Story + Photography by Catherine May Taylor

Participants were greeted by clear skies and plenty of sunshine for the annual George Washington Patriot Run. The 5K/10K, hosted by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, is a scenic run through George Washington Memorial Parkway that finishes in view of the historic Mount Vernon mansion.

Finishers enjoyed a free Sam Adams 1776 beer on the 12-acre field while waiting for the winners to be announced. Brandon Kitchen placed first in the 5K with a time of 19:05 minutes, and Shinya Yamada placed first in the 10K with a time of 36:07 minutes.

Many young runners also participated in the event, either solo or with their parents. For the youngest kids, there was a firetruck to explore and a free kids fun run near the finish line.