An annual springtime athletic tradition is coming back to Crystal City this week.

Crystal City’s 5K Fridays will start this coming Friday, April 6 — the first of four Friday races that will run through April 27. The race, organized by Pacers Events, will take runners on a looped course up and down Crystal Drive, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Registration is $20 per race or $60 for all four races. Runners can register online or in person, before the race.

Arlington County Police will be blocking off lanes of several Crystal City-area roads between 6:15 and 7:45 p.m. on race days. Among them:

  • Northbound lanes of Crystal Drive between 23rd Street and 12th Street (one northbound lane of Crystal Drive will remain open between 15th and 12th Street)
  • Northbound lanes of Crystal Drive between 26th Street and Potomac Avenue/27th Street
  • Northbound lanes of Potomac Avenue between 27th Street and 33rd Street
  • One southbound lane of Potomac Avenue between 27th and 33rd Street
  • Two westbound lanes (one lane to remain open) of 12th Street between Crystal Drive and Old Jefferson Davis Highway/Clark Street
  • One northbound lane of Old Jefferson Davis Highway will be closed for approximately 100 feet (one lane to remain open)

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser


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Closures for Weekend 5K Race — A number of streets will be closed in the Williamsburg area on Saturday for the 2nd annual Nottingham Elementary PTA 5K Run/Walk. Parts of Williamsburg Boulevard, Little Falls Road and N. Ohio Street will be closed between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. Race participants are being encouraged to wear green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. [Arlington County Police Department]

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Arlington County Police will close a number of streets in the Pentagon City area Sunday morning for the annual Love The Run You’re With 5K race.

The race will start and end in front of Pentagon Row. Planned road closures include:

  • South Joyce St. between South 15th St. and Army Navy Dr. will be closed from 7:00 AM until 11:00 AM.
  • Army Navy Dr. between South Joyce St. and South 25th St. will be closed from 7:00 AM until 11:00 AM.

Arlington County also issued the following parking advice.

Race attendees are encouraged to use Metro however, if driving please utilize the parking garage at the Pentagon City Mall.

In addition, street parking in the area will be restricted. Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, call 703-228-4252.

The race features three different entry categories: “Co-Dependent” (in a relationship), “Stupid Cupid” (single), “Love ’em or Leave ’em” (it’s complicated). Registrants will receive a race bib with a color corresponding to their respective relationship status.


Pay no mind to the white stuff on the ground. The start of spring is a mere four weeks away (March 20).

One annual springtime tradition that’s quickly approaching is Crystal City’s 5K Fridays.

Every Friday in April, starting on April 1, Crystal Drive and Old Jefferson Davis Highway will be shut down between 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. to allow hundreds of runners to take a jog through the heart of Crystal City.

Registration for individual races is $20, while registration for the entire series of five races is $75.

The first three races will include a tie-in with Crystal City’s upcoming FLASH photography exhibit. Runners will get free admission and a free drink at an after-party held in the exhibit space, provided they remember to hang on to their racing bib.


Crystal City will be resuming its popular “5K Fridays” in April.

The neighborhood held the series of weekly 5K runs for the first time last year. Due to popular demand, it appears that 5K Fridays may become a yearly tradition.

The first of five 5K Fridays will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on April 2. The starting line will be located at 2121 Crystal Drive. Registration is $15 for one race, $50 for all five.

More information from Crystal City BID, after the jump.

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