News - RunWashington

Marine Corps Marathon Charity Partners Program

Published September 30, 2013 at 10:00AM | Updated August 10, 2015 at 12:30PM

MARINE CORPS DOES NOT REqUIRE ITS PARTICIPATING CHARITIES TO PAY ANY KIND OF FEES OR PREMIUMS, MEANING ALL MONEY RAISED THROUGH THE CHARITY PROGRAM RUNNING GOES DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.

For runners who missed out on general registration for the Marine Corps Marathon, the Charity Partners Program offers a chance to enter late and raise money for a good cause.

Marine Corps is unique among marathons because it does not require its participating charities to pay any kind of fees or premiums, meaning all money raised through the charity program running goes directly to the organizations. This year, 4,674 runners will raise money for 101 different 501 (c) (3) organizations, from the longstanding MCM team for Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund to the brand new to MCM Alergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics team.

Prevent Cancer 5k loops through Nats Stadium

By Julie Tarallo

Published September 29, 2013 at 8:28PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:09PM

Dogs were welcome at the Prevent Cancer 5k. Photo: Julie Tarallo

The message to participants in Sunday’s Prevent the Cancer Walk/Run 5K was simple: get healthy and get tested.

According to the American Cancer Society, Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S. More than 1.6 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and approximately 500,000 will die from cancer in 2013. Further, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly one-third (30 percent) of all cancer cases can be attributed to unhealthy lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, poor diet, and physical inactivity.

Clarendon Day double draws 250

By Joanna Russo

Published September 29, 2013 at 8:24PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:09PM

It’s Saturday morning and the sun is just starting to rise over the Potomac, spreading its orange rays over the rowers out on the water. It’s quiet and cool. The roads are empty. Near Whitlows on Wilson in Arlington, though, a sleepy Saturday morning disappears – a timing clock counts down to the 5k start time.

It’s Clarendon Day; Every September, the community celebrates the unique flavor of the Clarendon neighborhood with a street fair, live music and children’s activities. The day kicks off with a pair of 5k and 10k races, both of which start in front of the Whitlows restaurant and finish near the Rosslyn metro station.

It’s a jungle out there in Leesburg

By Charlie Ban

Published September 23, 2013 at 11:52AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:10PM

Cross country racing can be like living in a jungle, and nowhere is that more true than the Oatlands Invitational in Leesburg.

Along with the crowd of runners trying to get one foot in front of their competitors to make a slight but significant difference in team standings, those team races play out in several layers.

Forever Young: XC Doesn’t End at Graduation

By Jamie Corey

Published September 23, 2013 at 11:43AM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:52PM

More than 100 runners’ feet hitting the ground on an open field toward wooded trails. Trudging up a hill, giving every last bit of effort with legs and shoes covered in mud. A strong storm just minutes away from plummeting the course; nobody paying it any mind. Team spirit filling the air as competitors burst into the finish chute and turn back around to cheer for their friends.

It may seem like a typical high school cross country race, but the racers were fathers and mothers with jobs and mortgages. They were finishing the Montgomery County Road Runners Club’s Running with the June Bugs, not a dual meet against a rival school.

Don’t forget to have fun!

By Dickson Mercer

Published September 23, 2013 at 10:45AM | Updated June 25, 2018 at 4:52PM

The Oakton girls team members pump each other up for the 2012 Concorde District meet. Photo: Ed Lull

In the 1980s – before Internet forums – Langley High School’s Erin Keogh was the fastest high school distance runner in the country.

Now Erin Breitenbach, she recently did a Google search of her maiden name and said she found these “ridiculous things on some blog.”

Super H 5K competitors race for friends, family, community

By Julie Tarallo

Published September 23, 2013 at 10:27AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:10PM

Andrea Meuser starts to air things out as she adds to her lead in the Super H 5k. Photo: Charlie Ban

Finishers of the 10th running of MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital’s (NRH) Super H 5k had more than one reason to celebrate on Sunday. Their participation and fundraising contributions will benefit MedStar NRH’s community-based athletic programs for disabled adults and children.

The race kicked off at 8 a.m. outside of Tysons Sport & Health in McLean, Va. in perfect low-60 degree temperatures. Winding around Tysons Corner, the course eventually looped onto a rolling route 684 and finished back in front of the sports complex.

Community comes together to support local schools and run fast times

By Jamie Corey

Published September 23, 2013 at 10:21AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:10PM

Jennifer Panetta crosses the finish line of the Kensington 8k just ahead of Jocilyn McNally. Photo: John Seabreeze

Young kids in race bibs laughing and playing games as they followed “Larry the Lion” around a park is not the typical road race finish line. But the Kensington 8k, a race that donated its proceeds to three local public schools, attracted competitors of all ages.

In its 20th year, the Kensington 8k race brought more than 500 runners—for just one distance. In addition to the 8K competitors, the Two-Mile Challenge was made up of 400 participants along with the 1k Fun Run that turned out 300 runners. With over 40 local sponsors, the event proceeds went to supporting Kensington Parkwood Elementary, North Bethesda Middle and Walter Johnson High Schools.

Runners help give a voice to veterans’ PTSD struggles

By Charlie Ban

Published September 16, 2013 at 9:56AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:11PM

Ritchard Steene and Stefanie Garcia push each other halfway through the Run for Recovering Heroes 10k. Photo: Charlie Ban

In the grand scheme of things, runners feeling misunderstood by friends and family members – -because they run for fun, go out in blizzards and rainstorms, etc. — isn’t the end of the world. They came together Sunday afternoon to help raise money to help another, more tragically misunderstood population — veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Run for Recovering Heros races Sunday afternoon in Carderock raised money for the Patton Veterans Project, an organization managed by the grandson of Gen. George S. Patton that helps veterans produce short films to better communication their mental and emotional struggles after returning from combat.

Records fall in three of four Navy-Air Force races Saturday

By David Pittman

Published September 15, 2013 at 9:51PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:11PM

Pat Fernandez flees the chase pack at the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon. Photo: Cheryl Young

Sarah Biss knew little about Saturday’s Navy-Air Force Half Marathon before embarking on a vacation to the United States. She certainly didn’t plan on winning the race.

But that’s just what Biss, 36, did, taking the women’s half marathon title in 1:23:18 Saturday.