Mayor Muriel E. Bowser kicked off her final year in office the same way she’s begun every new year since 2015: crossing the finish line of the Fresh Start 5K.
It was a literal representation of the mantra Bowser (D) set for her last year as D.C.’s mayor — “running through the tape” — in what is expected to be a year full of challenges but also final opportunities for the 11-year incumbent to leave her mark on the nation’s capital after she decided not to seek reelection.
“With one year to go, it’s time to run through the tape,” she told a crowd gathered ahead of the race. “Are you with me?”
In 2026, she’ll confront what is expected to be a grueling budget season, a last chance to set policy priorities in a tight fiscal climate; preparations for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, a massive festival hyped by the president; and unpredictable potential clashes with Congress and the White House over D.C. autonomy, as myriad bills targeting D.C. policies move through the House and National Guard troops and federal agents still patrol the streets.
But for now, in the brittle 30-degree air under a bright unwarm sun Thursday, as the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge pulsed beneath the feet of hundreds of runners, Bowser was just focused on the task at hand. She crossed the finish line (and ran through ceremonial green tape) at around the one-hour mark — with her daughter, Miranda, next to her.
“She walked the entire way with her little 7-year-old legs. I’m very proud of her,” Bowser said in a brief interview afterward, wearing a trademark green team beanie, the No. 12 pinned to her jacket.
Bowser created the New Year’s Day footrace as mayor-elect, running the inaugural 5K the day before she was sworn in for her first term in 2015 and each year since. She wasn’t necessarily an avid runner, more of an avid enjoyer of the outdoors, she said, but came up with the idea after seeing the joy of other 5K events.
“I was inspired by all the 5Ks I participated in and how they bring people of all backgrounds together, to enjoy the beauty of the city and be outside,” she said. “So we’ve been able to maintain it — we’ve added a couple different ones, the HerStory 5K; we did a Fred Douglas one once before — but it’s a tradition I hope continues.”
According to her office, Thursday’s saw the highest number of registrants since 2015, with over 8,100 people signed up to participate, including 465 little ones for the kids’ dash. The race began and ended on Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, taking runners and walkers along the Anacostia waterfront, to Anacostia Park and back.
The winner sprinted through the tape a bit after the 16-minute mark. Second and third place followed shortly thereafter, the latter in a Santa suit. And thousands others, in beanies and thermals and, in some cases, shorts, streamed through behind them. Some moms or dads pushed strollers. Some held onto dog leashes. At least one hoisted a D.C. flag.
“Let me tell you, this race has always been about more than miles,” Carlos Richardson, captain of the D.C. chapter of Black Men Run, told the crowd before the race. “It’s about health. It’s about community. It’s about starting the year with intention.”
Bowser personally selected the bridge as the race location. Originally built in 1950, it underwent a major $440 million redesign that was completed in 2021 after long project delays predating Bowser’s time as mayor. Bowser saw its completion during her tenure as one of her top infrastructure successes, and now one of the defining visual features of the city’s skyline.
“This bridge is important to me, because it was a project that was kind of stuck that we delivered,” she said. “It’s become iconic of the city, and now when you see city views, you see the federal monuments, but you also see these arches, and it’s very important, I think, for us.”
Asked what “running through the tape” will look like in 2026 and what her goals will be in her final year, Bowser demurred, saying she would have more detail to share about that later.
“We’ll have some big things that we focus on across all of our clusters, and we’ll focus on a smooth transition at the end of the year,” she said.
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