WASHINGTON 鈥� For Hunter and Steve Benante, a Valentine鈥檚 Day 5K race is a holiday tradition as enduring as a box of chocolates and roses.
The Old Town Alexandria couple has participated in for the last eight of their 10 years of marriage, and all eight years the race has been in existence.
鈥淢y wife makes me do it every year,鈥� Steve joked. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a local race we have done a lot of years, so it鈥檚 something that we can do together.鈥�
The 3.1-mile course through Arlington on Feb. 12 is a destination for many D.C.-area couples. And singles, too. In fact, it could be a place to make a love connection as relationship statuses are displayed right on participants鈥� chests.
The estimated 1,500 registrants will select one of three categories that correspond with a color-coded race bib fit for ogling. Runners can register as 鈥淐o-Dependent鈥� (in a relationship or doesn鈥檛 want to reveal status), 鈥淪tupid Cupid鈥� (single), or 鈥淟ove 鈥檈m or Leave 鈥檈m鈥� (it鈥檚 complicated).
There are teams for couples, too, ranging from Valentine鈥檚 Day haters to romantically involved runners, said Stephen Laico with Pacers Running, the running club that sponsors Love the Run You鈥檙e With as well as other races throughout the year.
鈥淚f people are looking to meet people, a race is generally a pretty good place to do that, just because you know that at least you have a built-in commonality,鈥� Laico said.
Romantic聽aspirations aside, Laico said, it鈥檚 an entertaining race on a challenging course that lends itself to negative splits 鈥� a faster time for the second half of a race than the first.
For the Benantes, the race is a way to share a common interest. It also brings Hunter back to her passion, since her recent treatment following a 2014 bladder cancer diagnosis.
鈥淚鈥檝e had seven cancer surgeries in the past two years, so I鈥檓 just getting my feet back. So I would say that鈥檚 my goal … to just run a really strong 5K,鈥� she said.
Steve says this race is just one reminder of how strong his wife really is, adding that she is聽the more polished runner in the duo. And while they don’t plan to run the entire race together, Steve says they always share a kiss at the starting line and meet up at the finish.
鈥淲e both have different running paces and running styles,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 okay, because we still love the sport together.鈥�
Runners can register for the race up through race day. For more information and pricing, visit the .
