News - RunWashington

Marine Corps Marathon cancels 2021 in-person races

Published September 24, 2021 at 1:45PM

More than 600,000 white flags have filled part of the Washington Monument lawn in late September, a temporary art installation memorializing and visualizing the American death toll from COVID-19. Anyone practicing the 18th mile of the Marine Corps Marathon course run nearby, and the juxtaposition became unavoidable when the race announced its second straight cancelation.

Citing safety and security precautions, Marine Corps canceled the Oct. 31 in-person marathon, 50k and 10k on Sept. 24, 11 days after the Army Ten-Miler canceled its Oct. 10 race. After the Army cancelation, Marine Corps race director Rick Nealis said he felt good about his race’s logistics to reduce crowding by runners before, during and after the race, including a vaccination requirement, but the linchpin was the support staff’s availability. Nealis had been confident enough in the race’s outlook that he had executed nonrefundable supply contracts for the race.

Marine Corps Marathon commits despite Army Ten-Miler setback

By Charlie Ban

Published September 20, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated September 24, 2021 at 6:20PM

Courtney Hodock and John Keating run the 26th mile of the 2019 Marine Corps Marathon. Photo by Ed Lull

Update: The Marine Corps Marathon races were canceled on Sept. 24.

Despite last week’s cancelation of the Army Ten-Miler’s Oct. 10 in-person race, Marine Corps Marathon race director Rick Nealis believes his Oct. 31 race is ready to go off as planned.

Kimutai runs away from Cherry Blossom field, Simbassa wins US 10 mile title

By Charlie Ban

Published September 13, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated September 15, 2021 at 4:39PM

Augustus Maiyo and Abbabiya Simbassa race the fifth mile of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile. Photo: Charlie Ban

Kenyan Edwin Kimutai left the American field behind to fend for itself at the rescheduled Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, pulling away in the third mile and cruising to a 32-second win in 45:45.

Behind him, Abbabiya Simbassa and Augustus Maiyo battled for the U.S. 10 mile championship, with Simbassa gapping Maiyo, the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon champion, by five seconds, finishing second overall in 46:18.

Nell Rojas wins Cherry Blossom, US 10 mile title

By Maggie Lloyd

Published September 12, 2021 at 7:00PM | Updated September 17, 2021 at 7:55AM

The lead women's pack, including eventual winner Nell Rojas (third from left) runs the first mile of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile. Photo: Charlie Ban

Nell Rojas (52:13) held off Jenny Simpson (52:16) in a kick to the finish between the two Boulder, Colo. residents racing their first Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, which doubled as the USATF 10 Mile Championships. Both athletes competed in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in June, as did Sara Hall of Flagstaff, Ariz. who finished fourth for American women today in 52:43. Kenya’s Antonina Kwambai (52:23) and Caroline Rotich (52:25) placed third and fourth overall, respectively.

Simpson’s entry into the race marked the long distance road racing debut for the three-time Olympian and three-time World Championship medalist.

Oatlands races remain thrillers until the finish line

By Charlie Ban

Published September 11, 2021 at 7:00PM | Updated September 12, 2021 at 6:03AM

Walter Johnson's Andrew Schell (right) leads (r-l) Woodberry Forest's Ferenc Kovacs, Yorktown's Owen McArdle and McLean's Xavier Jemison. Photo: Charlie Ban

Apparently finishing second at the state meet at the end of an abbreviated freshman season didn’t give Sailor Eastman much confidence.

It wasn’t until she was battling Olympic Trials 800 meter runner Juliette Whittaker in the last mile of the Oatlands Invitational that she realized she belonged in the race.

Packed fall racing season opens this weekend

By Charlie Ban

Published September 7, 2021 at 3:00PM | Updated September 24, 2021 at 1:24PM

Emil Ata and Sean Riley celebrate finishing the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon. Photo: Charlie Ban

It takes a few glances to notice what’s different about this year’s Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile t-shirt.

There’s no date to be found. Just recognition that it’s the race’s 48th running.

Courtney Carter works for a more diverse D.C. running community

By Sarah Beth Hensley

Published August 31, 2021 at 3:00PM | Updated August 31, 2021 at 4:09PM

Courtney Carter runs at the Banneker Recreation Center track. Photo: Ralph Navarrete

You may recognize Courtney Carter. Perhaps you’ve seen her running around the Anacostia Trail or the National Mall — two of her favorite local running routes; you may know her from Instagram, where her handle @eatprayrundc has more than 11,500 followers; or you may know her through her work with diversity, equity and inclusion and her posts about it on sites like Women’s Running, Oiselle’s blog or her own website.

She’s using her social media presence to show runners and people of color that they can accomplish amazing things. And Carter, who lives in D.C.’s Trinidad neighborhood, also wants the D.C.-area running community to do better when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Off the Beaten Path – Frederick City Watershed

By Dickson Mercer

Published August 13, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated August 17, 2021 at 3:52PM

You head north on Interstate 270, pass by the main exits for Frederick and continue onto U.S. Route 15. Catoctin Mountain comes into view. And as Cactus Flats Roadhouse passes by on your left, be on the lookout for your exit: Mountaindale Road.

You wind down through fields, passing by Mountaindale Convenience Store. When you have to choose right or left, choose left, and continue on what is still Mountaindale (Putnam Road is to the right). If you start seeing log cabin-inspired homes and the Cold Deer Hunting and Fishing Club, you chose correctly, and are almost there.

Ten years later, Broderick still taking marathoners to Boston

By Dan DiFonzo

Published August 9, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated August 10, 2021 at 2:03PM

Mike Broderick at a July 2010 XMP training run. Photo: MCRRC

In November of 2010–fewer than four months after he conquered the legendary Western States 100 mile endurance run in under 27 hours, and about a month after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer–Mike Broderick passed away peacefully just days shy of his 54th birthday.

Those closest to Mike, knew him as an avid ultra-runner with a sharp wit, a big smile and an abundance of enthusiasm for all things running. For the rest of the running community, he was best known as a coach, a mentor and a teacher. He was a bit of an evangelist, preaching his love of running to everyone who made his acquaintance. Mike, to his running disciples, was well known for his ability to respond in deep scientific detail to very simple yes or no questions.

Runners get around to new locales for variety’s sake

By Andrew Gates

Published August 5, 2021 at 11:00AM | Updated August 5, 2021 at 4:44PM

Drivers search for a few square feet in the packed Difficult Run parking lot in Great Falls, Va. The lot serves the Cross County Trail and Great Falls Park. Photo: Charlie Ban

The D.C. area is at the heart of some of the most beautiful and dynamic running routes in the country. The DMV is surrounded by scenic paths, urban gems, woodland trails, historical parks, lakes, and sprawling fields. But despite all that the area has to offer, many runners will time and time again repeat the same set of loops from their front door.

Vivian Smith is a cybersecurity consultant in Manassas. She does not want to fit the trend of running from home or work each day. She travels somewhere to run at least four days a week, even if that means driving only a minute or so to get there. “I’ll drive half a mile to a park so that I can enjoy more of my run in the park than on the shoulder-less road on the way to the park,” she said.