View of the Jefferson Memorial as runners pass by.

Washington, DC is a city of tradition. In April, this monthly race enjoyed the cherry blossoms as runners circles the Tidal Basin. This month the tradition was a warm muggy spring day. Still, the sunshine brought out an extra large following of seventy-three runners. Usually there are about thirty runners, especially when the Tidal Basin ices over in the winter or when the rains swells the water up on the banks.

The race, which is usually run 12 times a year (recently there has been a 9/11 memorial run) is set for the third Wednesday of each month, starting right at noon. Jay Wind, the race organizer and often director, says that he believes the largest field was at a Juneteenth running where some ninety-five runners participated.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It is held the 19 of June.

The race, which started with a handful of Washington, DC runners at lunch back in 1976, has a regular bunch of racers who come out nearly every month. Some of the runners are top Ranked Runners honing there skills. Others include members of the 50 Plus Club, a club founded in 1997 with the goal of racing weekly to finish with 50 or more races in a year. Runners of all ages come out such as soon to be 85 Walt Washburn a multiple national record holder and a year younger Bill Osburn who owns quite a few state record in Maryland.

The race used to have a central racing start at one time or another starting at four points of the clock surrounding the Jefferson Memorial. Climate (snow, rain) conditions sometimes forced the race to veer off the circular course at times and race down nearby Ohio Drive. More than once there has been a movie set at the memorial sending the race scurrying to the other side of the monument for the start.

In the past year, political climate concerns have moved the starting line to the corner of Ohio Drive and West Basin Drive. This is very familiar to racing fans as this is the same setting as the major races starting here in West Potomac Park. The course still encircles the Tidal Basin and is still 3K but it is not as close to the water for very much of the journey. (In photo, runners get ready for the start of the race along Ohio Drive.)

This May, the runners exploded off the line and hurried under the shelter of the cherry blossom trees. The blossoms were long gone but the foliage gave a measure of protection against the stiff breeze. Circling across the bridge on Independence Avenue, runners had to decide when to make their move; when to let that runner just in front stop blocking the wind. Eight runners between place 19 and 26 finished within ten seconds of each other.

Steve Kartalia (41) of Westminster, MD (in photo) won the race handily in 9:48 for his first win of the past two years. Second place Ted Poulos (45) of McLean, VA (9:56) has won the race more times than he can count. He has one win and three second place finishes this year already. Last year his worst placement was a third place finish. Dan Murphy (42) of Bethesda, MD was right on his heels in 9:58. Poulos was returning the favor of when Murphy was the overall winner in January. The fastest time of the year was by Sam McFerran in March with 9:34.

For the women Robyn Hoeschen (25) of Arlington, VA had won the first three months of the year with a best time of 11:51 in February. Then in April, Laurie Dempsey (37) of Alexandria, VA tied that mark while winning the race. Hoeschen was runner-up in 12:08. This May, Dempsey returned to win again setting the year's best mark with 11:29.

Racers use this as a tune-up for weekend races such as this Saturday's Germantown 5 Miler or Sunday's Capitol Hill 10K. Information about both races can be found at the Featured Races section. As he left John Winkert said, "I remember setting my PR at the Capitol Hill 10K back in 1986." Capital Running Company will be at both races making sure that there will be full race day results.

The first list below is all the racers of this month who have been Ranked Runners. The second list is the runners who have run fifty races in a year from the 50 Plus Club

Laurie Dempsey (37) of Alexandria, VA has a year's best Tidal Basin time of 11:29 winning for the women and just behind Patrick Walker (27) of Washington, DC.

Ranked Runners at the Tidal Basin

PL    Name                               S  AG Hometown                           Time
  1   Steve Kartalia                     M  41 Westminster MD                     9:48
  2   Ted Poulos                         M  45 McLean VA                          9:56
  3   Dan Murphy                         M  42 Bethesda MD                        9:58
  7   Steve Smith                        M  40 Boyds MD                          10:13
  8   Brad Rippey                        M  40 Bunker Hill WV                    10:28
  12  Larry Washington                   M  55 Rockville MD                      11:01
  23  Kirk Gordon                        M  51 Mitchellville MD                  11:45
  25  Robin Martz                        F  36 Arlington VA                      11:47
  26  James Moreland                     M  54 Gaithersburg MD                   11:48
  30  Patty Fulton                       F  41 Silver Spring MD                  12:00
  34  Ruth O'Hara                        F  44 Alexandria VA                     12:19
  38  Jay Jacob Wind                     M  57 Arlington VA                      12:37
  47  Jim Mort                           M  60 Burke VA                          13:54
  51  Susan Aaronson                     F  53 Arlington VA                      14:11
  59  Dee Nelson                         F  63 Gaithersburg MD                   14:51
  73  Walt Washburn                      M  84 Vienna VA                         25:50
  74  Bill Osburn                        M  83 Bethesda MD                       35:45

Veteran racer Ted Poulos (45) of McLean, VA is racing his favorite distance. He has 495 career 3Ks races under his belt.

50 Plus Club Members at the Tidal Basin

PL    Name                               S  AG Hometown                           Time
  2   Ted Poulos                         M  45 McLean VA                          9:56
  23  Kirk Gordon                        M  51 Mitchellville MD                  11:45
  26  James Moreland                     M  54 Gaithersburg MD                   11:48
  37  Peter Blank                        M  52 Annandale VA                      12:35
  38  Jay Jacob Wind                     M  57 Arlington VA                      12:37
  59  Dee Nelson                         F  63 Gaithersburg MD                   14:51
  69  John Winkert                       M  50 South Riding VA                   16:51
  72  Tim Ramsey                         M  48 Alexandria VA                     19:30
  73  Walt Washburn                      M  84 Vienna VA                         25:50
  74  Bill Osburn                        M  83 Bethesda MD                       35:45

Race Report
Full Race Day Results
Photo Gallery 2007