The Washington metropolitan area's running community is built upon tradition and the ability to adapt to the dynamics of the sport of running. For the past 19 years, the racing season in Washington, DC has been opened by the St. Patrick's Day race.

The 20th edition of this classic event will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 9:00 am. The race starts and finishes on Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, NW. Register online now. The entry fee is $26, and increases to $30 on February 19. On-site registration and packet pick-up will be held at the Old Post Office Pavilion, located on Pennsylvania Avenue at 12th Street, on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, from 11 am to 3 pm both days. On race day, registration and packet pick-up will be held in a tent on Pennsylvania Avenue adjacent to Freedom Plaza.

The race features a flat course, fast competition, bagpipers on the course, runners in costume, and a good time for all!

After the race, the festivities take place at Freedom Plaza (Pennsylvania Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, NW), and include an exhibition of Irish dancing by the O'Neill-James School of Irish Dancing, and the awards ceremony. The race features Capital Running Company's signature awards structure: ten deep overall and three deep in five-year age groups from 19 & under to 80 & above. In addition to prizes for the fastest runners, many random prizes will be awarded, including gift certificates to local running stores such as Fleet Feet of Adams Morgan, restaurants, and Irish pubs, such as Fado Irish Pub in the District.

On March 13, 1988, the first St. Patrick's Day race was hosted by the Government of the District of Columbia, Challenge International, Hero, Inc., and Colonial Running Company (now Capital Running Company). The tag line was "Help Shake off Old Man Winter," but the warm weather brought out more runners than the organizers were expecting. Instead of 700 runners, 1,112 registered and 983 finished (709 males and 274 females). No matter how many years an event is run there will only be two first year winners: Scott Celley of Washington, DC led for the men (32:19) and Andrea Volpe of Springfield, VA was the women's winner (36:32). The top male in the masters division was Paul Zink of Reston, VA in 35:20 and for the women it was Chris Stockdale of Alexandria, VA in 44:12.

The race was a 10K from 1988 through 2005, and produced some outstanding champions over the years with only one three-time consecutive winner: Irishman Edmund Burke of Burtonsville, MD ('96-30:52, '97-31:06, '98-30:50). Another three-time winner ended Burke's domination of the race. Frenchman Philippe Rolly won three times though not in consecutive years ('99-30:27 record, '01-30:51, '04-30:48). Photo is Rolly in 2004

"I did my best. I was so nervous and I just took off too fast. I didn't run a smart race. I just didn't have enough at the end. I was glad to be beaten by some good quality runners. I'll be back," stated Edmund Burke after losing to Rolly in 1999.

The female standouts were Jennifer Stearns of Stafford, VA, ('97-36:17, '98-36:49), Naoko Ishibe of Washington, DC ('99- 36:05, '00-36:44), and Casey Smith of Arlington, VA ('02- 35:57, '03-35:42). Heather Hanscom set the record in 2004 with a time of 34:12.

The dominating three-time consecutive year male masters division winner was Jim Hage, now living in Kensington, MD ('01-32:19 event age group record, '02-32:48, '03-33:13). The other three-time winner was Chuck Moeser of Sterling, VA ('92- 33:45, '96-33:32, '97-32:41).

The outstanding four-time female masters division champion and record holder was Patti Shull of Ashburn, VA ('99-37:12 event age group record, '00-37:49, '04-38:58, '05-38:40).

"I was actually pleased with my time. My best 10K time was 39:40. I did better by almost 1:30, so you can see I'm actually happy! I am slow at 10K, and I have issues with it-too short of a distance. I was planning on running the first two miles at 6:20, my first mile was 6:07," stated Lisa Thomas of Alexandria, VA, finishing 10th in 38:11 in 2003.

"There was no concern about anyone else in the race; I just wanted to do my best. That was my focus for this race, to push myself as far as I could go and see who else was around. I did not know I broke the record until Sharon Lemberger asked," said Heather Hanscom of Team Pacers (2002-34:12 event record).

The tradition continued as the race distance was changed to an 8K in 2006. The shorter distance raised the level of the competition. The certified out and back course offered several visuals on the lead runners. New event records were set; open male by Gurmessa Kumssa of Ethiopia (23:36) and open female by (in photo)Mary Kate Bailey (27:50). The masters division record holders are Mark Malander of Oak Hill, VA (27:12) and Alisa Harvey of Manassas, VA (29:11).

"It was my first race in quite a while, 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. I train with Mary Kate and it was helpful to have her there as a gauge on where I should be running, i.e., I knew how to pace myself based on what she was running. I thought we had a great pack-Mary Kate, Christina Wells, and Casey Smith. I really think it helped to push all of us," stated Vanessa Hunter of Georgetown Running Company (3rd place, 27:56).

"I was impressed with the level of competition at St. Patrick's. It was good to see groups of women in competition 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," said Alisa Harvey.

In photo below, Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty races an impressive 33:52 in last year's 8K race.

See the race Web site for full details on the event.

Read the race day report from the 2007 race; see the Photo Gallery.

George Banker's slide show of the race.