With individuals and teams winning races or placing high in various postseason meets, the 2025 high-school cross-country season during the fall was a big success for Arlington runners.
There also were some significant achievements for runners and teams from Fairfax County schools, especially from Potomac School on the private-school level.
Westminster School’s annual 5K ($45), 1K ($15), and Fun Run ($10) on Saturday, November 7th at 9:00am is a spirited community event open to students, families, and friends of all ages and fitness levels. With courses designed for everyone—from a fun 1K for beginners to a more challenging 5K—participants can walk, jog, or race their way through the beautiful campus.
We have amazing cash prizes and give aways, making it an ideal way to enjoy a day outdoors with loved ones. Join in to support school programs, meet new people, and celebrate wellness together!
The National Capital 20 Miler is the DC area’s premier fall marathon tune-up race. Runners will have access to a flat and fast out-and-back course on the C&O Towpath with multiple water stations along the way. Runners also have the option to register for the Janet Braunstein 5 Miler, which also takes place on the Towpath. Register now to guarantee your race hoodie!
Both events start on the Towpath by the North Parking Lot at Carderock Recreation Area.
Multiple local high-school indoor track-and-field squads have enough depth to contend for district, conference, region and state titles when playoffs begin at the end of the month.
On the girls side, the South County Stallions are the defending public-school Class 6 state indoor and outdoor champion from the 2025 track-and-field seasons.
It’s a challenge to single out who are, or could become, the top high-school indoor track-and-field athletes across Northern Virginia participating in the current winter season — because there are so many.
The 2025-26 campaign is ongoing and continues through early March.
The high-school indoor track-and-field season officially begins each December, but in reality doesn’t ramp up until early January.
The new year has brought a full slate of many more, and bigger, regular-season meets scheduled each week, with postseason championship competitions not far off.
Doubts swirled around my head, and my right quad muscles ached with cramp-like pain. It was only ten miles into the 2021 Philadelphia Marathon but as I watched what felt like hundreds of runners zip past me, I started to recalibrate my pre-race goal: Three hours and 50 minutes became four hours. Then four and a half hours. Then simply finishing.
The race turned into a mental battle. My legs screamed for me to stop and walk, while my brain urged me to continue on pace. The 10th mile would be my slowest up to that point. I tried to find motivation wherever I could. I repeated the mantras, “mind over body” and “don’t run scared,” to myself as I locked on to the runners in front of me. I visualized how satisfying it would feel when I crossed the finish line with another sub-four hour marathon. I thought about my supporters back home who were tracking my race online.
