The top five reasons to run the DC Half
By Kelyn Soong
The top five reasons to run the DC Half
By Kelyn Soong
By Kelyn Soong
Meet an Olympian. Get a free DC Brau hard seltzer. Treat yourself to the scenic views of D.C.
Those are just some of the reasons Pacers Running’s DC Half is the event to be at this fall. The race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15 and includes a half marathon, a two or three-person half marathon relay and for the first time this year, a 5K option, which recently sold out.
The event has grown by approximately 30 percent each year since debuting in 2020 and the participants this year reflect a growing trend of younger people joining run clubs. More than 50 percent of the roughly 6,500 half marathon registrants are between the ages of 18 to 29. Among the capacity 1,000 registrants for the 5K, more than 42 percent is in that same age group.
“I think it’s so community focused and we do so many community events leading up to the race that I think it draws in people who want to do exercise socially, and want to do the race with friends,” says Elyse Braner, Pacers Running’s director of people and culture.
Flat, fast and Scenic
Searching for a race to run your personal best? Look no further than the DC Half.
The 13.1-mile race starts and finishes at West Potomac Park on Ohio Drive. The course then winds around Hains Point, past the Tidal Basin, with picturesque views of the monuments and the National Mall, before passing by the Kennedy Center and into Rock Creek Park. Runners then run that route in reverse.
“It’s pretty,” says 39-year-old Brent Perrin of Capitol Hill, who ran the DC Half for the first time last year in preparation for the Marine Corps Marathon and plans to run the half again this September. “It’s not too hilly. It’s flat. I live on the Hill, so I don’t go up to Rock Creek Park, so any excuse to go through Rock Creek Park, I’m a fan of.”
DC Brau hard seltzer
All athletes 21 and over will receive a complimentary DC Brau Full Transparency mango-flavored hard seltzer that comes with a special label created specifically for the DC Half.
Brandon Skall, the co-founder and CEO of DC Brau, says that hard seltzer was chosen because of its “health conscious tie-ins.”
“A lot of the younger generation are not interested in the high alcohol, heavy calorie drinks popular years ago,” he says. “They’re looking for low [alcohol content] or non-alcoholic beer, as well as those seltzers that have alcohol but have reduced calorie and sugar content. All of that makes sense to me. I like seeing a generation prioritizing health early in their life cycle.”
Shakeout with Des
Olympian and Boston Marathon champion Des Linden will be in town for a shakeout run sponsored by Brooks Running at Franklin Hall on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9 a.m.
There will be a 2-mile walk or 5K run option and participants can enjoy mocktails and mingle with other runners afterward. Linden will also be cheering on runners Sunday on race morning.
“I am proud that Pacers is able to give the community an opportunity to interact with and be inspired by an athlete that has accomplished as much as Des has,” says Elyse Braner, Pacers Running’s director of people and culture.
Run with Friends
Don’t feel like running all 13.1 miles by yourself? Join your friends on the DC Half relay.
A relay team can have two or three members, and any team member can run a leg. The first leg is approximately five miles long, while leg two is around six miles and the last leg is approximately two miles.
There will be a transition between members occurring at designated exchange zones. The total time will be calculated by combining the times of the team members.
Soak in the Atmosphere
Runners can expect to pass by various cheer stations hosted by local run clubs like the Northeast Track Club, District Running Collective, November Project and Vuori.
The hydration stations will also be staffed with volunteers from Pacers Running and Pacers Social. Each Pacers Running store at the water stops will have its own theme.
“I definitely like the energy of all the people cheering for you,” says Julia Dickson, 26, of Northeast Washington, a Pacers Social run leader who is racing the DC Half this year. “Anywhere there’s a water stop, you’ll find people cheering you on. And when you’re in the National Mall and Hains Point, there’s a lot of people.”
DC Half 2024 MERCH
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2:02 Women's Elite DC Half Crop sweatshirt
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Regular price$30.00Regular priceSale price$30.00 Save $-30.00 (%)Unit priceper
2:02 5 Panel DC Half Hat
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Regular price$38.00Regular priceSale price$38.00 Save $-38.00 (%)Unit priceper
2:02 Women's Sunset DC Half Singlet
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