Photo Gallery 2008
Photos by Lea Gallardo
Photos by Robert Jarrin
Event records