Name: Chris Denno
Self-described age group: 30s? Mid 30s? … Late 30s 🙁
Residence: Suitland, Md.
Occupation: Special Assistant at the U.S. Census Bureau
How has your running changed in the last six months: Covid running has been unique, that’s for sure. My main running groups have met less frequently, so I’ve been relegated to the treadmill a bit more. That said, I have been fortunate to still have a small core group of people that are safe and responsible enough to continue to meet up. I had been training for two marathons in Fall 2020 (Bmore and Philly), so I had been in great shape. I’ve mostly been trying to maintain and not fall to far behind (the Covid 15 is real!!).
Why you run: I call running my asphalt therapy. Running literally saved my life and I continue to do it to maintain my sanity, especially during these sideways times. It is a great way to both spend time outside with some friends, but also spend some time alone, with few distractions, really focusing on yourself. Running gives you back whatever you put in, and you can push yourself as much as you want. I also run so I can maintain my beer and bread consumption, which is obscene.
- Former Georgetown runner Hugh Joseph Short, who set a world record in the 660-yard dash and was on a world -record-setting mile relay team (3:17.2) before leaving to serve in World War II, died Nov. 4 at age 98.
- Construction on the Arlington Memorial Bridge will limit access to the south sidewalk (with detours posted) and the Mount Vernon Trail will be closed under the bridge from 9 p.m.- 5 a.m. until early 2021.
- Loudoun Valley’s girls, running as The Jungle, finished fourth in what is essentially the national high school club cross country championships Nov. 15 in Terre Haute, Ind. Ava Gordon finished seventh overall on a scoring team that included Ally Talley and Ricky, Scarlet and Cecelia Fetterolf, along with Maddie Smith and Katherine Slovak.
- Springfield ultrarunner Megan Alvardo, who ran on the U.S. 24-hour team last year, will be the guest on this week’s Potomac River Running Instagram Live, Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.
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The Potomac Heritage Trail is currently closed south of the Arlington County parking lot at the intersection of Glebe Road and Chain Bridge Road. The NPS is working with Arlington County and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club to identify a temporary deour and a plan to reopen.
- Arlington County is accepting comments through Friday Nov. 20 on a project to improve three trail intersections on the Bluemont Junction Trail.
- Oakton and American alumna Keira D’Amato was a guest on the Ali on the Run podcast.
- D’Amato, Reston’s Susanna Sullivan, former Fairfax resident Bethany Sachtleben, Molly Seidel and Emily Durgin will take a shot at the American 10-mile record (52:12) at 8 a.m. Monday Nov. 23 at the Up Dawg Ten Miler, which will be livestreamed on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Facebook page.
- The Cherry Blossom organizing committee will announce a decision on holding the 2021 race by Dec. 31 before opening registration.
- The District Track Club’s coach Tom Brumlik and athlete Jacob Dumford, both of Arlington, were guests on the Run Your Mouth podcast, along with teammate Willy Fink of Blacksburg.
Name: Michaela Guerin Hackner
Self-described age group: The “faster as a master” crew
Residence: Arlington, but soon-to-be Bozeman, Mont.
Occupation: Design director, Upwork
How has your running changed in the last six months: For the past six years I’ve trained for triathlon and road races pretty much year-round in hopes of getting faster and hitting milestones like completing an Ironman and qualifying for the Boston Marathon. I achieved both those goals, and at the start of the pandemic I was about a month away from running the Boston Marathon for the second time. That was postponed and well, most of life was postponed. So, while I started out doing challenges like the Yeti 24-hour Ultra, I quickly made the decision to give my body a much-needed break and take all goals off the table. That’s turned into running for fun and making time for other kinds of outdoor activities, like 15-mile hikes and cross-country skiing. We’re in the process of moving across the country to a place that is covered in snow, but my plan is to resume training more regularly once we’re settled again.
Tracksmith CEO Matt Taylor outlines the ethos behind his company and its new creative fellowship and collegiate track support initiatives.
- The College Park Woods Connector Trail has opened, connecting the University of Maryland campus to the Anacostia Tributaries Trail System.
- Georgetown alumnus Alton McKenzie is now the director of track and field and cross country at Georgetown, following four years are associate head coach. He previous coached at the University of the District of Columbia.
- Oakton and American alumna Keira D’Amato was a guest on the For the Long Run podcast.
There’s so much going on in this episode it might be easier for you to just listen for yourself.
Name: Josh Lasky
Self-described age group: “No longer spry but not yet seasoned” aka 30-39 (I’m 36)
Residence: Kingman Park
Occupation: Managing Director and Chief Strategist, LINK Strategic Partners (communications and social impact consultancy)
Volunteer roles in the running world: Member of the Board of Directors, Climate Ride
How has your running changed in the last six months: My running during the pandemic is mostly about maintaining my mental health. Running has created a much needed calm, focused space away from Zoom calls, my Twitter feed, and the non-stop 24-hour news cycle.
- Pacers Running will open a Georgetown store a 3271 M Street Nov. 7.
- This week’s Potomac River Running Instagram Live will feature Paul and Lauren Silberman, who you may remember from their cheering at major D.C. area races, along “Hotdog v. Tacodog Monster Mash race and additional guests starting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.
- Milestat reported that the VHSL will not sanction any athletic events for the 2020-2021 school year barring a siginificant change in COVID-19 conditions.
Fairfax’s Bethany Satchleben and RunWashington editor Charlie Ban will be guests on this week’s Potomac River Running Instagram Live, Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Sachtleben will talk about her marathoning and Ban will talk about the discomfort of writing in the third person.
Name: Emma Miller-Cvilikas
Self-described age group: 25-30
Residence: Washington, D.C.
Occupation: Healthcare consultant
How has your running changed in the last six months: Since the pandemic, I’ve actually been running more. Running really brings a sense of normalcy in my day and we all need a little normal right now. I’ve also become more of a morning runner to beat the heat. That was a BIG adjustment as I am not a morning person. However, I had to adapt since treadmills aren’t available to me.
Why you run: I run for my mental health, for fun, for a challenge, for sanity and really because I love it. The beauty of running is that your relationship evolves over time and running is always there. Even if you step away, you can always come back.
When did you get started running: When I was 13/14.
