Like the holiday from which it takes its name, the St. Patrick's Day 10K is a merry, entertaining road race. In a short three years, this race has developed a friendly reputation, welcoming an increasingly larger audience of participants and fans to its 10-kilometer course through Washington, DC.

The race, which is as much fun for participants as spectators, is less a competitive sports event than a festive, active Sunday morning party, an occasion for thousand of runners and their families to unite for fun and support a worthwhile cause.

The third annual St. Patrick's Day 10K, held on Sunday, March 11, 1990, was no exception. Sponsors for this year's event ranged from local to national and international organizations. Washington radio station 105.9 WCXR, evident by the station van and mascot, was part of the festivities. A post race brunch, including donations of "Irish Meadow Frozen Yogurt" from TCBY and the traditional Irish brew of Guinness Stout, was offered by several restaurants in the Pavilion at the Old Post Office.

The race, which benefits four charities, including Run for the Children, Heroes Incorporated, Operation Smile, and Drug Free America, had a record crowd of runners, undaunted by tentative weather conditions. Although the unpromising gray skies turned to rain later on Sunday afternoon, good spirits and camaraderie prevailed at the Post Office Pavilion where the race began and ended.

By 8:30 a.m. Sunday, an hour before race time, most of the runners had checked in, and after picking up packets and official race T-shirts at the Pavilion check in desk, spread out over the building's three levels and onto the sidewalk, to stretch out and pin on bib numbers.

"We have a record number of runners out there. We're looking at a field of around 2500-3000." confirmed Mark Kessler, of sponsor station WCXR. From a podium in the Pavilion, Kessler noted before the race, pointing out the video cameras with which the station recorded the morning's events.

The diversity nature of the annual St. Patrick's Day 10K is best sampled by a search through the runners, which revealed a wide range of serious and non-competitive runners, many of whom were running their first 10K. The race's amicable reputation and downtown course was a major drawing point for many courses.

Stephanie Hannod and Susan Kewer, two first-timers from Alexandria, were enthusiastic about their first 10K. "It seemed like a nice race and a good course." The pair hoped to cover 6.2 miles in 35-40 minutes.

Charles Eldridge, predicting a time of 48 minutes, was a return participant in the St. Patrick's Day race.

Fred Carson, of Montgomery County Road Runners, was another fan of the St. Patrick's Day 10K. Searching the crowd for club members before the race as he warmed up, Carson noted that although the weather was a "little wet", he hoped to cover the course in 45 minutes. Carson, who usually races distance of 10K or longer every other weekend, added "I'm going to be out of town next weekend, so this was a good time to do this".

Joe Javesaty, familiar with the race from the second annual running in 1989, hard brought along two new entrants: Tor Cowan and Kelli Murphy. Although Cowan made no optimistic predictions of their finishing time - "We're just expecting to finish," he said - the trio formed an informal team and stayed together throughout the race, finishing in less than an hour.

A more official group, Rock Steady Bravo, entered the race nearly 40 strong. Hailing from Ft. Belvior, this enthusiastic group, distinguished by black sweatshirts, ran in formation for the entire course. Why run together as a group? "We just like to, it's a good way to go" explained Jeff Greene. Greene and teammates Ron Phillips and Noel Opal predicted as they warmed up, that the group would cross the finish line in less than 40 minutes.

Lisa Holland, stretching in the Pavilion as the clock neared the 9:30 start-up time, was looking forward to her second 10K race. Unfazed by the misty morning, more appropriate to Ireland than Washington on a March morning, Holland said, "At least it's not raining. This is nice."

The elements had a different effect on the wheelchair participants, including Cisco Jeter, who feared that the wet road surface "might make it a little slick for stopping". Jeter, who entered the St. Patrick's Day race "because they sent me an application in the mail," was one of the several wheelchair participants, who left the starting line one minute before the pack of 2500 runners took off.

At the stroke of 9:30 a.m. with the sun peeking through occasionally, the race began, and the runners set out along Pennsylvania Avenue, passing under a canopy of green and white balloons. Although a preponderance of neo green shorts (which seemed to be the unofficial wear for many runners) made the first few minutes a verdant blur, a pack of seven runners immediately took the lead. Among them was Michael Regan of Washington, the first place finisher, and Ken Wolders, the fifth runner to cross the finish line.

