Jay Jacob Wind, a well-known, well-liked and longtime stalwart on the running scene in the metro area, is retiring as a race director.
He will direct his final race, the Potomac River Run Marathon and Half, on Saturday, Oct. 17.
running
Ever-changing autumn weather conditions make each college and high-school cross-country season unique.
Foul weather can often cause postponements of other outdoor fall high-school sports, but cross-country are expected to proceed. That’s the nature of the sport.
Even as a startup race way back in 1976, the Marine Corps Marathon was an instant hit — and has only continued to grow and expand in popularity a half-century later.
In that initial year the race attracted a bit more than 1,100 runners, an impressive number for an upstart event. Today the participation total has swelled to between 35,000 to 40,000 each year, making it the third largest marathon in the U.S., and the largest race in the world that does not offer prize money.
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U.S. Navy Capt. Vince Libasci and 50 sailors from the USS Arlington (LPD-24) traveled to the ship’s namesake community on Sept. 5 to visit the Pentagon Memorial and participate in the annual Arlington Police, Fire, Sheriff & ECC 9/11 Memorial 5K Run.
At the race, Capt. Libasci — the ship’s 10th commanding officer — and the sailors of the USS Arlington were recognized. Crew members not only ran the race but also participated in the joint Honor Guard and awarded finishing medals to runners.
What began with a modest number of participants 13 years ago swelled to more than 150 entries in this summer’s Arlington Triathlon.
The event is for youth participants ages 7 to 15. The triathlon begins with a swim in the Washington-Liberty High School aquatics center, followed by a flat bike ride on a closed loop course and finishes with a run on some streets near the school but mostly on the outdoor W-L track.
The fall high school cross-country season got an early and busy start in recent days, with meets held throughout the metro area.
Contests were held from Leesburg to Alexandria from Aug. 26-29.
It used to be the shoes worn by college and high school cross country and track-and-field runners were mainly either black or white, sometimes blue.
That’s not the case as much anymore.
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After making a significant life change, Bob Mathew achieved a rare worldwide running milestone.
By finishing the 2025 New York City Marathon, the 61-year-old Arlington native became one of roughly 40,000 people worldwide who have completed the six Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Just because it’s the summer and school isn’t in session doesn’t mean the defending Virginia state cross-country team champion Bishop O’Connell Knights have remained idle in regard to defending their high-school titles this upcoming fall season.
The official schedules begin in late August or early September at various meets for all metro-area high-school teams. Many of those teams, including O’Connell, already are preparing by at least holding informal volunteer practices a couple of times a week or so.
The Washington region offers a wide variety of running road races throughout the summer.
While traditional 5K, 10K and marathon events take place, other events are modified in unique ways, and attract significant interest as a result.