Everyone in the Fairlington 5K started at the same moment, so the organizers asked participants to choose a lineup area that matched their pace. This page recaps how the start was arranged in the 2015 edition.
Four lineup areas
- Running for time. Serious runners hoping to win or beat a personal best started here.
- Casual runners and joggers. People running or jogging the course without worrying much about their finish time.
- 5K walkers. Anyone covering the full 3.1 miles on foot, including families with strollers and people walking pets.
- One-mile fun run or walk. Everyone doing the shorter route. Small children and pets were asked to stand toward the back of this group.
Before the start
Participants were asked to finish registration on the track and then head to their chosen area. Parking was provided in the school lot, which closed to new cars at 7:45 a.m. on race day. Restrooms were located at the front of the school, near the casual runner zone, and questions could be answered at an information stage between the school and the track.
Tips for any community race
Arrive early, find your zone before the crowd builds and be considerate of walkers and pets at the back. For the course itself, see the route page.