Chase the Throne in Washington D.C.
Presented by Potomac River Running
Thanks to everyone who participated in the brackets this year. It was an epic month of racing and we’re already excited to run it back again in 2025.
2023 D.C. Segments
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Distance: 2.51 Miles
Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/1852617
Description: The opening round will be staged at Hains Point, where runners will have to run from Gate to Gate to see who will move on to the second round. Start running southbound and run the perimeter of the island along the path before finishing at a gate just before Buckeye Dr. Southwest.
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Distance: 1.32 Miles
Strava segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/1175679
Description: Runners will start on the concrete bridge closer to Roosevelt Island, just above where Little River meets Roosevelt Island. You will start by going down the bridge towards Roosevelt Island and make a right at the start of the trail to proceed along the main outer Swamp Trail. You’ll hit your first fork in the path, about 0.2 miles in, and you’ll bear left to go up two trail steps to stay on the path. Continue straight down the path and you’ll run by the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge and the trail will turn into a boardwalk going northbound. On the Northern side of the island, the boardwalk ends and turns back into a trail. Continue along the main path without making any turns until you reach a T intersection by the Little River and make a left to return to the start. Your finish line will be the entrance to the same bridge you started on to complete the loop.
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Distance: 2.98 Miles
Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/routes/3159542236854365854
Description: Runners will start/finish on the bike path ramp, right above the southern sidewalk of M Street NE. You will start the route by proceeding north staying along the bike path until you reach the Franklin Street NE overpass. When you reach the overpass, about 1.5 miles in, complete a hairpin turn and return southbound along the same path and return to the start.
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Distance: 2.26 Miles
Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/routes/3028385247318227850
Description: The final round will be two loops of the Washington Monument. Runners will start at the corner of Constitution and 17th Street and complete two clockwise loops, staying on the outer path close to the road the entire way. Runners will start and finish in the same spot.
FAQs
How Do I Record and Submit My Run?
All runs must be recorded with a GPS watch or phone and synced via Strava or Garmin. All runs must be recorded on “Race” mode or must show elapsed time (as opposed to moving time) and then emailed to run@trialsofmilesracing.com. Our team will verify all results to ensure accuracy.
Can I Run the Segment Multiple Times?
During the competition window you are free to run the segment as many times as you choose. We will not consider the time “FINAL” until you have emailed it to run@trialsofmilesracing.com or you indicate to us that it is a final/submitted time. Please keep in mind that once you email us your time, that time is final and we can (and likely will) publicize that time. If you think you may attempt the segment again later in the week, do not submit!
Can I Run the Segment with a Friend or a Pacer?
Competitors are free to run their segments alone, in groups, or with a pack of pacers. As long as you complete the segment on your own two feet, within the required time period it will count.
What Happens if My GPS Data Gets Messed Up? How Do You Prevent Cheating?
Virtual racing is not perfect. People's data is going to get screwed up and times are going to be slightly off. We've done this enough times to know how to deal with these issues and keep things fair. Rest assured, these fields are incredibly deep and nobody is going to be able to game their way to victory. Throughout the competition our team will also make whatever tweaks are necessary to ensure the integrity of the competition.
How Do You Make the Brackets?
There is no seeding in this competition and placement in the brackets is done using an online randomizer. As a result there is quite a bit of luck in terms of how far you can go in this competition. Please also keep in mind that most people aren't super fit in January and a lot of people plan to use these segments as workouts. Even if you're going against someone significantly faster than you, if you run hard you might be surprised by the result. Strange things happen in these races!
What are the Prizes?
The overall male and female winners of the race will each take home a $250 Gift Card from Potomac River Running. We expect to have some additional prizes for winners of the first two rounds. We will update this page when we have that information.
