race

Australian Wins Clarendon Cup After Local Favorite Crashes Late

By Barry Skidmore

Words by Barry Skidmore of People-Powered Arlington. Photos by Mark Blacknell.

Australian sprinter Hilton Clarke overcame blazing temperatures, rough roads, and a challenging field to win the 13th annual Air Force Cycling Classic Clarendon Cup men’s pro race on Saturday. Clarke, racing for the first time with the United Healthcare team, outpaced a group of five other cyclists to take the win.

Brooke Miller of Team Tibco won the women’s elite race, sprinting to a dramatic finish that saw her one of her competitors flip her bike and crash 50 meters from the finish line.

Dozens of teams and hundreds of cyclists competed on the one-kilometer course in the heart of Clarendon, billed as one of the most challenging cycling courses in the United States.

Hundreds turned out to watch some of the best cycling teams in the world, despite temperatures that reached well into the 90s. Many spectators stood near the course wall, while others set up folding chairs or sat at nearby sidewalk cafes.

The men’s 100k race began at 12:15 p.m. and a minor crash in the first few laps proved a prelude to what would be a brutal and hard-fought competition. There were several crashes throughout the race and many cyclists would end the day bloodied and bruised.

In the early laps, many teams jockeyed for position with no single group of cyclists able to establish dominance. There were multiple attacks but the breakaways were all eventually reabsorbed and served mostly as “probing attacks” allowing the teams to assess both their competition and the course.

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Photos From Clarendon Cup Men’s Pro Race

By ARLnow.com

The Air Force Cycling Classic Clarendon Cup, one of the premiere events in U.S. professional cycling, was held right here in Arlington yesterday afternoon.

Hundreds of spectators braved sweltering heat to watch cyclists whiz by on the short, circular course.

A longer write-up will follow. For now, here are a few photos from the men’s pro race.

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A second day of racing is taking place in Crystal City today.

To Do This Weekend: Air Force Cycling Classic

By ARLnow.com

It will be a weekend full of bicycle racing and major street closures in Arlington, thanks to the Air Force Cycling Classic.

On Saturday, the 13th annual Clarendon Cup will feature races by amateur and professional cyclists. The amateur races will take place between 8:oo and 10:00 a.m. The Women’s Elite Race follows, with the Men’s Pro Race taking place between noon and 2:15 p.m.

On Sunday the action moves to Crystal City. There will be a non-competitive Crystal Ride for cycling enthusiasts of all abilities, from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m. The Men’s Pro Race will depart from the Air Force Memorial at 11:30 a.m. The Women’s Elite Race and a Amateur race will follow. A bike expo will be held in Crystal City throughout the festivities.

See the full 2010 Cycling Classic schedule here, and a list of street closures here.

For the rest of what’s going on this weekend, check out our events calendar.

Flickr pool photo by afagen.

Arlington Runners Dominate At Weekend Marathons

By ARLnow.com

Two Arlington runners cleaned up at marathons in Delaware and Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Arlington resident and international shipbroker Michael Wardian, coming off his fourth National Marathon win in March, ran the fastest Delaware Marathon ever with a time of 2:26:22.

After finishing the race Wardian, who is training for an ultra marathon in South Africa, decided to keep going.

“I’m going to go do another hour, hour and a half run right now,” the 36-year-old told the Wilmington News Journal.

In York, Pa., Arlington resident Toni Diegoli was the fastest woman in the Bob Potts Heritage Rail Trail Marathon by more than 11 minutes.

Diegoli, 31, finished with at time of 3:06:08, or 11th overall. The next-fastest woman finished in 3:17:14.

Diegoli talked to the York Daily Record after the race and tried her best not to gloat.

“I started out pretty well and didn’t really see any other women,” said Diegoli, who won the North Central Rail Trail Marathon in Maryland in November. “I don’t mind, because I kind of like running alone. Besides, there are always some guys around you.”

Roads to Close Sunday for Pacers Running Festival

By ARLnow.com

A number of roads around Arlington will be closed between 6:00 and 11:00 Sunday morning for the Pacers Running Festival half marathon.

