Bag drop will be located near the start/finish line at West Potomac Park.  You will be able to use your CLEAR provided Tee Shirt bag for this or ask for a bag at packet pickup. (Only clear bags will be allowed to be left in Bag Drop please!)  Bags must be collected post-race by 11:00am.

Restrooms will be available near the start/finish line. Restrooms will also be on course at all aid stations.  All aid stations will include an ADA accessible restroom. 

** SATURDAY EVENTS and SUNDAY EVENTS share the same start and finish lines 

SATURDAY -
The 5K start time is promptly at 8:00 AM for both 5K and DC Challenge runners.  Plan to be in the start corral area and ready to run by no later than 7:45 AM.  Any final announcements and our National Anthem will be presented. The 5K start line will have a hard close at 8:10 AM.  Any runners who do not cross the start mat by then will not be able to receive a finish time for their race.      Self-seeding, placing yourself in the start area by your predicted pacer per mile, will ensure that all runners can confidently begin their race.

SUNDAY - 
The DC Half start time is 7:00 AM for both Half and DC Challenge runners.  Plan to be in the start corral area and ready to run by no later than 6:45 AM.    You will have been assigned an Alpha Corral on your race bib by your provided predicted pace per mile.  Locate the start area and get set in your assigned corral - this will ensure that all runners can confidently begin their race.

Pace teams will be visible at benchmark times within the Half runner field for reference.  Any final announcements and our National Anthem will be presented.  The start line will have a hard close at 7:15 AM.  Any runners who do not cross the start line by then will not be able to receive a finish time for their race.

TIME LIMITS
The Half Marathon course cutoff is based on a 15 minute per mile pace. This roughly equates to a 5K as 0:46:30 and  3:30:00 half marathon. Depending on where in the race you might fall behind, there may be options to be moved up on the course or move to the public sidewalks to complete your run.

SATURDAY - 5K Distance

SUNDAY - Half Distance
All aid stations will provide water.  Aid stations 2, 3, and 5 will also provide electrolytes. In addition, Aid Station #4 will offer Gels - flavors to be determined closer to race date.

SUNDAY - Half Distance
The DC Half distance will have pace teams comprised of two members each for each pace per mile time.   The pacers will be wearing special identified singlets and you can run with any pacer.  Each pacer will also run while holding a pace stick sign overhead indicating their specific planned pace time. 

If you want to run with a pace group, there is no need to sign up or declare in advance.  Just select the pace per mile that you want to maintain from the following:  1:30; 1:35; 1:40; 1:45; 1:50; 1:55; 2:00; 2:10; 2:20; 2:30; 2:45; 3:00; 3:15 
On race morning look for that team’s pace signs in the start corrals and line up to start your race with the group!

DOGS!!

HALF MARATHON - 

Unfortunately, due to the size of the event, we no longer allow dogs or strollers on the Half Marathon course.  

Service dogs are exempt from this policy. However, if you plan to run with a service dog, please notify us ahead of time by emailing events@runpacers.com so we can best accommodate you.

DOGS in the 5K

If you will be participating in the 5K with a dog, we will ask you in registration to please acknowledge that you agree to abide by the following safety guidelines: 

·       Insure that your dog is on a non-retractable leash no longer than 5ft. We have to require that dogs must remain on-leash at all times before, during and after the race - safety and park rules!

·       When participating with your dog, you must line up at the back of the pack and navigate around other participants safely and with the utmost caution.

·       Be aware of your surroundings, respect others on course, and use good decision making skills and good sportsmanlike conduct at all times.

DOGS at the FESTIVALS -

Dogs and strollers are allowed as spectators as well as in the post-race festival area. Dogs must be up to date on vaccines, well behaved around other people, and kept on a leash at all times.

STROLLERS IN THE 5K (only)

·       Pacers Running believes a fit family is a happy family and allows strollers on course for the DC 5K race.  Safety requirements include that strollers must start in the back, may not weave through packs of runners, and must always yield the right of way to other runners.

·       Youngsters will not be required to register as long as they remain in the stroller for the entire duration of the race. If you anticipate that at any point your child/children will be moving on the course out of the stroller and under their own power, then they will need to register. This is for the safety of all participants.