2024 George Washington Patriot Run FAQ 

Racecourse

The George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) is a 25-mile-long stretch of highway that runs along the south bank of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon, VA, northwest to McLean, VA. It is one of the most beautiful and iconic stretches of highway in the nation. The racecourse uses both lanes of a 5-mile section of the GWMP between the GW Parkway Circle and W. Boulevard Drive. George Washington's Mount Vernon is grateful to the National Park Service for permitting the Patriot Run to use the GWMP.

Starting Time and Time Limit

  • Sunday, September 8: The 10-Mile race starts at 7:15 am and the 5K race starts at 7:30 am.
  • Runners who have not reached the finish line by 9:30 am will be redirected by race officials from the racecourse to the nearby Mount Vernon (pedestrian) Trail.
  • Runners who finish on the Mount Vernon Trail will still be timed.
  • All 10-Mile runners must be able to complete the 10-Mile course in 2 hours and 15 minutes to avoid being moved to the adjacent Mount Vernon Trail.

Start/finish Line Location

  • The starting line is located at the south end of the GWMP on the east side of the Parkway Circle near the entrance to George Washington's Mount Vernon.
  • The finish line is inside George Washington's Mount Vernon property, in the Historic Area near The Mansion. The distance between the start and finish lines, measured in a straight line, is approximately 300 feet.

Registration Fees

All active-duty public safety personnel, including police, fire, EMTs, and members of the military (including veterans) receive a $5.00 discount as George Washington's Mount Vernon's token of appreciation. 

  • In-Person 5K:
    •  Register February 22 - March 31: $40.00
    • Register April 1 - August 18: $50.00
    • Register August 19 - September 8: $60.00 
  • In-Person 10-Miler:
    • Register February 22 - March 31: $65.00
    • Register April 1 - August 18: $72.00
    • Register August 19 - September 8: $82.00
  • In-person registration includes the opportunity to run on the beautiful George Washington Memorial Parkway, access to the Finish Festival that offers food and beverage concessions, plus:
    • Free Wi-Fi
    • Free beer
    • Free drinks and snacks at the finish line
    • Free admission to George Washington's Mount Vernon
    • Free round trip shuttle service from Alexandria 
  • The Virtual Race will not be an option in 2024.

When can I register online?

  • Online registration will remain open until 7:00 am on Race Day.
  • No in-person registration or in-person payment will be accepted at packet pick-up.
  • All participants must register and pay online.

Refunds and Bib Swaps

  • Refunds are not allowed.
  • Person-to-person registration transfers, AKA "bib swaps" are not allowed.

In-person distance transfers

  • You may transfer from the 5K to the 10-Mile and vice versa.
  • There are No Refunds when transferring down from the 10-Mile to the 5K.
  • Those who transfer up from the 5K to the 10-Mile race will be required to pay the difference in the registration fee.
  • The deadline for all in-person distance transfers is Wednesday, September 4 at midnight.

How do I request a transfer?

Packet shipping

  • In-person registrants have the option to have their commemorative t-shirt and purchased merchandise shipped to them before Race Day. The cost is $18.00. The deadline for choosing this service is August 25 at midnight.
  • Packet shipping will begin the last week of August.

Advance packet pick up

  • Advance packet pick-up will be available at George Washington's Mount Vernon and at Potomac River Running:
    • Tuesday and Wednesday, September 3-4: 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Potomac River Running at Fairfax Corner (11895 Grand Commons Ave, Fairfax, VA 22030).
    • Friday, September 6th: 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm near The Shops at Mount Vernon
    • Saturday, September 7th: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm near The Shops at Mount Vernon
  • Free parking is available for all locations during packet pick-up.
  • Participants must register and pay online. No in-person registration or in-person payment will be accepted at packet pick-up. Register online before leaving home, or on your phone before you arrive at packet pick up. No checks or credit cards are accepted in person for registration.

Race day packet pick up

  • Race Day packet pick up opens at 5:15 am.
  • Online registration will remain open until 7:00 am on Race Day.
  • Packet pick up will be located near the Shops at Mount Vernon
  • Participants must register and pay online. No in-person registration or in-person payment will be accepted at packet pick-up. Register online before leaving home, or on your phone before you arrive at packet pick up. No checks or credit cards are accepted in person for registration.

Rain or Shine

Absent severe weather such as cloud-to-ground lightning or thunder prior to the start of the race, George Washington's Patriot Run is a rain or shine event.

Spectator Admission

After registering, you can purchase discounted admission tickets for your family and friends here. Discounted admission ticket prices are $14.00 for people ages 12 and older, $8.00 for kids 6 to 11, and free for kids 5 and under. You must purchase these discounted admission tickets online by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024. Discounted admission tickets will not be available for purchase on Race Day - your guests will need to purchase general admission tickets at full price on Race Day.

Swag

  • T-shirts may be exchanged, for smaller or larger sizes, on a first-come-first-serve basis following the race by emailing events@mountvernon.org. T-shirts are available in adult and ladies cut sizes.
  • Patriot Run branded quarter zips will also be available for add-on purchase during registration and will be available at packet pick up. Quarter zips are available in adult and women's sizes.

