5K | ARLnow.com

Second Annual Jennifer Bush-Lawson Memorial 5K Race Planned This Weekend

Published November 16, 2016 at 3:45PM

Now in its second year, a 5K race and festival is being held this weekend in memory of an Arlington mom killed by a passing truck while placing her children in a minivan.

The Jennifer Bush-Lawson Memorial 5K Race will take place on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. It will feature a 5K race, a kids fun run and a “Family Fun Day Festival.”

The festival will feature “music, food trucks, a beer garden, photo booth, rock climbing, ambulance and fire truck display, face painting, moon bounce, obstacle course, balloon animals and more.”

The event is being held at the Knights of Columbus (5115 Little Falls Road) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It benefits the Arlington Pediatric Center and the Virginia Hospital Center Outpatient Obstetrics Clinic, with a focus on prenatal and postnatal health services for underprivileged mothers and babies.

“Last year’s race raised over $100,000, and the goal for this year is to raise $150,000,” according to a press release.

A number of road closures will be in effect for the race. From the Arlington County Police Department:

The 2nd Annual Jennifer Bush-Lawson Memorial 5K Race will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2016. The Arlington County Police Department will conduct the following road closures from approximately 8:30 AM until 11:00 AM to accommodate this event:

Main Closures:

Little Falls Road: N. George Mason Drive to Yorktown Blvd.

Yorktown Blvd.: N. George Mason Drive to Williamsburg Blvd.

Williamsburg Blvd.: Yorktown Blvd. to N. Emerson Street

33rd Street: N. Emerson Street to N. George Mason Drive

George Mason Drive: N. 33rd Street to Yorktown Blvd.

Smaller closures exist within the race area

Any questions regarding the race can be directed to the Emergency Communication Center at (703) 558-2222. For day of information or emergencies, please instruct them to have the race supervisor (Lt. Ken Dennis) call you directly.

Photo via Facebook

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 7, 2016 at 9:00AM | Updated September 7, 2016 at 10:38AM

Permanent Bathrooms Coming to Iwo Jima Memorial — Congress has approved a bill to add permanent bathrooms to the Marine Corps War Memorial near Rosslyn. The bathrooms will replace the current porta-potties and will be accessible to those with disabilities, including wounded veterans. The cost of the project will be paid for by philanthropist David Rubenstein. [WUSA 9]

Arlington 9/11 5K Registration Closing — Online registration for the 15th annual Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff 9/11 Memorial 5K is closing at 10 a.m. this morning. The race will take place Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. [Zippyreg]

Remembering 9/11 in Arlington — Arlington County is holding events in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Tomorrow, Sept. 8, the county’s Emergency Preparedness Advisory Commission is holding a public event reflecting on the response to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, moderated by NBC 4’s Doug Kammerer. On Sept. 11 this year, the county will hold its annual wreath-laying ceremony at Courthouse Plaza. [Arlington County]

Police Car Involved in Crash — An Arlington County Police cruiser and an SUV collided yesterday afternoon while the police officer was responding to a call. The crash happened near the intersection of Walter Reed Drive and S. Arlington Mill Drive, roughly between Shirlington and Wakefield High School. No injuries were reported. [Twitter]

Arlington Not a ‘Sanctuary City’ — Does GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump’s pledge to crack down on “sanctuary cities” put Arlington in danger? Probably not, county officials say, because Arlington is not a sanctuary city. “It is, and has always been, Arlington County’s policy to comply with requests from all other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies including detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the county said. [NBC 4]

Photo courtesy James Mahony

Clarendon Day Set for Sept. 17

By ARLnow.com

Published August 30, 2016 at 11:20AM

The annual Clarendon Day street festival will take place a week earlier than usual this year.

Clarendon Day is now taking place on the third Saturday in September — Sept. 17 — from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. That permanent change follows last year’s extension of the event hours by one hour.

This year’s event will include music, food and drink, vendors and a kids area, in addition to a 5K/10K race before the event.

