RUN UNBRIDLED TRACK FEST
June 12, 2026 | George Mason University, VA
800 – Mile – 2K AND 3K STEEPLECHASE – 5k – DMR – On the Track!
Our 2026 beneficiary is Girls on the Run Northern Virginia. A portion of our proceeds will go to GOTR NOVA to support future programming.
What to expect:
- Music all night + big-meet atmosphere
- Food + beer on-site
- Professionally run, time-seeded heats
Meet details:
- Open/community to elite/pro heats
- Heats seeded by entry time
- Youth Mile (13 & under) is FREE
- One complimentary beverage included with entry
- Prize money for Pugsley 3K steeplechase, Alisa Harvey 800m, and DMR championship
- $350/$100/$50 for both the 3K steeplechase and 800m
- $200/$80/$40 for the DMR Championship
- More information below
Meet Overview
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.
- 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.
Preliminary Schedule (subject to change)
- 5:00 PM – Open Mile
- 5:40 PM – Free Youth Mile
- 5:55 PM – Open 5000m
- 6:25 PM – Open 800m
- 6:55 PM – Open 2K & 3K steeplechase
- 7:50 PM – Pugsley 3K steeplechase
- 8:17 PM – Select 800m
- 8:28 PM – Select Mile
- 8:42 PM – Select 5000m
- 9:22 PM – DMR
Getting to the Venue/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.
Open Athlete Race Day Logistics
HEATS/SECTIONS
- Preliminary heats will be released on the Friday before the meet
- The open 5k will have 1-2 sections; you must be able to run 30:00 or faster
- The open mile will have 5+ sections; you must be able to run a 10:00 mile or faster
- The open 800 will have 5+ sections; you must be able to run 4:00 or faster
- The open steeplechase will have separate sections for Men’s and Women’s (due to the steeple barrier height). The time cutoff for both is 8:00 pace or 10:00 in the 2k and 15:00 in the 3k
- The DMR comprises four legs: 1600, 1200, 800, and 400 – the overall cutoff is 7:00 average pace or 17:30 total
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. There will be a tear-off adhesive tag on your bib number that you can stick onto your bag.
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.
- Your runner gets in free – but be sure to get $10 GA Tickets for your family.
Elite Athlete Information
- We are building up our fields for the select races! As of April 1 – we are anticipating winning times around the following.
- Women’s 800m: Sub 2:00 (current cutoff 2:12)
- Women’s 5000m: Sub 16:00
- Women’s 3K steeplechase: Sub 10:00
- Men’s 800m: Sub 1:50
- Men’s 5000m: Sub 13:50
- Men’s 3K steeplechase: Sub 8:30
- Awards:
- 3K Steeplechase: $350 for 1st place, $100 for 2nd place, $50 for 3rd place
- 800m: $350 for 1st place, $100 for 2nd place, $50 for 3rd place
- DMR: $200 for 1st place, $80 for 2nd place, $40 for 3rd place
- Email andrew@lighthorsetrackclub.org for more information
Volunteering
Not ready to race but want to be part of the action? We’re always looking for volunteers and pacers to help make the Run Unbridled Track Fest a great night.
Pacing needs:
We need pacers for all races, from select fields to 10:00/mi pace.
Perks:
Coaches, volunteers, and pacers receive free entry. Pacers and Volunteers will walk away with meet merch!
Interested? Email us at info@lighthorsetrackclub.org
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!
- $10 General Admission & $20 trackside tickets are now on sale
- Now introducing Trackside Seating! Limited to 60 people, get up close to the action. Tickets are $20 and include a complimentary beer or another beverage plus your own seat. Price increases to $25 on the day of & at the gate.
- Get your tickets here
Prohibited Items
- Any food or beverage except for water or sports 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
Pole Vault
We are partnering with the Northern Virginia Pole Vault club to host a pole vault event during the meet! More details can be found at their website here.
