News - RunWashington

One woman, one city, every Alexandria street

Published April 2, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated April 2, 2019 at 4:13PM

For the last 19 weeks, Stephanie Lasure has been running every street in the City of Alexandria. She is weaving her way through every nook and cranny — down every block in Old Town, around every cul-de-sac in Seminary Hill and up every ascent in Rosemont.

Over 151,000 residents call the City of Alexandria home, nestling themselves into an area that’s only a little over 15 square miles. But as Lasure has slowly checked street after street off her list, she’s logged nearly 240 miles –and she’s not done yet.

What happens to all of those bananas? How races are evolving to become more eco-friendly events

By Sarah Beth Hensley

Published March 28, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated April 2, 2019 at 12:59PM

At last year’s Credit Union Cherry Blossom races, thousands of runners crossed the finish line in either the event’s 10 mile or 5K events on a chilly April day. Upon finishing, runners were offered a heat sheet — a mylar blanket that provides a small source of warmth. So when runners are ready to toss the blankets and head home, then what? The race’s sustainability team had a plan to make sure there was an eco-friendly option.

Instead of letting the nearly 20,000 blankets end up on the trash, and eventually a landfill or incinerator, there were specific collection points on race day where runners could ditch their heat sheets.

Another guest, another mispronounced name

By Pace the Nation

Published March 18, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated March 19, 2019 at 1:33PM

Courage to Run (April 13) Race Director Freida Edgette shares her personal journey to race director and the mission her race advances.

The faces behind your favorite running brands

By Andrew Gates

Published March 14, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated March 14, 2019 at 12:01PM

Chris Trebilcock (center) working during the 2018 Boston Marathon.

You may not know their names, but you probably know their brands.

If you’ve been to a race expo, attended a brand-sponsored event, or even participated in a fun run at your local running store, odds are you’ve encountered a footwear brand representative. They are the hidden people behind your favorite running shoe brands, working across the region to make sure their brand and products are properly celebrated and understood.

How a former D.C. runner broke through to make the Olympic marathon trials

By Dickson Mercer

Published March 7, 2019 at 12:00PM | Updated March 30, 2020 at 9:05AM

Less than a week ago, Patrick Reaves was on the starting line – and on the list of “Olympic hopefuls” – for an eight-mile race in Atlanta. This was a special event held to preview the course for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, now less than a year away.

Want to be a track official? Montgomery County is among those recruiting

By Vanessa Junkin

Published March 4, 2019 at 11:26AM | Updated March 4, 2019 at 2:03PM

at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex.

In 1967, college student Doug Edwards fired the gun to start a race at a track meet for the first time.

“My track coach at the time handed me a gun… and a box of shells and said you can earn $5 starting a track meet down at the local high school,” Edwards said. “And I thought that was like dying and going to heaven. And so I did. And it just sort of always stuck with me.”

Pace force: Leaders share what it takes to head a pace group

By Sarah Beth Hensley

Published February 28, 2019 at 11:00AM

Tim O'Connor checks his watch six miles through the 2018 Rock 'n' Roll D.C. Marathon. He led the 3:30 pace group through the race in 3:29:15. Photo: Charlie Ban

A lot can go wrong with race pacing. Going out too fast could lead to an almost-certain wall-hitting, crash-and-burn scenario. Going out too slow could lead to a goal finish time slipping out of grasp. Pacing correctly can seem like a perfect science — and luckily there are some runners who work to master it and lead others to reach their goals.

Many pace group leaders around the region work hard to put other runners’ needs before their own and see that participants are set up for success.

A little older and a lot wiser, Kate Murphy changes her pace

By Charlie Ban

Published February 27, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated February 5, 2020 at 1:05PM

Murphy at the 2016 Olympic Trials. Photo: Ed Lull

After a nearly-three-year layoff, Murphy raced on the track again Feb. 2 at the University of Washington Invitational, running 4:47.75 for the indoor mile.

Chasing a dream at 7,000 feet

By Jen Maranzano

Published February 26, 2019 at 12:53PM | Updated August 13, 2019 at 2:53PM

Jen Maranzano and Dan Yi

The real story starts years ago. But the immediate story begins in 2016, when I finally put together a season of consistent training after years of battling injuries. Much to my surprise, I ran 2:49:21 in the 2016 Chicago Marathon, and felt great doing it. I spent a day enjoying the accomplishment, and then began to wonder if I could go faster. What else could I achieve? I felt a fire within me.

George Washington’s Birthday Marathon photos

By Charlie Ban

Published February 19, 2019 at 9:55AM

I tried to get at least one photo of everyone about two miles in. Click here to see them all in our Facebook album.