I know many people are still under a bunch of snow and ice, and it is hard to have the motivation to get out and run (or go to the gym). I know I always need something to look forward to, so for today’s Friday Five link-up, I bring you 5 Reasons to Run the Loudoun Half & 8k. I ran the 8k last year and really enjoyed this race!
5 Reasons to Run the Loudoun Half & 8k
The Ashburn Area Running Club’s Loudoun Half & 8K is a non-competitive “fun run” through the beautiful Ashburn area of Loudoun County. Afterwards there’s a post race celebration for participants, friends and families at Stone Bridge HS with music, great food and awards for top finishers.
Reason #1: The Loudoun Half & 8k is on the same day as the Cherry Blossom 10-miler.
This is a good and bad thing. It’s good because all the people who didn’t make it into the CB10 can still have an awesome race on the same day! This is bad for all of those that were accepted into the CB10 because we are now unable to participate in the Loudoun race this year 🙁
Race Date: Sunday, April 12, 2015
Location: Ashburn, Virginia, which is only about 30 miles west of Washington, DC
Reason #2: Best Half Marathon in Mid-Atlantic Region
The Loudoun Half was named the Best Half Marathon of the Mid-Atlantic Region by the readers of Competitor Magazine! And, even with this honor, they are still making improvements to this year’s race. Regarding the course, they are changing it slightly to remove the off-road section that existed last year and changing the 8k course so it will not interfere with the half. As part of the race swag, they will now also have Men and Ladies sizes for the race shirts. They are also looking at supporting more schools!
Reason #3: The race is for a good cause
The Loudoun Half Marathon & 8k was established to raise money for local public school track & field and cross country programs. This year’s beneficiaries are Stone Bridge HS, Broad Run HS, Loudoun County HS, Freedom HS, and Tuscarora HS. Also, the Loudoun Half & 8k has special pricing for students 18 and under!
This race also provides the community with a fun, family-friendly event that promotes exercise and physical fitness. What a great way to get out and be active!
Reason #4: Awesome on-course support
There was a lot of support for last year’s race. There were a lot of signs and volunteers out on the course, showing us the way to run and cheering us along. Even unofficially, there were a lot of people from the neighborhoods that were out cheering us along as we ran! I loved the support and motivation to keep running, and I love that local HS Cross-country and Track & Field teams will be facilitating the water stops on the course! Are you interested in volunteering?
Reason #4: The race is for a good cause
The Loudoun Half Marathon & 8k was established to raise money for local public school track & field and cross country programs. This year’s beneficiaries are Stone Bridge HS, Broad Run HS, Loudoun County HS, Freedom HS, and Tuscarora HS.
This race also provides the community with a fun, family-friendly event that promotes exercise and physical fitness. What a great way to get out and be active!
The Loudoun Half & 8k is generously produced by: 
Reason #5
I have free registrations to give away! Just because I don’t get to run the race this year (waaaah!), doesn’t mean you shouldn’t! I have one half marathon registration and three 8k registrations for those who would like to run this race!
And the winners for the FREE registration into the Loudoun Half & 8k are:
1/2 marathon: KAREN G.
8k:
LAURA D
TIFFANY
CHRISTINA T
I will be sending out an email with instructions 🙂
Didn’t win? Click here for more information on how to register yourself, family, and friends!
That is very generous of you to give away race registrations. I’m sure you will make some lucky runners very happy! Have a great weekend!
Sounds like a great race. Having race support along the course is always motivating. Since I have been dealing with some injuries lately the 8k would be more my distance.
Awesome post. I loved this race last year. I would love to run the half marathon again. I was back and forth between this and Cherry Blossom but then ended up registering for neither. Then my race budget from this went to a triathlon instead. Decisions were made, haha. I’d love to get a chance to PR my half marathon this spring. I did so last year at this race.
sounds like a fun cherry blossom alternative!
I would LOVE to do the 8k, it would be a new distance for me. I have a friend in the area, she’s actually the one who encouraged my slow-as-molasses self to start running, who I could stay with (because this would be a travel race for me). Thanks for considering me!
