Way back in cold, windy February, thirty-one athletes and five volunteer coaches gathered atop the West Falls Church Metro Parking Garage to sign up for twelve weeks of training leading up to the target race, the venerable Capitol Hill Classic 10K with its re-designed race course. Following two weeks of running on the W&OD Trail and, for some, up the six ramps of the parking structure after the runs, the meeting location was changed to Fletcher’s Boathouse where the C&O Canal Towpath awaited. Bethesda and the Capital Crescent Trail, and Roosevelt Island and the Mount Vernon Trail, were next. Then it was back to the District where Haines Point and the the Mall, and Stanton Square and the CHC race course, were the venues.
Along the way a Sunday hill workout was held. Track workouts were offered every Wednesday evening. Nationally-known runner and Washington Post columnist Jim Hage, a back-to-back MCM and two-time Army winner, gave a talk on racing to the Program members. Program members received weekly email containing training tips, and had the opportunity to discuss strategy with their coaches over post-run coffee.
Over the weeks, the group boiled down to a small band of determined runners who achieved a runner/coach ratio of about two-to-one. They were joined by three runners and another coach from the Reebok SunTrust National Half-Marathon Training Program, powered by the DC Road Runners, after that program’s target race was run at the end of March.
On May 18th, nine runners from the Program put their hard work and dedication to the test by running the CHC 10K. Finishing times ranged from 47 to 75 minutes, with three times being under an hour. Six of the finishing times met the SunTrust Marathon and Half-Marathon qualifying standard for next year. Mary Alice was the fastest non-coach runner, taking second in her age group.
A Program participant also ran in the CHC’s associated 3K race, winning an age group award. Yet another Program participant, who was unable to compete in the target race, took a Saturday off from the Program to break two hours in the SunTrust National Half-Marathon.
At least two alumni from the 2006 Program raced the CHC 10K and broke 50 minutes. (Right: After the 10K race. From left to right, Sasha, H a fast Program graduate, Peter wearing the Program's technical shirt, and J another fast Program graduate.)
A big thanks goes to volunteer coaches Kristin Blanchat (the Club's Volunteer of the Year in 2006), John Braden (who ran a sub-two hour SunTrust National Half-Marathon), Renee Clement (a Program graduate), Linda Haines (a 10-Mile Group Training Program volunteer coach last year) , Bob Selin-Williams (the Club's Most-Improved Male Runner in 2007), Sasha Sibert (also a Reebok SunTrust National Half-Marathon Training Program volunteer coach) and Alexandra Tagle (a Program graduate). Yay for volunteers!
The following Program participants finished the CHC 10K, listed alphabetically by last name: Mary Alice, Peter, Krista, Sasha, Courtney, Ginny, Marisa, Ellen and Patricia.
Everyone who finished the program is more than ready to tackle training for the Army10-Miler in October. The twelve-week 10-Mile Group Training Program for Army, along with the conjointly-run fourteen-week 10K Group Training Program for the Rediscovery 10K held on Haines Point two weeks after Army, starts on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 8 am. The Programs, costing $40 each (you must be a dcrrc member to enroll), will meet at the Gotta Run running store in South Arlington on Pentagon Row for the first three weeks, where sign-up will take place. After that, beginning in August, the starting time and meeting location will change.
