By Kelyn Soong

One of the fastest growing road races in the country is right here in Washington, D.C.

With nearly 8,000 runners set to line the streets of downtown D.C. on Sunday, Sept. 15, the DC Half, hosted by Pacers Running, has grown approximately 30 percent each year in participation since making its debut in 2020, satisfying an appetite from runners for a fall half marathon in the city.

The event, which includes a half marathon, a two or three-person half marathon relay and for the first time this year, a 5K option, has also attracted a young demographic. More than 50 percent of the 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.

According to Strava, Gen Z is 29 percent more likely than Millennials to work out with another person at least some of the time. 

“People are finding that fitness in running is social,” says Elyse Braner, the director of people and culture at Pacers Running. “I think people want to sign up and do races together, sign up as teams and clubs and groups. It’s getting all the different groups and clubs involved in the race.”

Building community has been an important part of the DC Half, Braner says. The hydration stations will be staffed with volunteers from Pacers Running and Pacers Social. Each Pacers Running store at the water stops will have its own theme. 

Throughout the half marathon course, which is flat, fast and winds through historic, picturesque landmarks and locations like the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Rock Creek Park, 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.

“Our hope for this event is that this will be the best and biggest half marathon in D.C. Point blank. Period,” says Pacers CEO Kathy Dalby. “We think we have a very unique, localized feel to this event. That’s our aspiration. Our aspiration is we want to be the biggest. We’re mindful of our growth.”

The DC Half this year is sponsored by Brooks Running, MedStar Health, the official medical service provider of the race, The Morrow Hotel and DC Brau. 

On Saturday, Sept. 14, there will be a 9 a.m. shakeout run at Franklin Hall with an appearance by special guest, Olympian and Boston Marathon champion Des Linden, a Brooks athlete. 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,” Braner says.

Half marathon finishers will receive a beach towel at the finish line after the race and any participant that is 21 and older will receive a complimentary DC Brau Full Transparency mango-flavored hard seltzer that comes with a special label created specifically for the DC Half. 

“Any chance that I can be near or be involved with running in a close way or get my brand involved with it is a win for me,” says Brandon Skall, the co-founder and CEO of DC Brau, who runs every day before work. “I like to have my brand associated with things I'm passionate about.”

For some runners in the city, the DC Half perfectly fits into their fall marathon training schedule. That was the case for 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.

“When I learned from Pacers there would be a half in the fall, it was perfect,” says Perrin, who runs with Pacers Social every month in Navy Yard. “I wouldn't have to travel, and now there’s a half in the fall I can do every year if I want to. There are people who like spring or fall races. I like fall, because I can have the summer to train for it.”

Leading up to the race, participants have been encouraged to join Pacers Social runs in preparation for the DC Half. Julia Dickson, 26, of Northeast Washington, is a social run leader who runs on Mondays out of the Pacers store on 14th Street and on Thursdays at the track workout at Banneker Recreation Center. 

Dickson believes that the social aspect of the DC Half is one of the reasons many young people have signed up for the race.

“When you're moving to a city and don't know anyone, it's a good way to meet people,” she says. “The D.C. running community is really tight-knit. Everyone sort of knows each other.”