“Clarendon Day is Arlington’s biggest street festival,” the event’s website says. “With four music stages, craft beer and wine, the Clarendon Chili Cookoff, scores of local restaurants, a great kids area, a terrific VIP tent, arts and crafts vendors, plus local businesses and nonprofits, this free event has something for everyone.”

Organizers say they’re expecting more than 30,000 attendees.

Registration is now open for the Clarendon Day Run, which offers both 5K and 10K distances. The race follows a “seriously fast” downhill course from Clarendon to Rosslyn.

This year, however, runners will have to find their own way back to Clarendon following the race.

“Unlike in previous years we are unable to provide Metro cards back to the start line due to Safetrack work and change in WMATA policy for paper Metro cards,” the race’s website says. “Please consider walking or running back to the start (and stopping at Four Courts on the way!) or parking in Rosslyn or Courthouse (be mindful of parking restrictions).”

Clarendon Day is free to attend. Race registration starts at $40, while a separate “Kids Dash” is only $10.

Crystal Twilighter 5K Returns on July 23

By Jackie Friedman

Published July 1, 2016 at 2:30PM

Crystal City will host the annual Crystal City Twilighter 5K race on Saturday, July 23.

The race, organized by Pacers, will kick off at 8:30 p.m. The relatively flat course will start and finish will be in front of 2121 Crystal Drive.

There will also be a post-race party with food and drink specials at local restaurants. Cash prizes will be awarded to overall male and female runners. Age groups ranging from 1-10 and 80+ will also be given prizes.

Registration is $45 for adults over the age of 18, but $25 for those 18 and younger. Space is limited to 3,000 runners.

Disclosure: The run is sponsored by the Crystal City BID, an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Registration Open for Arlington 9/11 Memorial 5K

By ARLnow.com

Published April 14, 2016 at 11:45AM

It’s five months away, but registration is open for the annual Arlington Police, Fire and Sheriff 9/11 Memorial 5K.

Marking the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, this year the race is raising funds for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Early bird registration, through June 6, is $35. It’s $40 after that.

The race will take place on Saturday, Sept. 10 in the Pentagon City area. It is limited to 5,000 runners.

“Since its inception, the Arlington Police, Fire & Sheriff 9/11 Memorial Race has had over 30,000 runners cross its finish line and has raised over $500,000 for 9/11-related charities,” notes the race website.

Race organizers are also helping to promote a race this weekend in Alexandria.

The Run for 32 is being held at Cameron Run Regional Park (4001 Eisenhower Avenue) on Saturday, April 16. Held in remembrance of the victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech school shooting, the race helps to raise money for the Koshka Foundation, which was founded by one of the shooting’s most critically injured survivors.

Road Closures Planned for Crystal City 5K Fridays

By ARLnow.com

Published March 31, 2016 at 2:30PM

Crystal City’s 5K Fridays will kick off on Friday and a number of road and lane closures are planned to accommodate the race.

There will be five 5Ks in Crystal City in April — on April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. The start time for each is 6:30 p.m.

Arlington County Police officers will set up the following road closures from about 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. for the race.

Northbound lanes of Crystal Drive between 26th Street and 12th Street
North and southbound lanes of Long Bridge Drive, plus traffic around 6th, 10th, and Ball Streets

The southbound lanes of Crystal Drive will remain open during the race.

“In addition to the closures, street parking in the area will be restricted,” ACPD said. “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 703-558-2222.”

Registration is still open, for $20 per race or $75 for the entire series.

The course is flat with long straightaways. Course records were set in 2011 (15:10, men) and 2014 (16:53, women).

