RunWashington - The Runner's Source for the D.C. Area

Training to run a road relay is the easy part, sleep deprivation is another story

Published August 15, 2019 at 1:00PM | Updated August 15, 2019 at 1:18PM

Natalia demonstrates Knifehands form, supported by her teammates. Photo: Rich Woods

Covering 18 miles at once may not sound difficult to many runners, but it becomes far more difficult when those 18 miles are split up over the course of the three separate runs without proper recovery time in between, lack of sleep or square meals. Plus at least one of those legs takes place in the middle of the night.

Road relays like Ragnar or American Odyssey have become popular staples in the running world. These 24-hour, 12-person races involve runners taking turns running three legs of various lengths across 100+ mile distances across either road or trails. Some teams run short-handed for an extra challenge.

Event

National Capital 20 Miler & 5 Miler

October 3, 2026 7:00 am -12:00 pm

Event location

Carderock Recreation Area

C&O Canal Towpath

Potomac, Maryland 20854

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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.

Event

SHRM Washington DC Impact 5K

November 7, 2026 8:00 am -9:15 am

Event location

Rock Creek Park / Beach Drive (Staging at the Rock Creek Tennis Center / Picnic Grove 24)

4850 Colorado Ave NW

Washington, District Of Columbia 20011

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Course: A scenic out-and-back fall 5K route along Beach Drive.

The Experience: Join us for a premier morning of racing featuring chipped timing, custom finisher medals, high-quality tech tees, and hassle-free packet pickup at Potomac River Running's Ballston store.

DCXC

RunWashington preseason pep rally Aug. 25

By Charlie Ban

Published August 13, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated August 13, 2019 at 11:56AM

Runners, parents and coaches await the start of the 2019 preseason pep rally. Photo: Charlie Ban

RunWashington, along with Pacers Running and New Balance, will be celebrating the start of the 2019 cross country season Aug. 25 by recognizing 62 of the most promising young cross country runners in the D.C. area.

A preseason pep rally, held at the Pacers Running pop-up at 600 H Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002, will open at 5:30 p.m. and start up at 6 p.m.

Photos

Bowie State Football 5k photos

By Charlie Ban

Published August 11, 2019 at 1:18PM

Michael Ogunsalu leads a pack of his teammates in the first mile. Photo: Charlie Ban

The Bowie State football team, following its first CIAA title last fall, took a break from preseason practice for its inaugural 5k. Senior safety John Johnson IV, 21, demonstrated that he hadn’t been slacking off on days he hadn’t made practice by winning the race around the campus in 19:49. Reston’s Robyn Kenul, 32, a recent transplant from Long Island, won the women’s race in 21:08.

Check out photos from the race here

Monumental Runner

Monuemental Runner – Laura Povlich

By Charlie Ban

Published August 9, 2019 at 11:00AM

Name: Laura Povlich

Self-described age group: 35-39

Pace the Nation

Docs: the British Bulldog of Arlington – Pace the Nation – Jose Ortiz

By Pace the Nation

Published August 7, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated August 7, 2019 at 11:25AM

After a summer hiatus, the hosts return to talk to Jose Ortiz, founder of Run Hope Work, which trains 20-24-year-olds in the skilled trades, using running as the underpinning of the program.

DCXC

Chantilly coach works himself back into shape

By Jacqueline Feldscher

Published August 6, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated August 6, 2019 at 1:27PM

Matt Gilchrist poses with his runners at the Northern Region track championship in May, Photo; Ed Lull

In 2012, Chantilly High School track and cross country coach Matt Gilchrist wanted to run a mile with one of his graduating seniors, state champion Sean McGorty. But the weight Gilchrist had gained over the years of putting his coaching before his own health stopped him in his tracks.

“I remember getting about 600 meters around the track and I was done. I couldn’t do it,” said Gilchrist, who previously ran at Gettysburg College. “At the time, I was 40 years old and couldn’t run a mile.”