News - RunWashington

Potomac River Marathon pave the path to Boston and Personal Records

Published May 5, 2013 at 2:43PM | Updated August 10, 2015 at 12:32PM

Jason Fitzgerald of Silver Spring nears the halfway mark of the Potomac River Run Marathon Sunday. Photo: Cheryl Young

The factors that made Sunday’s race could have been the perfect weather, the flat course on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, or months of hard work and training. Whatever the factors were, the 10th annual Potomac River Run Marathon seemed to have the perfect combination of elements that allowed many participants to qualify for the Boston Marathon and, for many, achieve a new personal record.

[button-red url=”http://youngrunner.smugmug.com/Race-Photo-Galleries/PRR-2013-Marathon-Half/i-vDjDfS6″ target=”_self” position=”left”]Photos[/button-red]Weeks before Strength Running Coach Jason Fitzgerald passed the leader at mile 24.5 at Sunday’s race, he was cheering on two of his athletes in the Boston Marathon at mile 25.5. Afterward, he went to a restaurant in Cambridge, where his phone started to ring. His family and friends had heard what had happened at the race.

Perfect Weather Greets Inaugural Nike Women’s Half Marathon

By Charlie Ban

Published April 30, 2013 at 3:10PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:24PM

Samia Akbar nears the 10k mark in 37:28 as she leads the Nike Womens Half Marathon. Photo: Charlie Ban

Almost 15,000 runners had a perfect day for the inaugural Nike Women’s Half Marathon, though one stood out more than others.

Leading the packs of first-time half marathoners and visitors seeing the nation’s capital on foot for the first time, Alexandria’sSamia Akbar felt happy to run again.

What the Volunteers Saw…

By Maggie Lloyd

Published April 30, 2013 at 3:03PM | Updated August 8, 2013 at 7:01PM

Claudia Seglas of Miami Springs, Fla. shows off her prize at the finish line. Photo: Brian Knight Swim Bike Run Photography

Yes, you can learn a lot about a woman by the contents of her purse, but I think it’s more telling to watch the way she reacts at a finish line, and I saw the whole emotional spectrum while volunteering for DC’s inaugural Nike Women’s Half Marathon.

My job was simple: scan runners’ race bibs as they filed through the finish area towards some seriously glamorous swag. Between the volunteers offering water bottles and foil blankets, a squad of ROTC men in tuxedos hand-delivered Tiffany’s pendant necklaces housed in that iconic baby blue box tied with a simple white ribbon. Whenever there was a lull in the crowd, all it took was a “who wants their Tiffany’s necklace?” yell to get exhausted finishers to smile and “woohoo!”

The Run Must Go On.

By Dickson Mercer

Published April 22, 2013 at 7:15PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:24PM

Alan Pemberton, Janet Whittaker, Amanda Hamilton, Nick Haffenreffer, Robert Gillanders (obscured), and Dan Yi wore a variety of Boston Marathon shirts for their Saturday morning run, showing their support for the victims of the bombings and the marathon itself. Photo: Charlie Ban

With some time, confusion and grief following the two explosions along the Boston Marathon sidelines turned to resolve and determination not to let terrorists ruin running. Hordes turned out Friday and Saturday to show that they would not be intimidated.

The bombing that left three dead and almost 200 wounded, including a Springfield woman who broke her leg, and the subsequent chase that claimed the life of a campus police officer only motivated those who turned out to the Crystal City Friday 5k, which took place as the surviving suspect was cornered in Watertown, Mass.

GW Parkway Classic Provides Catharsis for many with Boston on their minds.

By Dickson Mercer

Published April 21, 2013 at 7:44PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:24PM

Abigail Meyers, Samuel Kirby and Brian Harkins head down the George Washington Parkway toward Alexandria. Photo: Swim Bike Run Photography

Back on Monday, James Davis was walking towards the finish line after completing his first Boston Marathon in 3:08:32. A block away, he heard the blast.

[button-red url=”http://www.zippyreg.com/rwt/results/2013/0421gwpc/” target=”_self” position=”left”] Results[/button-red]

Heightened Security Measures Don’t Deter a Fast and Smooth Pike’s Peek 10k

By Jamie Corey

Published April 21, 2013 at 7:23PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:24PM

The lead pack rockets down Rockville Pike during the Pike's Peek 10k. Photo: Cheryl Young

If tailwind and the downhill course weren’t enough to get people rolling at the Pike’s Peek 10k in Rockville, five days of pent-up tension led to a moment of silence on the starting line to honor the victims and their families affected by the Boston Marathon bombing.

[button-red url=”http://www.mcrrc.org/pikes-peek-10k-5″ target=”_self” position=”left”] Results [/button-red]Race director Jean Arthur said that Monday’s tragedy created anxiety for her with less than a week until the race.

Three Quarters of a Century Young, Tom Cowley.

By Dickson Mercer

Published April 10, 2013 at 7:52PM | Updated August 8, 2013 at 8:08PM

Tom Colwey at the Turkey Burnoff Photo: Mark Schadley

“Maybe I’m actually getting a little smarter,” said Tom Cowley, describing his training habits over coffee on a late Sunday afternoon.

The Gaithersburg runner was referring to a decision made the day prior. He had met his usual Montgomery County Road Runners Club (MCRRC) training partners for their weekly long run in preparation for the Boston Marathon. But a couple minutes before the run, Cowley felt his calf tighten up and chose to back off.

Bawcom sets American Record at Cherry Blossom 10mile

By Charlie Ban

Published April 8, 2013 at 8:10PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:24PM

After a few years of calm, the wind was back for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, but it didn’t slow Janet Bawcom as she set an American record while winning her third consecutive USA Women’s 10 Mile Championship.

The men, lead by Kenyans Daniel Salel with half-second victory over Allan Kiprono in 46:05 were off of Kiprono’s winning 45:15 last year, but Kenyan Caroline Rotich (52:46) and her three-second lead over Ethopian Belaynesh Oljira broke a two-year tradition of the women’s winner running 54:02.

High School Lacrosse Players Wins the Inaugural Runner’s Marathon of Reston

By Dorothy Beal

Published March 25, 2013 at 8:28PM | Updated August 10, 2015 at 12:33PM

Half marathoners head out of South Lakes High School during the Runners Half Marathon of Reston. Photo: Dorothy Beal

It wasn’t Metro accessible, there weren’t bands every mile and the race might not have had the panache of a national series, but sure enough, a marathon went off Saturday morning in Northern Virginia.

The inaugural Runner’s Marathon of Reston and accompanying half marathon took charge of the streets and trails in a race that billed itself as being “designed by runners, for runners.”

Friend’s wedding doesn’t deter half marathon winner

By Charlie Ban

Published March 24, 2013 at 9:27PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 5:25PM

Hilary Dionne shortly after moving into the lead at the Rock 'n' Roll USA Half Marathon. Photo: Charlie Ban

Hilary Dionne was glad to attend her friend’s wedding in Alexandria, but it meant a sacrifice.

She wouldn’t be able to defend her title at the New Bedford Half Marathon in Massachusetts, a fast and deep race upon which her Boston Athletic Association teammates were descending. She’s training for the Boston Marathon, where she finished 15th, and as the third American, last year, and wanted to test how her training was going.