WRC Heads to Vienna for the Fourth

Running has become as much a part of July 4th as fireworks and parades.

The Washington Running Club used to run a 5K in Potomac, Md., then head to Tris Kruger’s place, but that wholesome tradition has passed.

In my hometown of Atlanta, they’ve raced the Peachtree Road Race 10K every year since 1970. It’s now the largest road race in the world with 60,000 runners.

This year as a club we’re throwing our support behind the Potomac Valley Track Club‘s Go Fourth 8K at Centennial Park in Vienna, Va. Get directions.

This will also be the July race for WRC’s inaugural Grand Prix. Previously, the race was “to be determined.”

Race Registration is inexpensive by today’s standards at $8 for non-members. The course is described as “park trail, entirely flat.”

The winning time last year—albeit a different course—was just under 30 minutes for men and just under 33 minutes for women, so I know several members can beat that.

What’s not to be liked?

Sound The Klaxon! Grand Prix is Aweigh

The Washington Running Club garnered recognition over the weekend as several members ran in Sunday’s Capitol Hill Classic 10K under the club’s team.

WRC finished in a respectable 7th place out of 44 teams (results). Finishers had their club name—Washington Running Club in our case—called out over the public address system as they finished.

Rachel Clattenburg (42:08), Julia Taylor (43:44), and Jerry Paulson (48:19) comprised the WRC team scorers. Julia finished second in her age group, getting nipped by a mere 11 seconds. Christine Hackman finished in fourth in the same age group while netting a 46:35.

Dan Yi—running for the Civil Rights Racers—ran an impressive 37:07 the day after running 30 miles in preparation for the upcoming Comrades Marathon on June 2nd.

The 10K’s team competition counted the top 3 finishers on the team with at least one being of the opposite sex.

This weekend’s race also marked the sixth race in WRC’s inaugural Grand Prix. Up-to-date standings show President Kirk Masterson leading the men’s division with an average age-graded score of 79.32% through three races.

Christine Hackman has the highest age-graded score on the women’s side with a 73.22%. Julia Taylor is just behind her with a 72.53%.

The age-graded scoring system is meant to account for age in performances and give runners of all ages an equal chance to compete on the same scale.

Runners must compete in 5 races to qualify for the Grand Prix—at least 4 from the selected races in the series, with the option of one performance from outside. The standings above don’t yet reflect the one elective race.

The next race in the WRC Grand Prix is the Lawyers Have Heart 10K on June 8.