NoMa Run Club Newsletter: July Edition

Hi runners! Welcome to the July edition of the NoMa Run Club (NRC) newsletter.

June 20th marked the first day of summer, and what a hot and humid start it’s been. In June, DC passed its FY25 budget, which cuts the Circulator bus, but includes approval for a new NoMa Metro station entrance on 3rd St. Additionally, the presidential candidates debated for the first time this election season. Besides that spectacle, it’s been hard to get anything done with the Euros and Copa America keeping us glued to soccer from 9 AM till 11 PM.

This month, we launched our merchandise store, and our runners participated in various events, ranging from a one-mile effort in the NETC Better Your Mile event to a 50k trail race in Vermont.

Given the recent heat and humidity, please take breaks when necessary and bring water to stay hydrated on these hot runs. We recommend either a hand-held water bottle (holding a normal water bottle works too!) or hydration vest if you prefer a hands-free experience, especially during longer runs. Don’t forget electrolytes too! Stay safe and hope you had a happy Fourth of July!

NoMa MoMA: Monthly Member Awareness

When they say "Joining a run club is a good way to meet new friends", I didn't realize how true this was until I met Morgan and Wes! This dynamic duo was some of the first people I met and made me feel welcome when I didn't really know anyone as they shared their stories of their travels and races they've done around the world. I have run a couple races since joining NoMa Run Club with the help and encouragement of these two, whether they're running alongside you, cheering from the sidelines, or celebrating race finishes, simply put Wes and Morgan are good people and NoMa Run Club is lucky to have them. - Francis Escaler

Why did you join NoMa Run Club?
We joined NoMa Run Club in 2022 when we started training for our first marathon and saw flyers on the MBT. We wanted to meet other runners and the weekly runs quickly became our new routine. We love our NoMa Run Club community!

Current running goal?
Morgan: My current running goal is to not get injured and I’m hoping to run the Philly Marathon this year!
Wes: I’m starting to train for another marathon this fall and I’m signed up for a couple 5K races this summer. My long-term goal is to qualify for the 2026 Boston Marathon!

What do you do when you’re not running?
Morgan: Outside of running I love to paint, explore our local farmers markets, and see live music. I’m also trying to be better about strength training
Wes: I’ve been a golfer since I was 5 and still play competitively. I also like meeting cats and playing pickleball.

Anything else you want to share?
We are taking a training break this summer to get married in Scotland!

June Events Recap

This month was packed with races, and many of our runners took part. Members participated in the DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K, the Juneteenth Half Marathon, Better Your Mile, and the Catamount Ultra 50K trail race. Congrats to everyone!

Upcoming July & August events

The D.C. Crit – July 20th
Crit races are short form, closed circuit races that have long been popular in the cycling world. The DC Crit will revolve around a series of races on a 1/2 mile long closed loop course that will start and finish in front of Lost Generation Brewing Company. Runners can expect big crowds and high energy on a small course specifically designed for the spectators to take in all the action. The schedule will feature several sections of 5K's, with some fun additional races mixed in – like a 4x800 relay, an elimination mile, and kids 800m race.
Register here and use the promo code “NOMA20” for a 20% discount. Be on the lookout for a giveaway for a chance to win a free entry! Let us know if you’re racing!

Twilight 5000 – July 31st
The Tracksmith Twilight 5000 Series is designed to bring the racing experience of elite runners to everyone with a fun, low stakes race under the lights at Catholic University. Registration is closed but you can join the waitlist here. Let us know if you’re racing!

Washington Spirit vs Arsenal – August 18th
Join club members to cheer on the Washington Spirit! We’ll plan on meeting before or after the game, so jump over to the Discord for planning. If you’d like to attend, please try to purchase tickets in section 135 in rows 16 and 17 or around that vicinity.

Run Club Merchandise

Our merchandise site is now live!! We have shirts, tanks, race singlets, hats, beanies and more. Pick your choosing, and it will be shipped straight to you. Also, 10% of the purchase will go straight to the club, which we will use to continue to fund all of our fun runs, socials, and events throughout the year. Looking forward to seeing you all in NoMa Run Club gear. Thank you for supporting us!

Newsletter Contributions

Do you have a running related story you would like to share with us? Did you participate in a race and want to send in a race report? Do you want to nominate someone as the member of the month?

Weekly NRC Runs Calendar

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate 🙂