Frequently Asked Questions

about CCW's June 21 Fun Run/Walk Event on the National Mall.

1) How can I see the trail map and distances?  Is the trail marked? (Trail is not marked! But you won't get lost.  See map and just do the best we can to have fun time meeting others at a fun, social tongue -in-cheek run!)

2) Is there a bag check where I can park my gear? Yes! See Maggie for her fancy yellow bags and supply your name on its sticker! Pick up at the medal ceremony or by 10:30 latest or contents will be donated to charity.

3) What time will each race start?  Right after the welcome announcements at 9 am and the whisper-singing of the National Anthem. Approximate starting times at the spinny sculpture:

• 9:05 Whole Darn Mall - 5 miler

• 9:07 Bebe Babies Trail around the Tidal Basin 

• 9: 10 Libe Slope Climb -5-K

4) Are all ages lumped together? There are 3 events based on the distance being covered, and medals will go to the top runner in each event. So, choose your distance and meet people of all ages who are "racing together" toward the finish line. Our total number of participants is 20 but we expect guests to cheer us all!

5) I want to socialize. How easy is that with the CCW Running group?  Connect with others in your event, be inviting, chat about Cornell experiences... and it's probably best to select the Bebe Babies Trail for today's event.  Sometimes people in our running group clump up and run together. Some folks like to put on earbuds after stretching together and just go out and run independently toward the finish line.  You do you!  We bet you make some new friends and maybe even schedule your next run or walk together! 

6) How can we tell who won and their race "time?"  Maggie will post winners at the finish line. She'll probably forget to time the races without someone volunteering, so participants can time themselves (if they really care-- LOL!) and report their times to the records keeper.

7) Is there a beer tent?  No, but Maggie has an IOU for a beer to hand out to each fundraiser who is registered by June 18 or who throws $20 into the jar for Maggie to give to AA.

8) Is there a med tent? Special toilets for the race? Water stations?   (Hell no, this thing is small, fun, tongue-in-cheek, under resourced...), and we expect fewer than 50 attending (to include FANS of runners who simply socialize.) A public restroom is located in the area between the Washington Monument and the African American History and Cultural Museum.) 

9) Seriously... about the water?  Well, actually we are buying bottles of water and bananas for each of the runners who registered by June 18 midnight at CCW web site, and an EXTRA to reward each of the folks who joined the "Go Big Red" Alzheimers team.

10) How do I get my t-shirt?  They are delivered by mail to all who become official registrants not only of our CCW event but at the "Join Go Big Red Team" link on the Alzheimer's Association web site.  

11) How much money has already been raised for Altzheimers Association? $1190 so far! Donate as a supporter to a Cornellian who is running with our team called "Go Big Red." 

12) How many people have already raised  money for AA?  Not many, but it's our first year participating, and it's allllll good! Join the Go Big Red Team and get a free t-shirt whether or not you get a lot of funds raised.

13) Can I sue the CCW or Maggie if I injur myself by any means during this race?  Hah! Good luck with that!  Participate at your own risk-- we have NO insurance for this dopey event!

14)  Will there be cool pounding music to inspire us to get adrenaline running?  Are you kidding me?  Low budget, low radar, don't get caught by the Park Police, hard no, unless a volunteer brings a boom box or loud phone and runs that part for 2 min max.  (Maggie might get you to sing the National Anthem, and you can hum the theme to ROCKY to yourself partway through or when you  hit your "wall!")   If Park Police give us any interference, tell them it's a family reunion event Maggie is organizing for her and her Cornell Cousins. And that it will be over by 10:30.

15) Are there extra dogs I could walk? Yes! Bring an empty stroller or an empty baby pack and you'll get a cute stuffed animal to walk.  You don't have to return it!

16) If strangers ask to participate, can we invite them in? Meh, let's keep it manageable this time. See #13.  But they can take a "Longest Day" flyer and have their own run next year. Promote fundraising for Alzheimer's Association because they sure make it easy!  (Guests of Cornellians (like their dates) are free to spectate or join a walk/run. For example, KJ is bringing her family and some might want the exercise. Cool! (But we only have water and bananas for paid participants.)

17) Is it true that this fun group will form a team to do the Marine Corps Marathon at the end of October?  Yep!  We're on it! Make sure Maggie has your name if you are interested. An organizational meeting will happen during the Cornell Happy Hour scheduled for June 25   (register here), but if you cannot attend, Maggie will be sharing more details on our calendaring page for you to monitor and participate.  Jump aboard and give yourself the Marathoning Experience! You can do it!

06/25/2025             5:30 PM - 7:30 PM         (<--    7 pm is when our Marathon organizational meeting will start. Look for the table that Maggie will grab for it.  Make her not loser-lonely there!)

Cornell's Explore DC Happy Hour Series – Ballston

Location: Quincy Hall 4001 Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203

18)  People will be taking pictures. How do I know those photos won't appear on social media?  No guarantees-- that's the day we live in.  A blue sticker will be available at the race registration desk if you want to slap it on your chest to show people you're opposed to having your photo on social media. The organizers of this race wish to post photos at these locations: Cornell Club of Washington web site, CCW Instagram, Possibly someday CCW Facebook. We might give a photo to the Alzheimer's Association.  For your reference, CCW presently has about 860 members and it is GROWING.  Alumni Affairs in Ithaca sends our links about CCW events to additional numbers... graduates of Cornell throughout the DMW (which number in the thousands.)

19) Is there anything I or my spectator guest can do to help this event function?   Sure thing! Ask Maggie, Kassandra or Andres when we get there. We've never organized something like this before, and we THINK we've got this, but we might ask you to lead your group in stretching or take a group photo, for example. We might ask you to email to Maggie your favorite photos from the day.

20) How can I quickly access the pages and updates related to the June 21 event?  Use the URL  https://sites.google.com/view/ccw-event-details/running-walking-group        or the QR Code at the bottom of this page.

21) How cool are the medals? Oh so cool. You know you want one!