D.C. area runners - I need a 5k!

[Deleted]

Hey there! Long time, no see. Anyway, I need to train for a 5k (if you want the full story, there's a three-pager on CEP about it). Based on my past experience and current fitness level, I am shooting for mid August (related: just fucking shoot me, running in August is INSANE). But I can be flexible and could go into September for it or maybe back to late July.

I did a little poking around online, but are there any races you'd suggest?  My car will be here by then, which opens up my options and allows me to go further into VA or MD.  I'd rather not go too terribly far, though, simply because I assume any August race will start early and I'd rather not have a long drive beforehand.

Thanks!

[ebeth]

august is going to be tricky. I think pacers has a 5K series in august in arlington that runs on Friday nights. Lost Dog?

dcrr has a cross country 3 mile race in august that accompanies the annual club picnic. I've never done it but the fact that it's cross country might mean some decent shade.

there's a 5K at congressional cemetary (it's at night, the first weekend of october). low key. good time. not in your time frame. ebeth can't follow instructions!

it might be too soon but the capitol hill classic is on the 19th and they have a 3K and race.

and there's the crystal city twilight 5K which is usually the last weekend in july. but I swear to science that race is always on the hottest day of the year. the year I ran it it was still well into the 90s when the race started.

[gt7301b]

I'd probably go a Pacer's or PR race because they are well organized and tend to have a fair amount of crowd support.

I wouldn't recommend the Crystal City Twilighter, it was a fun race, but hot as hell. I don't know why race organizers think it is a good idea to do Twilighters in July and August.

Mr. GT did the Clarendon Day 10k (there is a 5K option) and really enjoyed the race. you also get a lot of specials with your registration. I think this would be my choice.

It looks like most of the PR races are in Reston/Fairfax area and those courses can be pretty hilly.

Mr. GT also did the Leesburg 20k/10k (they changed the 10K to a 5K) and enjoyed the race, it was hot, but it would probably be okay for a 5K.

[ebeth]

this seems as good a place as any to share the worst race photo eva.  from the crystal city 5K.  everyone looks so. . . .hot.  and defeated.


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[Deleted]

OMG. That poor woman looks like she's about to die.

Hmm, I wonder if I should push it off past Labor Day. I will look into the Pacers ones. I HATE the idea of doing my first 5k in forever in motherfucking August, but I need to start training, and I am anticipating needing about 16 weeks to be ready.

[gt7301b]

ebeth you look amazing, I'm pretty sure I looked like that lady the last time I ran that stupid Crystal City 5k.

AH - I thought of another race, Bristol Tri and Swim club puts on AMAZING races. They have a fall into freedom race in September that I have on my race calendar. I know it is a bit of a drive from DC, but they put on some of the best races I have ever participated in.

[Deleted]

gt7301b, where is that? Bristol, VA? As in, near Kingsport, TN?

Between being new and not currently having a car, if it's not accessible by WMATA, I probably have no clue where it is.

[gt7301b]

May 1, 2013 9:48:03 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

gt7301b, where is that? Bristol, VA? As in, near Kingsport, TN?

Between being new and not currently having a car, if it's not accessible by WMATA, I probably have no clue where it is.

Opps, it should be Bristow, not Bristol. The races are in Manassas, so far, but not that far:p

www.bristowtriandswim.com/site/81f5e20177e040949ba5f2a96c4b1aa7/default?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbristowtriandswim.com%2FFall_Into_Freedom_5k.html#2573

[Deleted]

Oh, HUGE difference. Checking that out now!

[Deleted]

OK, that sounds great! I am going to plan for that one. Anybody who wants to join me is welcome. There will be breakfast afterwards. Oh yes, there WILL be breakfast.

[ebeth]

May 1, 2013 9:43:33 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

ebeth you look amazing, I'm pretty sure I looked like that lady the last time I ran that stupid Crystal City 5k.

AH - I thought of another race, Bristol Tri and Swim club puts on AMAZING races. They have a fall into freedom race in September that I have on my race calendar. I know it is a bit of a drive from DC, but they put on some of the best races I have ever participated in.

thanks! apparently twiglight runs are good for ebeth's race photos because every single other race photo I have is awful.  it's really too bad that lady is in front of me and everyone looks so hot and sad. . . .

@angryharpy- there's a 5K the first weekend in September that someone posted on the DC H&F board too.

[Deleted]

Oh, that is the National Press Club race, which it says on the website you have to RSVP for. It makes it sound like you have to have an invitation. I just want to make sure that I'm doing a pretty large race so I don't feel totally alone in Slow Poke Land. I was not sure on that one. The OP mentioned it's metro accessible, but you can't actually take the metro there because of the start time. So I am very unclear on how one gets there. I guess you bike or take a really early bus?

[gt7301b]

I plan to run the fall into freedom race as long as I don't end up running Medoc. (And I'm 99% sure Medic won't happen this year)

[mrshandy]

There's the 9/11 memorial 5k in september. My h ran it one year and had a lot of fun. It's near the Pentagon.

[gt7301b]

May 1, 2013 13:23:39 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

There's the 9/11 memorial 5k in september. My h ran it one year and had a lot of fun. It's near the Pentagon.

This starts at night too, I think they don't even wait till twilight. I don't understand why 1/2 the races in July- September are at night.

[Deleted]

I was going to do Leesburg on 8/18 because that fits perfectly, but I'll be out of town. So it may be Fall Into Freedom, assuming it actually is the weekend after Labor Day (only last year's date is online right now).

[thebulldog]

Sept 7 www.press.org/5k

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[thebulldog]

May 1, 2013 11:07:07 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

Oh, that is the National Press Club race, which it says on the website you have to RSVP for. It makes it sound like you have to have an invitation. I just want to make sure that I'm doing a pretty large race so I don't feel totally alone in Slow Poke Land. I was not sure on that one. The OP mentioned it's metro accessible, but you can't actually take the metro there because of the start time. So I am very unclear on how one gets there. I guess you bike or take a really early bus?

No invited needed. Totally open to the public. This was my first ever 5k and plenty in "slowpoke land."

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[lcoffee]

I live in the area and here are a couple of great races during the time.

laracoffee.com/jog-stroller-friendly-race-calendar/page_offset:1/action:stream/time_limit:1371384001/cat_ids:132/