Start the Spring Racing Season!
Don't be one of those green with envy on Sunday, March 14, 2004 because you didn't sign up for the 16th St. Patrick Day 10K. The race will be held at 9:30 am; the start and finish lines are on Pennsylvania Ave, NW, between 12th and 13th Streets, near Freedom Plaza. Participants include those running for their health, for fun, and for pure competition. You'll see the O'Neill-James School of Irish Dancing and hear bagpiper Mike Scott.

The race has a standing tradition of signaling the spring racing season. The area's best runners in the open and masters divisions test their fitness levels early in the season. The race is festive and features the noncompetitive 1K Leprechauns Leap. Full race details can be found on the race Web site.

Merchandise awards will be given to the top ten overall male and female finishers, and the top three finishers in five-year age groups up to 80 and above. Awards will be provided in part by Fleet Feet of Adams Morgan. There will be lots of random awards, too, so stick around for the awards ceremony at Freedom Plaza.

This year, on-site registration and packet pick-up will be held at the Marriott at Metro Center, and Fleet Feet Sports will offer a Runner's Expo. Stop by and shop for your favorite shoes and running gear while picking up your bib, t-shirt, ChampionChip, and goodie bag.

Let the 2004 St. Patrick's Day be a memorable race for you: it could be that turn-around race with its fast, flat course, or it could be your first race. Make a commitment for 2004 to target one race a month and track your progress. You can visit a comprehensive race calendar on the Washington Running Report Web site to select your races. You will discover why so many runners have a smile when they run. Bring a friend to make the journey with you. In the next ten years will your name appear in the memorable moments?

There have been many memorable moments in this race's history. For instance, Edmund Burke of Team Pacers/New Balance, is the only person to have three consecutive wins ('96-30:52, '97- 31:06, '98-30:50). Another moment, a teammate from Pacers/New Balance, in 1999 Philippe Rolly set the event record at 30:27; he came back for a second win in '01 with 30:51.

Dave McCormack of Falls Church, VA, was the first multiple-year winner, '91-31:20 and '92-31:37.

Darrell General of Metro Run and Walk, an Olympic Trials qualifier who has made five consecutive Olympic Marathon Trials, was the winner in '00-31:48. In '02-30:55 and '03-31:18, Olympic Trials qualifier Chris Banks of Gotta Run made his mark as one of the four multiple-year winners.

Jim Hage, a prior Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, has the distinction of holding an open record ('94-31:17) and three consecutive masters titles plus the masters event record ('01- 32:19 Record, '02-32:48, '03-33:13). Hage is also a two-time consecutive year winner of the Marine Corps Marathon.

The other multiple-year masters winner is Chuck Moeser of Team Pacers/New Balance ('92-33:45, '96-33:32, '97-32:41).

Until last year, Susanne Augustauskas of Falls Church, VA, was the only female to go under 36 minutes when she won with 35:42 in '89 and set the event record. In '92, Casey Smith won with 35:57; she came back last year and came within a second of a new record. She tied the record with her 35:42.

Donna Moore, Team Brooks, made her mark in the open division in '90-36:47 and returned in '01 to take a masters win with 37:20. Moore is the only female to hold titles in both divisions and is a two-time Marine Corps Marathon winner.

Jennifer Stearns of Team Pacers/New Balance is one of the three female consecutive-year winners, '97-36:17, '98-36:49. The next two years the race was dominated by another Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Naoko Ishibe of Team Clif Bar, '99-36:05, '00- 36:44.

Linda Wack of Germantown, MD, was the first multiple year winner, '97-39:06 and '98-38:36, which was the record. She was the first masters division female to go under 39 minutes.

Patti Shull of Ashburn, VA, now with Potomac River Running, established the masters record in '99 with 37:12 and came back the following year to win with 37:49.

Race Records

Open
Philippe Rolly '99, 30:27
Susanne Augustauskas '89, 35:42
Casey Smith '03, 35:42

Masters
Jim Hage '01, 32:19
Patti Shull '99, 37:12

Some Quotes From Past Winners and Participants

Regan, whose brisk pace scarcely flagged as he ascended the course's one steep incline, Capitol Hill, crossed the finish with a time of 30:39.48. After the race, Regan recalled his breakaway from the rest of the runners, including Dave McCormack of Falls Church, Va., one of his strongest competitors. Once McCormack began to drop back, Regan noted, "I thought he must have done something to his knee, injured himself or overdone it." (1990).

"The benefit of the run is not the finish but the preparation for it and the lifting of the spirit. It's good to see people finish who one year ago could not even run around the block and you hear them say, 'I feel better when I do this,'" stated Jeff Galloway (1998).

"I had planned to make my move at mile 4. I was worried about the runner behind me, I could hear him coughing and I didn't look back. In the last mile I had about a 100 yard lead and I started to lift my knees," said winner Burke. "I hate to sound selfish but winning it three times I may want to give someone else a try next year. I'm glad they have this great race and they do a nice job and I hope they continue it," added Burke (1998).

"I felt comfortable through a couple of miles. I knew that I could hit the splits that I wanted; when it's windy it stinks. I wanted to get off the line in 5:20 to 5:25. You don't make up the time when you have it at your back," stated winner Naoko Ishibe (2000).

"I didn't expect to do this well. I like to go out easy and run the second half how I feel. I wasn't concerned about Kristin Barry; I came here to have fun. The competition was good today. At mile five I took the lead. I had to remember what it is like to push at the end of the race, something I haven't done for a while," stated winner Casey Smith (2002).

"My long term goal is the Olympic Trials. I felt okay with Glen Mays on me, he kept it comfortable. Between miles three and four Mays gained a little and I peeked over my shoulder and I had him by 20 meters. I surged a little to a 5:11 split and down to 5:03 at mile five," stated winner Chris Banks (photo above, winning the 2003 race).

Come on! Let's get GREEN, the race has history and tradition and you can be a part of it by visiting the race Web site and signing up today.

Register online now.

See the Photo Gallery from the 2003 race.

Get more details.