The spring racing season begins in March with the 19th St. Patrick's Day 8K! The race will be held Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 9:00 am. The long-standing tradition offers a festive atmosphere for the entire family that will include the 1K noncompetitive Leprechauns Leap just for wee people. Bagpiper Mike Scott will add to the Irish flavor of the event, and members of the O'Neill-James School of Irish Dancing will provide the post-race entertainment.

The start and finish line is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between 12th and 13th Streets, near Freedom Plaza and the Ronald Reagan Building.

The official charitable partner is Special Olympics DC. The organization provides sports training and athletic competition for all children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Visit the race Web site for full details and on-line registration. Avoid the crowds on race weekend and sign up now.

Race day registration and packet pick-up will be at the Old Post Office Pavilion (12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue), Friday, March 16th and Saturday, March 17th from 11:00 am until 3:00pm. All runners are encouraged to sign up on those days.

Race day registration will open at 7:00 am located in a tent on Pennsylvania Avenue near Freedom Plaza.

Take Metro to packet pick-up and the race, and avoid parking problems. Take the Blue or Orange Line to Federal Triangle (directly across the street from the start/finish line and packet pick-up), or the Red Line to Metro Center (just a short walk downhill to Pennsylvania Avenue).

There will be merchandise awards (no cash) to the top finishers along with numerous random prizes and post-race refreshments. All registrants will get a technical t-shirt!

Each year the St. Patrick's Day race attracts the best local running talent; each runner is tested. Each runner will be out to improve on his or her 2006 performance. Progress is measured by shaving seconds off the clock. Each runner next to you will be there to help push you over the course to run your best.

Event records were set last year:

Open
Gurmessa Kumssa, 23:36
Mary Kate Bailey, 27:50:

Masters
Mark Malander, 27:12
Alisa Harvey, 29:11

The top female finishers from 2006 share their comments.

"I really did not know what to expect because I have not raced in a while. I knew Christina Wells was going to be a front-runner and I looked to stick with her. I felt really comfortable throughout the race and looked for the last turn to pick it up," stated Mary Kate Bailey, the 2006 winner and record holder with 27:50.

"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, Vanessa, and Casey Smith all ran tremendous races, and we all did a little bit of the 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 8K PR," stated runner-up Christina Wells (photo) finishing with 27:53.

"It was my first race in quite awhile, so it was important to me to run strong and start off the season on a positive note. I have been training well and I knew where I should be in terms of time, but have some "anxiety" issues when it comes to racing which have been known to prevent me from running my best. So I had some specific goals for this race," stated Vanessa Hunter, finishing in third in last year with 27:56.

Hunter added, "My splits were, 5:30, 5:40, 5:37, 5:40, and 5:26. I have to say this race was a definite confidence boost for me-I went out a lot harder than I normally would and was more aggressive and I really think it paid off-I ran a time that is consistent with my training-a great feeling to know that the hard work is paying off."

"I was impressed with the level of competition at St. Patrick's. 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 American running! My game plan was to go out and race as hard as I could. I did," stated Alisa Harvey (photo), the masters division and record holder from last year, finishing in fifth place with 29:11.

Harvey added, "My first split was 5:37. A bit too fast for my 800 meter trained legs. It is hard to readjust to different distances even with my years of experience. I had my eye on the lead group, they definitely helped me get out hard, but I drifted off into my own race by mile three. I should have gone out in 5:45."

For full details about the event, see the race Web site.

See the slide show of photos from past events, prepared by George Banker.

Information on Special Olympics DC, our charity beneficiary.

See the race day report from the 2006 race.