Capital Running Company
Masters Championship 10K
The tradition continues, in celebration of the 23rd Annual Georgetown Classic 10K. On Sunday, October 6, 2002, at 9:30 am, there will be some significant changes to this traditional Washington, DC fall race that will raise the level of competition and excitement. This year Capital Running Company has added a Masters Championship and the call is out to all masters division runners (age 40 and above) to register for what will be a very competitive event. Come and race with the best and leave the rest! The masters (male and female) will be chasing after $3,000 in prize money. Yes, prize money! The breakout is $500-$400-$300-$200-$100.

Last year John Tuttle of Douglasville, Georgia, set a new event record with his time of 31:29, finishing fourth overall. The year prior, Jim Hage of Lanham, MD, won the masters division with 32:37 (ninth overall). Chuck Moeser of Sterling, Va., has been a four-time masters division winner and won in 1999 with 33:09 (seventh overall).

Patti Shull of Ashburn, VA, set the women's record in the masters division in 2000 with her time of 36:00 (third overall). Last year, Debi Bernardes of King George, VA, was the first masters division finisher and fourteenth overall with a time of 39:11.

In keeping up with the times, the age group awards structure is being changed to include 75-79 and 80 and over divisions. Our running community is changing and we believe that all ages deserve to be recognized and rewarded because the older runners have helped keep this event as well as our other events healthy.

On that note, the charity beneficiary for this year's race will be the Healthy D.C. Foundation, Inc. This nonprofit organization has a mission to enhance the quality of and expand access to health care for all of the residents of the District of Columbia, regardless of ability to pay and with a special commitment to vulnerable populations.

The Healthy D.C. Foundation will offer free health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and podiatry information during on-site registration and packet pick-up on Saturday and Sunday.

The open runners haven't been slighted in this race. The top ten men and women will be running after the traditional $2,500 in gift certificates to Georgetown Park Mall, with $500 for first, $250 for second, $150 for third, and $50 for fourth through tenth places. The top three age group winners in five-year age groups will receive other merchandise awards.

Random prizes include many gift certificates from Fleet Feet of Adams Morgan and area retailers and restaurants.

In the open division, the men's record was set in 1995 by John Trautmann of Arlington in 29:29. The women's record was set last year by Elena Paramonova of Russia in 33:53. In the entire history of the race, there have been only four times under thirty minutes by the men. The male winner last year was Julius Nderitu of Kenya in 29:54.

This race has a lot of history. It was rocked in 1983 as 13-year- old Annie Hoefler of Silver Spring, MD, won the event in 35:49. And this was done on the old, hilly course.

The hills are gone now, thanks to the residents of Georgetown, and the course will be the same as last year. From the start on M Street just west of Wisconsin Avenue, the course proceeds east, running from Georgetown to downtown and back again. Details can be found on the race website. Go to www.runwashington.com and click on "Featured Races" in the left-hand navigation bar.

The registration fee is $20 if you register online and $22 for mail-in registrations through September 15th. It's fast and easy. Register now because on September 16th the fee goes up to $23 online and $25 for mail in. If you are a ChampionChip owner you can deduct $2 from the fee. Early registration allows you to avoid the race day sign-up crowd.

A new sponsor this year is the Metro Connection bus that runs to Georgetown from various Metro stations around town. The Metro Connection is free to runners wearing their bib numbers on Sunday. So, leave your car at home and take Metro to the Dupont Circle, Roslyn, or Foggy Bottom Metro Station and hop aboard the free Metro Connection bus to Georgetown.

Our volunteers continue to be an integral part of this event and there is information at the web site or call (301) 871-0400 and leave your name and phone number. You will receive a race t- shirt and can join in the post race refreshments. If you are not running, get a group of your family and friends together and come out to support the runners.

Masters, this one is for you and you will not be disappointed. We hope to see all of you, both open and masters division runners, at the starting line October 6!

Visit the race web site to review additional race details. The race hot line number is (301) 871-0400.