2023 Report

What an EPIC year for the Potomac Heritage!!!

Lots of things going on with the course and trail this year from crazy wind storms to construction that definitely made it challenging. But with the help of fellow runners and PATC, we were able to pull off some miracles! Plus we had some people that got early leads by earning ‘Bonus’ points before the run by doing trail work, reporting issues on the trail and running other runs the weekend before. Note to all: ‘Bonus’ Points for Potomac Heritage 2024 have already started…

Beautiful crisp morning and perfect running weather forecasted, the runners rolled out of bed an hour later then normal due daylight savings time going away! 41 registered runners on run morning, with 2 no shows and another tweaking their back the night before, we were down to 38 at run start. But then we had 2 Sundays in the Park participants join in the fun and one of our missing runners arrived 10 mins late due to a flat tire… back to 41 starters!

At mile 4.7 Battery Kemble, runners were presented with a “Boujee Breakfast” of Bagel & Lox with a Fireball shot. Only 8 people enjoyed the whole thing to earn 15 points and discover that cinnamon and dill actually compliment each other… WHO KNEW?!

Then treated to lots of beautiful views on the Glen Echo Trolley Trail, the runners made their way to Roosevelt Island (8.9 miles). There they enjoyed eating an onion and doing 10 jumping jacks to earn another 10 points. They then set out on the most technical portion of the run and even if they didn’t participate in the onion challenge, they could only hope that they weren’t behind someone that did. (Onion Burps are not fun, but especially fowl when you run into a cloud of it!)

Chainbridge (miles 12.8 and 24.3) is always the happening place with the runners coming through twice when doing the full run, but at least once with the “Party Loop”. Bobbing for Apples gave people 5 points and they could pick up an egg the first time around to complete the out and back to the finish for 20 points. If they grabbed an egg on their way back or on a ‘Party Loop’ they gained 10 points. A lot of strategy was employed here where we still aren’t sure if runners were laying their own eggs on the trail or not.
Questions still remain…

The ever popular “Chip Flavor Challenge” was back at Turkey Run (miles 16.8 and 20.4) and just by giving the challenge a try, you were awarded 5 points. Each correct guess gave you 5 points more, but no one got better than 2 correct. Cucumber Potato Chip or Banana Puff anyone?

Bruce Martin, on PR pace, missed a turn early but still was able to cross the line in first place. He smartly did a few challenges and good thing he did, because John Calabrese understood the assignment. He came from an 8th place finish to grabbing 2nd place and nearly first by earning 115 ‘Bonus’ Points! Zach Weinberger snatched his first podium finish in 3rd after we found out he had ran PB&J 50k the weekend before.

Baylor Keavy emailed me the week of the run and came off the waitlist to run the run and be the first Female to cross the finish line. But Emma Dixon and Denise Freeman jumped ahead of her with impressive point totals. Ultimately it came down to PB&J for these two as Emma completed the 50k to earn 10 points and Denise only completed the 25k. Emma’s final time of 6:13 secured her spot as First Female!

The shifts in placing after tallying the ‘Bonus’ Points this year were really eye-opening and fun to see.
Lots of “Bonus” points were earned with very communicative runners, others not getting lost at a run for the first time ever! and even having Quincy Leech showing up to run Sundays in the Park Lucky 7 Loop (7 miles) to only end up running the entire thing!!! Insane! Plus all the first time 50k runners and Will Holley for making Potomac Heritage his first running run EVER and only bought his first trail running shoes EVER, 8 days before the run!

Can’t thank the volunteers enough for all their hard work, donating their time and the excellent service they gave to the runners. I’ve received many emails praising how great everyone one of them were and how much they made the run for all the runners!

The Kabocha Curry is alway a hit at the end and I love being the RD of this small, quirky, goofy run that checks all the things I like most about this community. Trails, Friends, New Friends, Laughter, having fun, good food and inspiring performances/experiences/people! Can’t wait to see you all next year!
Cheers!

Results

Welcome to the race where everything is made up and the points DO MATTER! No they aren’t like the talent portion of a beauty contest, they can really make a difference in a podium finish or finishing DFL!