A Father/Daughter Experience: Wolf Trap's Run for the Arts 5k and Fun Run

Wolf Trap’s Run for the Arts 5K and Fun Run feature two different events that all ages can participate in. Adults and children can choose to participate in the 1-mile Fun Run, a lighter and shorter course through Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, or the 5K, which extends through Shouse Village and finishes at the Filene Center. Children and adults can register for both races and run the courses together.

So what can you expect from a Wolf Trap Run for the Arts? We asked Holt Lackey, a previous 5K and Fun Run participant, to provide us with some insight on his experience with the race.

My 4 year-old daughter Carson and I have run the Wolf Trap Fun Run and 5K together for the past two years. We run the Fun Run holding hands, and then she jumps in the jogging stroller for the 5K. Carson says the Fun Run is her favorite because she won a ribbon (Dad's time in the 5K did not justify such laurels). We love the race because it's family-friendly, off the beaten path, and physically-challenging. With the help of a fitness coach, the kids lead their parents in stretching and calisthenics before the race, and there is plenty of entertainment along the course: countless cheerleaders waving hello along the way, a marching band energizing the runners, cheerful volunteers with much-needed water, and, best of all for Carson, Wolfie, Wolf Trap's mascot. Carson was curious whether he was a big bad wolf or a nice wolf. I assured her he was a good wolf, which prompted her to ask why, if he was a good wolf, he had a trap. I tried to explain that Wolf Trap was actually the name of the park.

Suffice to say that if you are looking for a real fitness challenge, try running 3.1 miles pushing a 50-pound stroller through the rolling hills of Wolf Trap National Park while fielding a steady stream of “why” questions from a 3-year-old. When the race was run – and I caught my breath – Carson and I enjoyed snacks, live music, and visiting the face-painting booth to be painted like a princess (that last one actually just applies to her). We are looking forward to running the race again this year and for many years to come. We hope to see you there, stroller or not!