I would love to run the half again! I work for LCPS and unfortunately funds don’t always allow me to run all the great area races I want to. My school is one of the supporting schools and they run the most spirited water stop I’ve ever seen! I’d love to come and represent Freedom High School again this year!
I would love to run the half.
I would love to run the half marathon! I am always up for trying new races. I am looking for a race in April and had actually bookmarked this one as an option. This would be the perfect culmination to my winter training. And Loudoun is beautiful!
I would love to run the half marathon. April 11 is my son’s first birthday and I think this half marathon would be a great way to celebrate surviving the first year with him and both of us coming out of it unscathed 😉
This sounds like a great race and for a good cause. I recently lost 50 pounds after having twins just over a year ago and have been looking for different 5k ‘ s to keep me going and motivated on this journey. Never thought about running 8k, but would love to give it a try… 🙂
I would love to run the half with a free race registration, bc this falls on my 20 mile training run day before tapering for The Flying Pig Full, my first! Having a whole lot of running buddies would make it easier on me for the first 13.1;)
I would love to run the 8k because it fits nicely into my training schedule for the Historic Half I’m running as my first postpartum half marathon since giving birth to my daughter January 11th. I’ve never run it and would love to try out a new race!
Liked & Shared. 🙂 Would LOVE to win this (the Loudon Half Marathon)!
My race budget so far (hope it changes) only has allowed me to sign up for one (very inexpensive halve) and it’s not till September! I don’t know if I can wait that long!!!! Lol.
I am HOPING to do other somewhat long-ish races; the 17.75k if I can get in!
Fingers & toes crossed that I get a bib!!! 🙂
What an awesome giveaway! Would love to run the half! (Fingers crossed)! May have to look into adding this one anyway… It’s not too far away, and I’m still a little bummed I didn’t make the Cherry Blossom lottery. 😉
Definitely the 8k.. 8k distance
is pretty special as it was my first ever race. I have never done this particular race and definitely missed out on the Cherry Blossom. It’s been a rough running season health/weather..so to get out there would be great!
This is one I’m actually looking at doing, just haven’t signed up for yet. I want to do this half. I’m doing the Shamrock in VA Beach and another in early May in Richmond, if I did this one I would finally qualify for Half Fanatics!
I would like to run the 8k. I have a half scheduled in May and the 8k would be a great speed workout and would help me set a reasonable goal for the half. I’ve been pushing myself out the door in these frigid temps and would really like to see if my efforts have paid off. Thanks for the chance to win such a wonderful prize!
The 8k would be great to run!
Sounds like a great alternative to CB. I was considering it until I realized it fell on the same date.
I enjoyed this list! It’s a perfect time of year for excellent race weather (fingers crossed!) looking forward to racing.
Gosh! I wish I lived in the area. I would love to do this race.
Very cool! I am running Cherry Blossom so I won’t be able to go, but I’ll have to consider it for next year! I’m in Philly, but Virginia isn’t too far from me. #wowlinkup
I’m also doing Cherry Blossom this year 🙂
Even though I don’t run anymore, I would walk the 8K. My walking speed is quite fast. I’m leaving a comment for the #wowlinkup but don’t enter me in the race because I live in Chicago.
Never done an 8k before…sign me up 🙂
This is a great half marathon! It’s my current half PR and I want to come back this year and (hopefully) break last year’s time!
Thank you for your posts on reasons to run the Loudoun race! I moved to upstate NY from Loudoun county last August for my husband’s job. I ran outside alone all winter long (I have not yet found a group willing to run outside in the winter) and endured a record low February with average temp of 7F. I was a member of AARC an am considering a visit to Loudoun County for the 1/2 marathon. Still pretty cold up here in April and will be nice to warm up!!
This sounds like a lot of fun. I haven’t worked myself up to a half marathon yet but ONE DAY I will do it. An 8K definitely sounds doable! I might even try a 10-miler. #wowlinkup
I would love to run the half. I have only run one half, but is been a few years . This one is close to my house.
Did you select winners yet? I could’ve sworn I posted a comment last Monday, but it doesn’t appear in the comments section. (I said I would like to run the 8k to challenge myself and to run with a friend who is participating.)