The Run Unbridled Track Fest is another signature track event brought to you by Light Horse Track Club—bringing community, competition, and fun together in a high-energy atmosphere.
2026 EARLY ACCESS REGISTRATION
STARTS VALENTINE’S DAY FEB 14
A code will be emailed to all previous participants
2026 REGULAR REGISTRATION
OPENS TUES FEB 17
WE’RE CELEBRATING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR: YEAR OF THE HORSE!
RUN UNBRIDLED TRACK FEST
JUNE 12, 2026 | George Mason University
800 - MILE - 5000 - STEEPLE - DMR
STEEPLE MADNESS!!
OPEN 2K + 3K & SELECT 3K STEEPLECHASE
Run Unbridled Track Fest returns for year two in 2026 with fast racing across multiple distances, open and select/pro heats for all abilities, music, food trucks, and a festive atmosphere at George Mason University’s outdoor track. Races are seeded by entry times, creating competitive fields and opportunities to chase personal bests or standards.
WHAT TO EXPECT
DJ music and live announcing
Food trucks and refreshments available
Competitive and community heats
Festive atmosphere “under the lights” at the track
Prize Money: Puglsey Steeple and DMR Championship sections (amount TBD)
2025 RESULTS: WITH SPLITS / WITHOUT SPLITS
PHOTO GALLERIES: Ted Plunkett / Earnest Running
Our 2025 beneficiary is Girls on the Run Northern Virginia. A portion of our proceeds will go to GOTR to support future programming.
STEEPLE MADNESS!
BEER BY ASLIN
RUN UNBRIDLED MERCH
GA Tickets & Trackside Seating!
If you’re not competing, volunteering, pacing or coaching - you need a GA ticket!
Your purchase supports Light Horse Track Club, a northern Virginia nonprofit running team dedicated to supporting runners of all levels and enhancing the DC-metro area running scene.
MUSIC ALL NIGHT!
Not Racing? Get Involved!
Not ready to race but want to be part of the action? We’re always looking for volunteers and pacers to help make Run Unbridled Track Fest a great night.
Pacing needs:
We need pacers for all races, from select fields to 10:00/mi pace.
Perks:
Coaches, volunteers, and pacers receive free entry. Pacers and Volunteers will walk away with meet merch!
📧 Interested? Email us at lighthorsetrackclub@gmail.com
Runner and Event information!
We’re excited to offer fast races for all in a festive atmosphere. Grab a PR, and then grab an Aslin beer!
All ages are welcome to run. Registration is open on RunSignUp starting Feb 14. You will be asked for a “seed time” use any recent time or you can estimate your current ability.
We will thoughtfully arrange the heats based on entry times with the fastest runners in our Select heats.
Open races will be men and women combined (expect for the steeple because of the barrier height), and select races will have women's races first, followed by men's.
The facility will open at 3:30pm
The GMU Fieldhouse will be open as well
Food and drink will be available for purchase, including Aslin beer.
Any person not competing, volunteering, or pacing will need a GA spectator ticket
Children four and under get in free.
You can leave and re-enter the facility.
No outside food or drink besides water or sports nutritional items is allowed. Bags are allowed.
HEATS/SECTIONS
Preliminary heats will be released on the Friday before the meet
The open 5k will have 1-2 sections; you must be able to run 30:00 or faster
The open mile will have 5+ sections; you must be able to run a 10:00 mile or faster
The open 800 will have 5+ sections; you must be able to run 4:00 or faster
The open steeplechase will have separate sections for Men’s and Women’s (due to the steeple barrier height). The time cutoff for both is 8:00 pace or 10:00 in the 2k and 15:00 in the 3k
The DMR comprises four legs: 1600, 1200, 800, and 400 - the overall cutoff is 7:00 average pace or 17:30 total
CHECK-IN PROCEDURE
Please check-in as soon as you get to the meet and pick up your bib number & hip number. If you do not check in, you will be scratched.
15-minutes prior to your race return to the tent next to the check-in area to get your final starting assignment and race information. Secure your hip number with safety pins. Be RACE READY at this point.
After your final check-in, you will head as a group to the track for your race. As soon as one race finishes, the next one begins.
BAG DROP AREA
We will have an official bag drop near our check-in area. Your bib will have ad adhesive tear-away strip for your bag.
OPEN RACES
Our open races are for anyone who can maintain a 10:00 pace or faster mile, 30:00 or faster in the 5k, an 8:00 pace in the 800, an 8:00 pace in the steeplechase, or a total team time of 17:30 in the DMR (7:00 average pace)
You’re guaranteed a fast, flat course with no 90 or 180-degree turns! Whether you’ve never run a track race before or you’ve run a hundred, you are welcome here.
You will be placed in a heat based upon your seed time with our fastest runners in our select races.
Open heats will run from slowest to fastest, with men and women combined.
YOUTH MILE
Open to any child 13 & Under who can maintain a 15:00 mile or faster.
We’ll run one section and combine boys & girls
Be sure to get $5 GA Tickets for your runner(s) and family
SELECT RACES:
We are building up our fields for the select races! We are anticipating winning times around the following. We will update this as entries and commitments continue to come in
Women’s 800: Sub 2:00 (current cutoff 2:12)
Women's 5000: Sub 16:00
Women's 3k Steeplechase : Sub 10:00
Men's 800: Sub 1:50
Men’s 5000: Sub 13:50
Men's 3k Steeplechase: Sub 8:30
AWARDS
Puglsey 3k Steeplechase: TBD
DMR: Top men’s and women’s teams: TBD
SPECTATOR TICKETS
If you’re not racing, coaching, pacing, or volunteering, you will need a spectator ticket (including all youth mile runners). Children 4 & under get in free.
$5 General Admission tickets will be on sale soon - price increase to $10 on the day-of and at the gate. Buy them now & save!
Now introducing Trackside Seating! Limited to 60people, get up close to the action. Tickets are $20 and include track access and other perks!
DIRECTIONS / PARKING:
4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 - the outdoor track and field complex is behind the fieldhouse. Enter “George Mason University Fieldhouse” into your GPS
Parking available adjacent to the track
Check out driving directions and construction/traffic alerts.
The nearest airports to campus are Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Washington Reagan Airport (DCA). Shuttles are available through private companies, as are cabs.
George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus is accessible via Metro Bus and Cue Bus (Fairfax City bus). Mason is also located near the Vienna/Fairfax/GMU Metro stop, and Mason provides regular shuttles from the Metro stop to campus. Check out shuttle and bus information.
PROHIBITED ITEMS:
Any food or beverage except for water or sport nutritional food or drink.
Weapons (including, without limitation, pocket knives), fireworks and other illegal drugs and substances
Animals (except service animals)
Beach balls and other inflatable items
Laser pens and laser pointers
Skateboards, hoverboards, scooters for non-ADA use, and wheeled footwear
Drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles
Toy guns or toy knives (including, without limitation, water guns)
Any other item deemed dangerous or inappropriate
Not ready to race, but would like to volunteer to help or pace? Email us at lighthorsetrackclub@gmail.com
Pacing duties needed for all races, from the select fields to 10:00/mi pace
Coaches, volunteers, and pacers all get in free!