Hey, happy Friday, y’all! While we are still kind of digging out from the Blizzard of 2016, it’s been an interesting week. I, for one, am very happy that the weekend is here! Remember that every fifth Friday is a free Friday. So today, I thought I’d share five of my favorite DC area races. This list could’ve been much longer – there are so many wonderful races in the area. I recommend each race on this list. Don’t forget to check out my co-hosts Mar and Cynthia and to link back to each of us if you are linking up!
- Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. LOVE this race! In fact, I love it so much that this year I’m one of the Social Runners for the race. It’s fun, fast, flat and just a great tour of DC. If I had to choose only one race to ever run in DC forever, the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler would be it. For sure!
- Capitol Hill Classic. I haven’t raced this one in awhile, but it’s still one of my favorite local races. A quick 10k that is entirely on Capitol Hill? Yes, please!
- Clarendon Day 5k/10k. This race is great because you start on a huge downhill and it’s on a Saturday! I love Saturday races. I’ve done the double (race both the 5k and the 10k) twice and just the 10k once. The double is HARD and HURTS. The 10k is fast and flat! Either way, I recommend this one for sure!
- Navy Air Force Half Marathon. I have only run this one once but I really liked it. It’s a familiar course and had good energy and while I don’t love Haines point, it wasn’t awful. I may do this one again this year, just depending on the timing!
- Marine Corps Marathon. Yes, I know. If you read my recap, you know I didn’t LOVE this race. It was a bad day for me and that can be hard. However, the patriotic aspects, the crowds and the fact that so many friends both race and spectate this race each year pushed MCM onto this list! I know I said I probably won’t run this one again, but never say never, right? Who knows?
Have you run any of these races??
The MCM will always be one of my very favorite races, and the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler holds almost as many fond memories!
Thanks for the linkup!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Five Cardio Workouts To Do During And After Snow Storm
They are both such iconic DC races!
I’m hoping to run the Cap Hill Classic for the first time this year.
It’s a great race – I think you’d like it!
The Cherry Blossom 10-Miler is on my bucket list of races – I can’t imagine a more gorgeous Spring race! Someday….
It’s a good one!!
I used to live in the DC area too and the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler is my absolute favorite DC race. Marine Corps was also my first marathon so it hold special meaning for me and even though I’ve run it several more times since, that first year will always be my favorite.
Your first marathon is always special!
Would you believe I’ve only run two of those?? I really want to run the Navy AF half – if my schedule ever cooperates. Clarendon Day used to be an every year race until Shoo started playing so much soccer. Sigh.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…5 Snowfessions Friday
I’m surprised you’ve only run two!! Ah yes, soccer mom duties 🙂
Loved running the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in 2013! I would love to run it again or another DC race, maybe the Marine Corps Marathon someday.
They all sound amazing!! The races in my part of the world are all pretty small and low-key, so I’d really love to do one like the Marine Corps one day!
Karien @ Running the Race recently posted…My five favourite reasons to run
Love this list! #1 is on my bucket list for sure. I hope I can run in DC next time I’m on the east coast!
I haven’t done any of these races which is a shame because I am so close to DC! However, getting there for packet pick-up the day before ends up being tricky if they don’t offer it the morning of the race. I wish traffic in Baltimore and DC wasn’t so awful! I have heard great things about many of these races. I was in DC during the MCM last year and the atmosphere was so fun!
Out of all these I’ve only done the CUCB, since I prefer 10 milers. 😉 You need to do Lawyers Have Heart with me this June.
Super jealous of the amazing races that are in your backyard, We have some nice local races, but big cities are the best for fantastic race experiences. Marine Corps Marathon is a super race and I loved spectating last year.
Pam recently posted…Friday Five: Five Memorable Races
I have never run a race in DC. This is pretty crazy because I lived in NYC for 10 years and Philly for 2. I have always wanted to do Cherry Blossom and Capitol Hill sounds amazing, too.
You are so lucky to have a choice of such great races. We have quite a few here but they are either really big (30 000 + people) or really small (1 000 or so). Kind of all or nothing !
I would love to run in DC one day around all the monuments.
Karen @ Fit in France recently posted…Runfessions : Marathon training
I am so excited to come back to cherry blossom this year after a 2 year break. See you there!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…5 Races To Run In 2016
While I’m thinking of it, any thoughts on doing the Pacers St. Pat’s Run Double?? It’s 2 weeks before Shamrock and could be a fun tune-up/way to get in our last long run!
Ah, I try to limit my Sunday races to the big ones since they require me to miss church and I hate that. So I will be skipping out on that one…AND my plan has me running 12 the weekend before Shamrock, lol!