Bag Check

Bag Check will open at 5:15 am on the George Washington Parkway Circle in front of the gift shop entrance. Runner's baggage will be moved to the finish area once the race has started. Bag Claim will open in the finish area as soon as the transfer is complete. All bags must comply with George Washington's Mount Vernon guidelines in order to be accepted at Bag Check. These same guidelines apply to baggage taken aboard the shuttle buses at USPTO.

Results

Results will be available on your phone once you finish the race, and on laptops in the Results Tent. Shortly after crossing the finish line, your results will be available online. Please note that result viewing is available via the internet, due to the location of the finish line and your service provider, connectivitiy may be an issue on-site. Please be patient and know that the timing company will do everything they can to get the results online as quickly as possible. Scan the Results QR Code posted around the site to see your time or go to RESULTS on your phone.


Awards

Awards will be presented to First Place overall, by age division, and for the Military/First Responder categories. Each recipient is only eligible for the category they are registered for and only receives one award.

Finisher Medals

In-person 5K and 10-Mile runners will receive a commemorative George Washington Patriot Run finisher medal as they cross the finish line.

Finish Festival

Following the race, please join us for the Finish Festival that features music, food and beverage concessions, free Wi-Fi, free drinks and snacks at the finish line, free admission to George Washington's Mount Vernon, and a complimentary beer for race participants.

Road Closure on Race Day

  • The US Park Police will close the George Washington Memorial Parkway at 6:00 am.
  • If you purchase reserved parking and plan to travel to George Washington's Mount Vernon via the George Washington Memorial Parkway, please leave home early enough to avoid these road closures.
  • Your parking pass will NOT allow you to travel on the George Washington Memorial Parkway after 6:30 am.
  • Alternatively you may reach Mount Vernon via Mount Vernon Memorial Highway/235 South or Mount Vernon Highway/235 North at any time on Race Day.

Reserved Parking at George Washington's Mount Vernon:

  • A limited number of on-site reserved parking places will be available for purchase during registration for $20.00.
  • All on-site parking passes need to be picked up during advance packet pick up or mailed if packet shipping is requested and paid for. Parking Passes will NOT be available for pick up on Race Day. 
  • Please display your reserved parking pass prominently on your dashboard upon arrival.
  • Reserved Parking opens at 5:15 am.

Kiss n Ride

Participants may be dropped off at the Mount Vernon Post Office located at (GPS) 3500T Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121 starting at 5:15 am. The Post Office is a 3-minute walk from the starting line. No parking at this location - drop and go only.

Free round trip shuttle service from Alexandria (See Map Here)

  • Free round trip shuttle service will be available from the US Patent & Trade Office (USPTO) at 600 Dulany Street in Alexandria, VA. Parking for participants will be available in the USPTO East Parking Garage for $5.00. Click here for parking directions at USPTO.
  • Shuttle service begins at 5:30 am. The last shuttle departs USPTO at 6:15 am. Return service back to USPTO ends at 11:00 am.
  • All carry-on bags and packages must meet George Washington's Mount Vernon guidelines, or they will not be allowed on the shuttle bus.


Additional Information regarding the Parking at the US Patent & Trade Office

Drivers must take a ticket from the automatic dispenser at the East Garage entrance on John Carlyle Street. Before returning to their vehicle to exit, they must visit one of the pay-by-foot machines to pay the required parking fee by inserting their ticket into the pay-by-foot machine. If they require a receipt, the "receipt" button on the machine will dispense the parking receipt. The pay-on-foot machine will re-issue the ticket after successfully processing the payment. Drivers will then take the re-issued ticket from the machine and insert it into the ticket machine at the exit gate upon leaving. 

Pay on Foot - East Garage locations: 

  • Level P2 elevator lobby (credit/debit card only)
  • Level P3 elevator lobby (cash and credit/debit card accepted)
  • Level P3 adjacent to the child care entrance (credit/debit card only)

Emergency Medical Services

The Patriot Run will have a fully staffed medical tent at the finish line, an ambulance, and a team of medics on the racecourse. George Washington's Mount Vernon staff will provide backup EMS support.

Water Stations

There will be multiple water stations and a limited number of port-a-johns on the racecourse.

Rider Support Bus (SAG wagon)

A SAG vehicle will follow the last runners to pick up participants who are unable to complete the racecourse.

Headphones, Strollers, Pets, and Walkers

  • The use of personal music devices is discouraged while on the racecourse. Please run responsibly and be courteous to your fellow runners and to race officials.
  • Strollers are welcome on the racecourse, but we kindly ask that you start last so that runners are not blocked. Please note that the path leading up to the finish line is gravel so we recommend strollers with wide, trail-appropriate tires.
  • Pets are not allowed on the racecourse.

Race Day Restrooms

  • There are no indoor restrooms available for use on race day morning. All restrooms are located outdoors near the start line. 

Need more information?

If you have questions and/or comments, please contact us at events@mountvernon.org