Passing the one mile marker at 4:53, the pack thinned to five runners, and later to one, as Regan took a clear lead, running the remaining four miles at a consistently sub-five minute pace, with a comfortable lead.

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 break away from the rest of the runners, including Dave McCormack of Falls Church, 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, maybe in the Reston Ten Miler."

Sensing the competition falter early in the race, Regan persevered, realizing "I was running more against the clock than anyone. So I relaxed and picked up the pace."

Ken Wolders, who placed fifth, with a time of 32:04.71 remarked, "I wasn't disappointed. But I expected to do better." Sentiments among the other runners varied between amazement and relief as they crossed the finish line and entered the chutes, tearing tapes from bib numbers to hand to volunteers.

"Under an hour, I can't believe it!" exclaimed one runner as she finished.

"It was pretty great," began Les Davison, a returning fan of the St. Patrick's Day race, agreed, "It's a good course, perfect for me. You couldn't wish for anything more. It's just right," John Fox praised the race. "Its' nice out, a good time."

Jeff Lowery, pleased with running his first 10K race in less than an hour, celebrated afterwards in the Pavilion with friends. "It was very nice" he said about the race. "It's for a good charity and it seemed like the right thing to do. I wasn't ready for the hill, though."

His sentiments were shared by many other runners, including, Brian Steven, a first timer for the St. Patrick's Day benefit. "I wanted to help Operation Smile," said Steven. Characterizing the 10K course as "challenging," he admitted, "I didn't expect the hill. It was rough."

"It was a tough hill," agreed Ted Poulos. "But the weather was no problem, no trouble at all." Poulos, who had run the course numerous other occasions, was challenged, but not surprised by the hill, which caught many racers at low ebb, as they concluded mile number five.

David Cruse of Falls Church, a racer who prepared for the St. Patrick's Day with extensive weight-training, was pleased with his finishing time. Although this was his first St. Patrick's run, Cruse was familiar with the course from participating in Washington's "Key To The City" race in 1989. Acknowledging the use of weights in his preparation for the 10K, Cruse added that nothing improved his time more than regular racing. "You can do all of the exercises in the world. But you've got to get out there in a race." Although Cruse appreciated the route through the city, he pointed out the frequency of "killer potholes" along the course. "The roads are atrocious." Cruse said. "You're afraid you'll fall into a pothole and never get out."

The traditional post-race brunch, which spilled out from the Pavilion to Pennsylvania Avenue and Twelfth Street, provided runners and spectators with a chance to review the race and sample the buffet, served by restaurants, Fitch, Fox, and Brown, and Enrico's. "It was a terrific race" one runner summed up the spirit of the morning. "The food was good and the beer terrific."

Top Finishers

Male
1.	Michael Regan		        30:39	Washington, DC
2.	Gregory Watson		        31:42	Arlington, VA
3.	David McCormack		        31:45	Falls Church, VA
4.	Bill Courtney			31:51	Alexandria, VA
5.	Ken Wolters			32:04	Annandale, VA
Female
1	Donna Elliot			36:47	Ft.Washington,MD
2.	Lasse Viren			38:06	Washington, DC
3.	Louise Mallet			38:43	Rockville, MD
4.	Christine Snow-Reaser	        38:50	Stafford, VA
5	Marybeth Allan		        38:56	Washington, DC
Masters
1.	Roger Clark			32:51	Vienna, VA
2.	Bennett Beach			33:49	Bethesda, MD
3.	Fay Bradley			34:17	Washington, DC
4	John Sherlock III		35:06	McLean, VA
5.	Joachim Vorlaender		35:24	Rheinbach, GR
Female
1.	Sharon Hamilton-Dolan   	41:35	Gaithersburg, MD
2.	Hiroko Smith			41:57	Annandale, VA
3.	Nancy Smith			42:00	Herndon, VA
4.	Ecris Williams			42:28	Reston, VA
5.	Beth Gardiner			42:42	Arlington, VA