Photo by Diltch1

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 25, 2016 at 9:15AM

Arlington DMV Wait Times — The Arlington DMV office on Four Mile Run Drive has the longest wait times in the state. The average wait time is just shy of 45 minutes. Outside of the D.C. area, the wait times at Virginia DMV offices generally range from 20-25 minutes. [Twitter]

Dueling I-66 Letters to Dr. Gridlock — The widening of I-66 would “cripple Arlington forever,” says a letter writer to the Post’s Dr. Gridlock. “A significantly wider I-66 would be an even worse physical barrier to Arlington residents than I-66 is now,” and “turning I-66 into a repeat I-395 would send a devastating message to Arlington homeowners.” An earlier Arlington letter-writer said critics of widening were “whining” and pointed out that plenty of those who work and live in Arlington use I-66. [Washington Post]

Registration Open for Fairlington Run/Walk — The third annual Fairlington 5K run/walk will take place on Saturday, April 23. Registration for the fundraising event is now open. [InsideNova]

Flickr pool photo by Erinn Shirley

‘Love the Run You’re With’ 5K, Party Set for Valentine’s Day

By Andrew Ramonas

Published February 11, 2016 at 9:05AM

Singles, couples and members of the “it’s complicated” crowd are set to converge on Pentagon City for a Valentine’s Day-themed 5K and party this weekend.

Pacers Running’s “Love the Run You’re With” race is scheduled to take over parts of S. Joyce Street and Army Navy Drive Sunday morning. The 5K kicks off at 9 a.m. and begins and ends at Pentagon Row.

Doubling as a matchmaking affair, the race uses bib numbers that correspond to runners’ relationship statuses. Racers can register as single (“Stupid Cupid”), it’s complicated (“Love ’em or Leave ’em”) or in a relationship (“Co-Dependent”).

From 7 to 11 a.m., the Arlington County Police Department plans to close:

S. Joyce Street between S. 15th Street and Army Navy Drive.
Army Navy Drive between S. Joyce Street and S. 25th Street.

Registration is $45 online and includes a blanket — one you’ll probably need with the frigid temperatures. Following the 5K, runners can head to Champps at 1201 S. Joyce Street for a post-race party that will have an awards presentation and a karaoke contest.

Photo via Pacers Running

Jennifer Lawson Memorial 5K This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published November 20, 2015 at 11:45AM

A 5K race is being held in North Arlington this weekend, in memory of an Arlington mom killed by a passing truck while placing her children in a minivan.

The Jennifer Bush-Lawson Memorial 5K Race will take place on Saturday, at 8 a.m. There will also be a children’s fun run featuring two of the Washington Nationals racing presidents, starting at 9:30 a.m.

A Family Fun Day will be held in conjunction with the races, at the Knight of Columbus (5115 Little Falls Road), from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will include “activities like face painting, air brush tattoos, balloon animals, photo booth, moon bounce, obstacle course, rock climbing wall, local food trucks, and even a beer garden.”

The fundraiser will help to fulfill Jennifer Lawson’s dream of helping mothers in need of medical care. Proceeds will benefit the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Memorial Foundation, which provides prenatal and postnatal health services for underprivileged mothers and babies at Virginia Hospital Center and the Arlington Pediatric Center.

Expected at the event: Lawson’s husband and three young children, pictured above.

The following road closures are planned for the races, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., according to Arlington County Police.

Little Falls Road: N. George Mason Drive to Yorktown Blvd.
Yorktown Blvd.: N. George Mason Drive to Williamsburg Blvd.
Williamsburg Blvd.: Yorktown Blvd. to N. Emerson Street
N. 33rd Street: N. Emerson Street to N. George Mason Drive
George Mason Drive: N. 33rd Street to Yorktown Blvd.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 6, 2015 at 10:10AM | Updated November 6, 2015 at 11:11AM

Task Force Recommends TJ Site — Ten months after the Arlington County Board nixed a proposed new elementary school next to Thomas Jefferson Middle School, a working group appointed by the Board has concluded that the site is, in fact, the best one for a new school. The group also recommended that the School Board starts planning for a second new South Arlington elementary school, most likely in the Pentagon City area. [InsideNova]