I have done Marine Corp. I would love to do more races In the DC are. It always sounds like they have some good ones.
lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…You don’t want to become THAT Blogger
I’ve been tempted to do MCM as my first marathon – maybe I’ll give it a go! I’d also love to do the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler!
Sean recently posted…5 Running Podcasts to Follow
MCM has a LOT of first time marathoners, so you wouldn’t be alone 🙂
Y’all have so many great races. I wish I could do more races in DFW, but sometimes I can’t make it to packet pickup without taking time off from work. It’s hard to imagine all the spring races are coming up soon, and I’ve started seeing ads for St. Patrick’s Day races. That jolted me, but then Monday is February.
Ooh, I hadn’t heard of the Capitol Hill Classic. I’ll have to look into that one! And I felt like the MCM 10k was a good way to participate in the weekend if you don’t want to do the marathon 🙂
Chaitali recently posted…Rock and Roll DC Half Marathon training – week 7
YAY to this post! I actually ran the GW Parkway 10 miler last April and LOVED it. It’s right around the same time as the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, but it’s much smaller but super well organized. I’m thinking of doing it again this year. I’d love to do the Army 10 miler and for sure the Capitol Hill Classic–we should run that together!
jen@bubblyrunner.com recently posted…Friday Faves
I ran three of your five back when I lived in DC (MCM, Cherry Blossom + Navy/MC 5 Miler)! Honestly, one of the things I miss most about living in the area is all the fantastic races that you have at your fingertips… as long as race registration and lotteries work in your favor. I would add the ATM to this list though!
Lisa @ Lisa Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Five Lessons Learned from the 21 Day Reset Challenge for Runners
Like Erika, I’ve only run two of these – Cherry Blossom and Clarendon Day. Cherry Blossom just wasn’t realistic this year (I don’t think I’ll be anywhere close to back to running 10 miles by April!), and I’m hopeful that I can do Clarendon Day again. If I ever start running marathons Marine Corps will definitely be on my list of races to run.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Friday Five – Five Signs You’re a New Mom
Cherry Blossom is tons of fun! And one day I’ll do MCM. Thanks for the ideas!
i would LOVE to do the cherry blossom 10 miler one day!
MCM was my bucket list race and I loved it BUT it was definitely the hardest marathon for me so far. I struggled so much and actually had a similar experience as you. Pre-race it was already not going well as it was FREEZING and I was royally unprepared (entirely my fault). I wished my husband was running with me and I let myself be bummed about that. The little hill at the end was ridiculous. BUT, overall, the race course was fantastic because like you said, since I was visiting, all of it was so new to me. And being medaled by a Marine is simply the best. <3
I love Cherry Blossom and am excited to run it again (with you too!). I haven’t run any of the others so I’m totally
I think I may enter the MCM lottery this year! Maybe. Ack, I don’t know! 🙂
I SO want to run the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler! I don’t know when I’ll make it out to DC, but it’s on the list. Thanks for hosting! 🙂
ooh, I always forget about the Capitol Hill Classic – maybe I’ll look into it this year!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Friday Five: 5 Ways to Practice Self-Care
So many great opportunities to keep active and fit in DC! I am happy here in San Diego there is also a race almost every weekend!
I’ve run the Cherry Blossom and it’s a wonderful race, whether is coincides with the peak bloom weekend or not! I’ve also ran the Army 10-miler. I would love to run MCM one day! Kudos to you!
UGH! I lost the Cherry Blossom lottery this year… we happened to be in DC on the day of the race last year, and I declared I would run it… 🙁 My goal race is the MCM for this year; I deferred last years entry and can’t wait to run it! I have a lot of work to get me there, but I will find my way to that finish line!! I do love following other DC/NOVA bloggers to learn about training and races in the area… I have only been in the area for a couple of years, so I’m learning a lot from you all!
The only one I’ve run is Cherry Blossom, which I love. I really would like to do more races in DC, I always have a good time down there!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Runfessions – January 2016
You DC runners make me want to run that Cherry Blossom 10 miler so bad! And I wouldn’t mind running MCM either. Sigh.
I’ve said it before how jealous I am of where yall live and all the great races! This post, again comes as I”m green with envy, but in a good way! 🙂 Thanks Courtney for the link up! Glad I could participate
I want to run Cherry Blossom and Clarendon one day! Both sound like fun 🙂
Thank you for sharing all these great races & for hosting the link-up! I did the Marine Corps Marathon in 2013 and loved it! I had a bad day too, but appreciated all of the scenery & the patriotic aspects of the event as well. The Cherry Blossom 10 miler sounds amazing, I would love to participate in that at some point as well!! Have a great week!! 🙂
Great list! I have run all of them as a matter of fact! Congrats on CB, I didn’t know that you were going to be a social runner! Very fun!!