DOWN THE STRETCH TRACK FEST

May 24, 2025 | George Mason University

4x8 - Mile - 5k - 10k - On the Track!

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Unofficial Heat Sheets are Available

Sections are final; official heat sheets will be available by day of meet

Donate To Support The Webb Mile!

Down the Stretch Track Fest is a USATF sanctioned event and open to runners of all ages who can maintain a 10:00 mile or faster. Come grab a PR in the mile, 5000 or gather your friends for a 4x800 and then relax with an Aslin beer while you watch some amazing pro runners in our select sections.

SEE EVENT INFORMATION BELOW

2024 RESULTS

Ted Plunkett’s Photo Gallery / Harry Goldman’s Photo Gallery

Our 2025 beneficiary is Girls on the Run Northern Virginia. A portion of our proceeds will go to GOTR to support future programming.

The Webb Mile

BEER BY ASLIN!

MEET MERCH

MUSIC ALL NIGHT!

GA Tickets & Trackside Seating

If you’re not competing, volunteering, pacing or coaching - you need a GA ticket!

Your purchase supports Light Horse Track Club, a northern Virginia nonprofit running team dedicated to supporting runners of all levels and enhancing the DC-metro area running scene.

Not ready to race, but would like to volunteer to help or pace?

Email us at lighthorsetrackclub@gmail.com

Pacing duties needed for all races, from the select fields to 10:00/mi pace

  • Coaches, volunteers, and pacers all get in free!

Runner and Event information!

We’re excited to offer fast races for all in a festive atmosphere. Grab a PR and then grab an Aslin beer!

  • All ages are welcome to run. You will be asked for a “seed time” use any recent time or you can estimate your current ability.

  • We will thoughtfully arrange the heats based on entry times, with the fastest runners in our Select heats.

  • Open races will be men and women combined, and select races will have women's races first, followed by men's.

  • The facility will open at an hour and a half before the first event

  • The GMU Fieldhouse will be open as well

  • Food and drink will be available for purchase, including Aslin beer. We will have a separate beer line & more food trucks this year!

  • Any person not competing, volunteering, or pacing will need a GA spectator ticket

  • Children four and under get in free.

  • You can leave and re-enter the facility.

  • No outside food or drink besides water or sports nutritional items is allowed. Bags are allowed.

HEATS/SECTIONS

  • Preliminary heats will be released on the Friday before the meet, but will be updated the day-of the meet due to scratches.

  • The open 5k will have two sections; you must be able to maintain a 10:00 pace

  • The open mile will have 7-8 sections; you must be able to run a 10:00 mile or faster

  • We will not have an open 10k this year. The women’s select section cutoff is 45:00, and the men’s is 35:00

CHECK-IN PROCEDURE

  • Please check-in as soon as you get to the meet and pick up your bib number & hip number. If you do not check in, you will be scratched.

  • 15-minutes prior to your race return to the check-in area to get your starting assignment. Secure your hip number with safety pins. Be RACE READY at this point.

  • After your final check-in, you will head as a group to the track for your race. As soon as one race finishes, the next one begins.

BAG DROP AREA

  • We will have an official bag drop area at our check-in tent this year. There will be a tear-off adhesive tag on your bib number that you can stick onto your bag.

OPEN RACES

  • Our open races are for anyone who can maintain a 10:00 pace or faster in the 5k, or mile.

  • You’re guaranteed a fast, flat course with no 90 or 180-degree turns! Whether you’ve never run a track race before or you’ve run a hundred, you are welcome here.

  • We will run two heats of the open 5k and either or nine heats of the open mile. You will be placed in a heat based on your seed time.

  • Heats will run slowest to fastest and will be men and women combined.

YOUTH MILE

  • Open to any child 13 & Under who can maintain a 15:00 mile or faster.

  • We’ll run one section and combine boys & girls

  • Grab $5 GA Tickets for your runner(s) and family (goes up to $10 at the gate)

SELECT RACES:

We are building up our fields for the select races! We are anticipating winning times around the following. We will update this as entries and commitments continue to come in.

  • Women's Webb Mile: Sub 4:30

  • Women's 5000: Sub 15:30

  • Women's 10000: Sub 34:00

  • Men's Webb Mile: Sub 3:55

  • Men’s 5000: Sub 14:00

  • Men's 10000: Sub 30:00

AWARDS

  • We will have prize money for the Webb Mile: $350-$100-$50

  • Winners of each section get the coveted green apple! Who’s walking away with an apple this year?

SPECTATOR TICKETS

  • If you’re not racing, coaching, pacing, or volunteering, you will need a spectator ticket (including all youth mile runners). Children under 4 get in free. We may reach capacity this year - buy your tickets ahead of time and secure your spot!

  • $5 General Admission tickets are now on sale - price increase to $10 on the day-of and at the gate. Buy them now & save!

  • Now introducing Trackside Seating! Limited to 100 people, get up close to the action. Tickets are $30 and include a complimentary beer or another beverage plus your own seat. Price increases to $40 on the day of & at the gate.

  • Get your tickets here

DIRECTIONS / PARKING:

  • 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 - the outdoor track and field complex is behind the fieldhouse. Enter “George Mason University Fieldhouse” into your GPS

  • Parking is available adjacent to the track

  • Check out driving directions and construction/traffic alerts.

  • The nearest airports to campus are Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Washington Reagan Airport (DCA). Shuttles are available through private companies, as are cabs.

  • George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus is accessible via Metro Bus and Cue Bus (Fairfax City bus). Mason is also located near the Vienna/Fairfax/GMU Metro stop, and Mason provides regular shuttles from the Metro stop to campus. Check out shuttle and bus information.

PROHIBITED ITEMS:

  • Any food or beverage except for water or sport nutritional food or drink.

  • Weapons (including, without limitation, pocket knives), fireworks, and other illegal drugs and substances

  • Animals (except service animals)

  • Beach balls and other inflatable items

  • Laser pens and laser pointers

  • Skateboards, hoverboards, scooters for non-ADA use, and wheeled footwear

  • Drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles

  • Toy guns or toy knives (including, without limitation, water guns)

  • Any other item deemed dangerous or inappropriate