Making a Run: Girls’ Cross Country Gets their Footing in DC

Most days started with an early morning run, followed by breakfast, and tours of sites and sounds of the city. Day 1 (28,437 steps) the Mavericks early morning warmup included a run by the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the White House. 

“Running on the National Mall in the morning, before the city wakes up, provides a unique opportunity to experience the monuments in a quiet atmosphere,” said Head Coach Haley Barrett, who is in her first full season as head coach of the program.

“I think the team learned how resilient we all are, said co-captain Emarie DiBella ’25. “To be able to get up before the sun, run intense workouts, and then walk upwards of 30,000 steps to explore a city is not easy, and yet every girl did it every single day without complaint and even with smiles.”

“My favorite part of the trip was the six-mile run tour of the mall,” said co-captain Annie Villa ’25. “It was so much fun to see all the monuments while also chatting and bonding with my teammates.”

Day 2 (27,734 steps) they ran the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath, a former transportation link between the Allegheny coal fields and the upper Chesapeake Bay/Patomic River. The path is now a 185.4-mile stone and dirt throughway for walking, running, and biking between Georgetown and Cumberland, MD. 

“I really enjoyed our run on the C&O Towpath, said co-captain Ashley Ringold ’25. It was really cool running our 400s on a straight path instead of the track because it gives a more realistic vibe of what a meet looks like.”

Later in the day, they toured to the top of the Washington Monument and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Day 3 (30,442 steps) the team headed over the Key bridge to Roosevelt Island located in the Potomac River. With no bicycles or cars allowed on the island, the Mavs were in their element running on trails surrounded by wilderness. 

“Theodore Roosevelt island was so beautiful,” said DiBella. “It was so surreal to go from an urban and loud environment to the quiet and calm island, right in the middle of the city! I ran with one of my co-captains, Ashley Ringold, and it was so fun to push each other while running fast loops in the park.”

Afterwards, the team toured the US Capitol and ended the evening at the Kennedy Center to see the musical, Back to the Future. 

“Back to the Future was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I have been wanting to see the musical for so long,” said Ringold. “The musical was everything I thought it could be and more. Cartreze Tucker (who played Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry) was so amazing!”

Day 4 (21,643 steps) began with a White House tour where the team walked through the gardens and some beautifully appointed rooms with portraits and photographs of past presidents and their families (including pets). Afterward, they paid a visit to the Arlington  National Cemetery. Day 5 (31,566 steps) the team returned to the C&O Canal Towpath for repeat 400 m runs. The team then toured the National Zoo and headed back for some down time at Georgetown University.

“My favorite part of the trip was integrating the new girls into our team,” said co-captain Monistere Lee ’26. “We are such a tight-knit group, and I love being able to compete alongside such a great team of girls.”

“I think the XC retreat taught a lot of girls how accepting and loving the XC team and greater Mavericks athletic family is outside of practices and competition!” said Ringold. “Despite many people thinking that XC is more of a solo sport, our team relies heavily on each other for support during workouts and meets.” 

Day 6 (27,288 steps) the team visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the National Air & Space Museum. The Mavs finished the evening watching the Nationals play the Brewers at Nationals Park.

“Washington DC has been one of my favorite cities to run in for a long time and getting to share that experience with the team this year was incredible,” said Barrett. 

In DC the past is the key to the present. The Mavericks time-traveled by monuments, on old water routes, across bridges, around islands, and inside museums to gain an appreciation of those who strode before them, and their teammates who now run beside them. Their total step count of 192,448 (including travel days, but not dance party steps!), measured just part of the experience. The support and trust they forged along the way will help propel them in their future races with bursts of speed worthy of Doc Brown’s DeLorean. 

Sam Chambers - Athletic News