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DCRR Club Awards

Each year, DC Road Runners acknowledges the achievements of it members at the spring awards banquet, which is held in March.

Award winners are determined by a nominating process that formally begins in January of each year.

Members are not eligible for back-to-back awards in the same category, two years in a row.

Award Categories and Criteria

This award is given to club members who have demonstrated exceptional race performances during the year preceding nomination. This award is given to one male and one female runner in the non-masters, masters, and grand masters age categories.

In addition to demonstrated racing excellence, nominees must have offered significant contributions to DC Road Runners by providing substantial volunteer support for the club’s activities. Nominees must be active club members at the time of nomination.

This award recognizes club members who have made significant progress and improvement in their running and in their efforts to reach their training goals. The spirit of this award is to recognize members who have made discernible improvements in their running regardless of speed, finish time, or training goal thresholds.

Nominees must be active club members at the time of nomination.

This award formally recognizes club members who have made substantial volunteer contributions to the club’s activities during the year preceding nomination.

Nominees may have volunteered in one part of the club’s operations with consistency, or they may have volunteered in several different areas over the course of the nomination period. Nominees must be active club members at the time of nomination.

This award is given to club members who have taken an active coaching role in the club’s training programs, making significant contributions to trainee success through group and individualized coaching.

Nominees must be active club members and must have attained Road Runners Club of America Coaching Certification at the time of their nomination.

Award Winners

Additional Awards

In addition to the club’s annual awards selections, DC Road Runners has recognized the unique, specialized achievements and contributions of its club members in a variety of ways.

Presidential, Lifetime, and RRCA Honorees

The President’s Award recognizes the sustained performances and contributions made by runners and club supporters. The only recipient to date has been Larry Noël (1989).

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jim Hage, two-time winner of the Marine Corps Marathon, as well as to Ted Poulos (1995), for dedication to racing within DC Road Runners and in the community.

In September 1995, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) presented Bob Platt with the Club President of the Year Award. That same year, the RRCA presented Chuck Evans with the Race Director of the Year Award.

Platt received the RRCA’s Club President of the Year Award a second time in 1997.

Named Races

Over time, DC Road Runners has memorialized the contributions of club members by naming races after them.

These club members made substantial contributions to DC Road Runners either through direct governance or significant positive contributions to the culture of the club (and oftentimes both).

Races have been named in honor of:

2020 Outstanding Pandemic Runner

Given the disruption that the COVID-19 Pandemic posed to the club’s operating status, the Board of Directors created an award to recognize the achievements of club members during 2020.

To determine the winners, the Board established the following nomination criteria: in-person race performances, virtual race performances, solo running accomplishments, service to the club, and service to the community.

The winners of the 2020 Outstanding Pandemic Runner award were:

  • Female: Liz Ozeki
  • Male: Rodrigo Vellón
  • Female Master: Ida Draim
  • Male Master: Rich Mendelowitz