Kensington 8K
About this race
Fun and Fast for 33 Years
Since 1994, the Kensington 8K Race has been a favorite DC area fall race - a fun, fast event with beauty, challenge, and excitement. Run it this year on September 19, 2026!
Our Community Event
Known throughout the DC area as a true community race - parents and kids cheering on each other and welcomed visitors running through Kensington and Rock Creek Park.
Benefits Local Schools
Eight local schools - Kensington Parkwood ES, North Bethesda MS, Silver Creek MS, and Walter Johnson HS, plus now North Chevy Chase ES, Oakland Terrace ES, Rock View ES, and Rosemary Hills ES - benefit from race net proceeds, with more than $350,000 raised since 2009!
Pick your distance
Running
8K Race
Start at historic Town Hall and run through Old Town Kensington, past Warner Mansion, along Antique Row, beside 120+ year-old and by Noyes Library, the oldest library in MoCo. Head down Kensington Pkwy then out-and-back along Beach Drive before returning up Kensington Pkwy for a fast finish through Old Town. Must maintain 15 min/mile pace. 8K = 4.97 miles.
2M Challenge
Great for both runners and walkers alike, the route starts at historic Town Hall, past Warner Mansion and beside 120+ year old homes and by Noyes Library, the oldest library in MoCo. Then down onto Kensington Pkwy for a long straight-away, before a u-turn at Saul Rd., heading back around the Circle to a fast finish through Old Town. Must maintain 20 min/mile pace.
1K Fun Run
A family favorite for all ages. The runnable and walkable route starts at historic Town Hall and into Warner Circle, running around Noyes Library, then returning through Old Town for a fast finish back at Town Hall. Run, walk, carry, pull, cajole - however you finish, it's definitely fun for all. Must complete in 15 minutes. 1K = 0.62 miles.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 5 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in Kensington.
Course
Route map and elevation profile
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
Reviews
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Other races near Kensington
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Turkey Chase Charity Race
Somerset Elementary School Back to School Classic
MCRRC Eastern County 8K
MCRRC Matthew Henson 5K
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 1 Kensington event
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