With the promise of an event that is more than a free trail race and more of a celebration that promotes unity, education and fellowship within the running community, more than 1000 individuals will gather at Fort Stanton Park in Washington D.C. on June 13 to embark on a fantastic voyage through American history in the form of running and walking. The lesson will be taught in the form of a race — more specifically, the Juneteenth 10K and Half-Marathon — and it celebrates the history behind the holiday, which dates back to Union Major General Gordon Granger’s General Order No. 3 in 1865 that freed the enslaved people in Texas.

The event is put on by the Juneteenth Marathon Organization, a non-profit that was founded in 2020. Every detail as it pertains to the race day experience is intentional.

The race will start at approximately 6:19, which is the official date of the Juneteenth Holiday. The off-road trail that makes up the course runs along the Civil War Defenses Washington Trail and connects the five Civil War sites east of the Anacostia River. 

The history of the race

The race and the organization were founded by Fred Irby, who put together the event after spring races were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. He reached out to the DRC run club in Washington D.C. and other friends in the area to gather T-shirts, food, drinks and everything else needed to put on the best race possible.

The inaugural race took place on June 13, 2020 and was originally a half marathon and a full marathon that ran through all four quadrants of Washington D.C. per L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for the City of Washington. After the inaugural race, Irby decided to adjust the format and the distance for logistical reasons. This led to the race having the half-marathon and 10K option, which has led to a higher volume of runners who participate each year.

“The first year we had 20-25 runners that were actually doing the half marathon and the full marathon,” Irby recalls. “And then the next year we had 170 people. And then each year it’s just gone up and up.”

The community impact

The details that go into making the race successful each year couldn’t be done without the help of the D.C. running community. Irby says that the race features every run club in the D.C. area and it has also showcased local businesses in the D.C. area who have been instrumental in offering services to those who take part in the event.

The race has partnered with stores such as R.E.I and Athletic Recovery Lab to provide recovery services. They’ve also partnered with Howard University’s Department of Physical Therapy, which sends a dozen students to help stretch out runners post-race.  

“We want to just be a venue to try to help the running community and local businesses that support and provide services for the running community and just create an overall amazing experience that people want to come back to next year to celebrate Juneteenth with us,” Irby adds.

Two of the biggest supporters and partners of the race and the Juneteenth Marathon Organization are Altra Running and Pacers Running Store, both whom Irby labels invaluable to the experience.

Altra Running has provided a steady stream of support to the Juneteenth Marathon Organization, as well as the annual race. Irby credits the brand with helping with logistical matters such as race timing, food and the overall operating costs for the Juneteenth Organization. 

Pacers Running has partnered with the Juneteenth Organizations since 2022. Irby credits the store for connecting the organization with other sponsors throughout the years. The store provides volunteer T-shirts and a sponsored water stop, as well as volunteers for a “Plogging the Trail” event to get the course prepared for race day.

Earlier this year, Pacers co-hosted a Juneteenth registration kick-off party with nearly 200 runners to bring everyone together early in the season and to generate excitement ahead of the upcoming race. Elyse Braner, director of people + culture at Pacers Running, says that the partnership with the Juneteenth Organization as well as its support for the annual race aligns with the store’s commitment to support community partnerships.  

“Race day is an opportunity for the community to disconnect from their busy city lives, and spend time in nature,” Braner says. “The event is a highlight of the year for the Pacers Community Team, as the partnership supports internal staff engagement for our community event.”

The race-capacity has grown over the years, so has registration. This year, the race reached capacity in March, three months ahead of the race. The long hours and prep for the big race each year is worth it to the Juneteenth crew, and they’re grateful for the support.

“We’re blessed,” Irby says. “A lot of people connect and like our race and we couldn’t be more excited to do it each year.”