Capital Running Company, which owns and produces the St. Patrick's Day 8K, announced the awards for the 19th annual event, and increased the modest cash purse to $1,350. More than 4,500 runners are expected to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the start of the spring racing season in Washington, DC.

The top four male and female finishers will be awarded $300-$200-$100-$75 each. The fifth through tenth place finishers will receive a $50 gift certificate to Fleet Feet Sports of Adams Morgan in the District of Columbia.

Age group divisions start at 19 and under and go all the way to 80 and over in five-year increments. The top three male and female finishers in each division will all receive a prize, with the first place finishers being awarded a $25 gift certificate from such establishments as Fleet Feet, Whitlow's on Wilson, Rockland's Barbeque, and Georgetown Running Company.

All award winners will receive an embroidered sweatshirt.

You don't have to be fast to win! There are many random prizes, so please stay for the awards ceremony. Random prizes include more Fleet Feet gift certificates ($50 and $25 value), as well as gift certificates to Great American restaurants, Finn mac Cool's, Zaytinya Restaurant, Chef Geoff's restaurants, and the New Balance stores.

The 8K race will start at 9:00 am on Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, near Freedom Plaza. Bagpipers will entertain runners along the course, and post-race festivities include an exhibition of Irish dancing from the O'Neill-James School of Irish Dancing.

Online registration is available until 4:00 pm on Thursday, March 15.

After online registration closes, there are three opportunities for on-site registration: at the Old Post Office Pavilion, 12th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Friday, March 16 and from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 17; and on race day in a tent on Pennsylvania Avenue near Freedom Plaza (between 13th and 14th Streets). Register now to avoid crowds on race weekend.

The race benefits Special Olympics DC, and made a $20,000 donation to the organization in 2006.

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.