Inova Battle of the Branches 5K

Inova Battle of the Branches 5K is run in Fairfax, Virginia, on November 8, 2026. The event offers one distance, a 5K on the roads, starting at 9 a.m. The name points to a friendly team competition between the military service branches, so expect to line up alongside groups running for something other than a personal best.

A 5K is the most accessible race distance there is, and a team format makes it more so: everyone finishes, and every finish counts toward the group. If you are racing it seriously, treat the first mile as the trap it usually is and go out a few seconds slower than target pace. If you are running it for the team, a month of three easy runs a week is plenty of preparation to enjoy the morning.