St. Rita 5K & Fun Run for Education

St. Rita 5K & Fun Run for Education takes place in Alexandria, Virginia, on November 14, 2026. The morning opens with the St. Rita 1K Kids Fun Run at 8:00 AM, and the St. Rita 5K (3.1 miles) starts at 8:30 AM. The event is run for the benefit of education, as its name says, and the schedule is built so that children race first and parents can line up for the 5K afterward.

This is a typical community road 5K, and it works for a range of goals. Experienced runners can treat it as a late-fall speed check after a marathon or half marathon season. Beginners can get ready with six to eight weeks of easy running, three times a week, adding a few minutes each week until 3.1 miles feels manageable. The early start means a light breakfast an hour or two before is enough. If you are running with your child in the 1K first, keep your own warm-up short and easy so you still have fresh legs 30 minutes later.