Among the closures:

  • The 1000 block of Wilson Boulevard
  • Southbound lane of Route 110
  • The Northbound exit from Route 110 to Wilson Boulevard
  • Rt. 27 (Washington Boulevard) in both directions from I-395 and Washington Boulevard to the Pentagon
  • Columbia Pike at Pentagon South Parking

Marine Corps Marathon Registration Open

By ARLnow.com

Update at 4:35 p.m. — 11,676 people have signed up for the marathon so far.

Registration for the 35th annual Marine Corps Marathon opened at noon today. More than 8,550 runners registered for the race during the first hour alone. There are 30,000 slots open.

The marathon is taking place this year on October 31 (which is also Halloween, for those who may want to run the 26.2 mile course in a costume).

Click here to go straight to the registration form.

To Do Tonight: 5K Friday in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Hundreds of runners will swarm Crystal City tonight for the spring’s first 5K Friday. The popular races are being held every Friday in April.

If you haven’t registered for the race already, you’ll want to hurry up; registration closes at noon.

The race kicks off at 6:30 p.m. The start and finish line are located at 2121 Crystal Drive.

There will be a post-race party at the Concord apartments at 2600 Crystal Drive featuring DJ Adrian Loving.

Drivers should expect the northbound lanes of Crystal Drive to be closed from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

Four Courts Four Miler a Success Despite Rain

By Barry Skidmore

More than a thousand runners braved heavy wind and driving rain on Saturday to compete in the inaugural Four Courts Four Miler road race, part of an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

“How do you like this traditional Irish weather?” an organizer called out to the crowd just before the race began.

The race started at Ireland’s Four Courts in Courthouse and took runners along an out-and-back course down Wilson Blvd, through Rosslyn, and past the Memorial Bridge on Route 110.

The course made for a relaxed downhill first half with a tough uphill return including a steep quarter-mile hill just before the finish line.

“The climb from Rosslyn was incredibly arduous, but seeing the crowd at the final hill really inspired me to finish strong,” said race participant Elyssa Lacson.

The rain, which had been coming down in sheets before the race, relented to a light drizzle by the 9:00 a.m. start time. The initial deluge left participants soggy, but in good spirits.

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To Do This Weekend: St. Patrick’s Day Stuff

By ARLnow.com

Ireland’s Four Courts seems like the place to be this weekend for pre-St. Patrick’s Day fun. Saturday morning the pub will be hosting runners before and after the Four Courts Four Miler. It is also billing itself as a post-ShamrockFest destination.

Four Court’s normal Sunday activities will become even more Irish-y. Expect a special Irish Sunday brunch. Then, later Sunday night, karaoke become Irish-themed karaoke.

For more dedicated drinkers, the Arlington Athletic and Social League is holding its “St. Practice Day” bar crawl on Saturday. The $10 registration fee is almost worth it just for the t-shirt.

Registration starts between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. at Mister Day’s. Subsequent destinations include Hard Times Cafe, Clarendon Grill, Eleventh Street Lounge, and SoBe.

For more over-21 festivities, check out our St. Patrick’s Day Guide.

Photo courtesy Stacey Viera of Every Food Fits. Smiley faces added to protect the innocent.

Road Closures to Avoid This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

A number of road closures will play havoc with traffic in Arlington this weekend.

The Four Courts Four Miler kicks off at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Police will shut down Wilson Blvd from Courthouse Road to North Rhodes Street from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wilson Blvd from North Rhodes Street to Route 110 in Rosslyn will be closed at 8:45 a.m. Northbound Route 110 from Rosslyn to Route 1 in Crystal City will be shut down from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Click here for a map.

Cars parked along the route will be ticketed and towed. Race participants are urged to use Metro. The Courthouse station is a short distance from the starting line.

Chain Bridge will be completely closed to traffic and pedestrians all weekend. That is, unless the predicted rain prevents reconstruction work on the bridge deck from taking place, which is a distinct possibility. If work goes on as scheduled, expect Chain Bridge to remain closed from Friday night to early Monday morning.

“Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and river crossings including the American Legion, Key, Roosevelt, Memorial and 14th Street Bridges,” VDOT said of the Chain Bridge closure, in a statement.

Finally, the ongoing Humpback Bridge replacement project will result in lane closures during the day on Saturday. One lane of the George Washington Parkway from Memorial Bridge to I-395 will be closed in each direction from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Crystal City to Resume 5K Fridays

By ARLnow.com

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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