Just as we thought WUS was past its prime and getting old and slow, 2024 saw a revival of youthful energy, thanks the arrival of new regulars like Will, plus a crop of new speedy women (thanks, Barry!). The explosion of new energy spurred Jaret and WHT to revive the WUS donut run, Trevor and Keith to eke through Hardrock, and Martha to somehow muster another sub-3 marathon. Not dead yet. We even made new WUS shirts, 3rd edition, although the slogan “The faces may change but the bar remains” has not aged well. Cleveland Park Bar and Grill may be moving down the block next year, following a change of landlord, and WUS may need to survive another big shakeup. But in the immortal words of Bryan Powell (“Jesus, you guys are still doing that Tuesday run?), WUS has a staying power that defies the winds of change and the elbows of Sebastian. Blue skies ahead in 2025. The WUS baby boom is finally over, our 20-year WuSiversay is on the horizon (2026), and a little cross-pollination with road runners may bring a dash more speed into Tuesday nights (don’t give me that look, Old Guard, some of our best WuSsies were snagged from DC road running groups).

I. Scorecard. How many of last year’s predictions came true in 2024? Red is correct guesses.

1. Mass WUS gathering at Hardrock in July.
2. Donut Run is revived. (But Martha probably has to organize it.)
3. Return of McNulty.
4. Clarification: Return of McNulty after dog-friendly outdoor seating becomes available in front of CPBG’s years-in-the-making pedestrian sidewalk.
5. WUS DC United Field Trip led by HKJ.
6. Another WUS tries Ride N Tie.
7. Prize to whichever WUS comes across Martha riding a horse through Rock Creek Park first.

II. 2024 Awards

Best race performances, male

Best race performances, female

Best performance, overall: Take On Me: Bjorn (BRR)

Best race debut, male: Anthony, marathon

Best race debut, female: Nora, ride n tie

Most improved, male: Mike, 9 minute PR at Beer Mile

Most improved, female: Martha, training for a marathon

Best surprise ringer: Amanda, Beer Mile

WuSsies of the Year: Jaret and WHT, for reviving the Donut Run

Best triumphant return: Aaron, finishing a 100 miler for the first time in a decade

Best WUS blast from the past: Matt W birthday WUS

Best performance, locking it up: Jaret

Worst performance, looking a gift horse in the mouth: Mike, start of Richmond Marathon

WUS arrivals: Will, Nora, Keavy, Barry, Theo, Orin, Io and Callisto, Georgia’s new baby

WUS departures: Nick, HKJ, Leda, Zelig

Best new CPBG pizza: burrata

Worst WUS news: the bar is closing in late 2024/early 2025

Best WUS news: the bar is reopening above Fat Pete’s

Best WUS bromance: Sean and Keith (always)

Best WUS fight: Martha and Seb, over which way North is

Worst race rip-off: Morocco 50k, for charging $400 and providing no snacks at aid stations

Worst race experience: Ironstone 100k

Best race experience: Iron Mountain Ride N Tie

Best new WUS real estate: Chamonix

Worst performance, trying to drop out of a race: Keith, Hardrock

Best performance, masking his desire to drop out of a race: Trevor, Hardrock

Best performance, segment records on Rock Creek Park hills: Poppy the white pony

Best performance, Bjorn care: (tie) Chelsea (Catherine’s Furnace) and Keavy’s brother (Breck summer camp)

Worst performance, convincing VHTRC to change SiP to 9am at Pierce Mill: Martha

Best performance, playing off a WUS fall: Heather

Worst performance, playing off a WUS fall: Adam

III: Predictions for 2025:

1. Mass WUS gathering at Hellbender
2. An epic WUS adventure involving HKJ
3. A WUS wedding
4. WUS women make a comeback (after their demands are met).
5. Keith makes a WUS comeback (no comment on whether #4 and #5 are related)
6. Seb finally earns a “real” WUS award by completing his first 100km race (thanks to a phenomenal pacing job by Guy).
7. New WUS house
8. A group of intrepid WuSsies complete a burro race. (And Aaron buys Martha a “Will Run 4 Ass” shirt.)
9. Another WUS tries ride n tie
10. Nora becomes the new occupant of the Bannockburn party house
11. A record number of WuSsies attend Mike’s DC rave (but only the early bird 4pm version)
12. Someone from the Monday night Pacer’s Run joins WUS (once Martha is offered as tribute)
13. A Pacers ringer gives Puff a run for his money at the 2024 WUS beer mile
14. Puff Magic runs a sub-20 hour hundred.
15. Aaron runs his 25th consecutive Boston Marathon in April.
16. Martha celebrates Aaron’s achievement a week later by throwing a Beer Mile party he doesn’t want in his backyard. In the spirit of “we all make sacrifices,” Martha invites all the WuSsies, even the hot sauce thieves. Because in 2025, everyone gets a shot at redemption.