Election Day Bar Crawl Was a Bust — Organizers of an election day bar crawl in Clarendon say they have learned “that people are not up for celebrating democracy on a Tuesday night of a work week.” Despite giving out 65-70 bracelets for the crawl, which was to encourage younger people to vote, one of the participating bars — Whitlow’s — didn’t see a single customer wearing the bracelets. [Washington Post]

‘Suburban North Arlington Is Going to Develop’ — The urbanist blog Greater Greater Washington says that development is inevitable for Lee Highway. The website is encouraging residents of the car-oriented corridor to participate in a county-led planning process for Lee Highway that’s currently underway, including a “visioning charrette” this weekend. [Greater Greater Washington]

Ray’s Maintains Steak Supremacy — Despite an influx of flashy new steakhouses in the District, Ray’s the Steaks in Courthouse still has the best-tasting steak around, and for a lot less than the newcomers, says food critic Todd Kliman. [Washingtonian]

W-L, Yorktown Rivalry Game Tonight — Yorktown will face Washington-Lee in a cross-county rivalry game with playoff implications. Both football squads could make the playoffs with a win tonight. A win also comes with the unofficial distinction of being this year’s Arlington County champion. [Washington Post]

M.J. Stewart Back at UNC Following Suspension — Former Yorktown standout M.J. Stewart is back leading the University of North Carolina’s secondary, after an off-campus altercation led to an assault and battery charge and a suspension from the team. [Daily Tarheel]

Tuckahoe 5K Road Closures — The annual Tuckahoe 5K race will take place Saturday. Arlington police will close portions of Williamsburg Blvd, Little Falls Road, 26th Street and Underwood Street between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. to accommodate the race. [Arlington County]

Dems Captured All But One Precinct — The two Democratic County Board members-elect nearly swept every voting precinct in the county during Tuesday’s election. Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey together captured all but one precinct in Arlington. In the Madison precinct of North Arlington, a “bastion of Republicanism in an otherwise true-blue community,” Republican-endorsed independent Michael McMenamin finished second to Christian Dorsey. [InsideNova]

Jury Duty Questionnaires Due — If you were among the seven percent of Arlington and Falls Church residents who received a juror qualification questionnaire in the mail last month, it’s likely past due by now. Recipients are required by law to return the form within 10 days of receiving it. [Arlington County]

Development Forum Next Week — Registration is closing at noon today for a forum on development in Arlington County. Speakers at the event, scheduled for Nov. 10, include Arlington Economic Development Director Victor Hoskins, Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick and Shooshan Company COO Kelly Shooshan. [CREW Northern Virginia]

Flickr pool photo by TheBeltWalk

Don’t Miss the 10th Annual Arlington Turkey Trot

Published October 15, 2015 at 5:00AM

The Arlington Turkey Trot is up and running on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26 at 8 a.m. Run with us! Now is the time to register to run, sponsor, or volunteer.

Please also join us for the kick-off party on Thursday, October 22!

The Tenth Anniversary Appreciation Event will celebrate 10 years of the fun-run way to love our neighbors! The event is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Trot founder, Christ Church of Arlington (3020 N. Pershing Drive, on the corner of Highland).

Everyone is invited to this free event!
Come learn what’s new about this year’s Turkey Trot and how we’ll raise more funds than ever for our non-profit beneficiaries!
Mark Schwartz, Acting County Manager, is the featured speaker, and we’ll have a panel discussion with some of our beneficiaries and supporters, including 2015 sponsors to date and the Arlington Small Business Alliance. (This year’s beneficiaries are AFAC, A-SPAN, Bridges to Independence, Doorways and Linden Resources.)
Refreshments provided by Trot sponsor Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza.
Twenty-five (25) complimentary registrations will be given as door prizes and each attendee will receive a Tenth Anniversary Commemorative pin.
Questions? Please contact Trot director, Mark Riley at [email protected] or 703-927-0328.
Lots of info available on our website: arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org

The preceding post was sponsored by the Arlington Turkey Trot.