5K: This Year We Run for Freedom

The first time I ran on Pennsylvania Avenue in the National Press Club's ``Beat The Deadline'' 5K, I was struck by the beauty of the Capitol dome ahead of me. The dome is one of the greatest symbols of freedom in the world.

At this year's 5K, on Sept. 5, we won't just look at freedom -- we'll run for it.

We'll have race t-shirts depicting Jason Rezaian. He is the Washington Post reporter who is unjustly jailed in Tehran. Jason is one of three journalists being held in foreign jails whose causes we adopted in a special way this year.

Race proceeds will support the fight for press freedom. The money goes to the Club's affiliated 501(c)3 Journalism Institute. Earlier this year, the Club transferred its press-freedom programs to the non-profit. This change provides an opportunity to tap additional resources and expand press-freedom efforts.

With Jason on the t-shirts, and with proceeds going to the Institute that oversee press-freedom programs, consider this the Press Freedom 5K!

Don't miss this. It's one of the biggest events of the Press Club year. If you are on the shelf like I am, thanks to a bum left knee, you can still volunteer -- and socialize and eat pancakes.

To register, go here. To volunteer, write [email protected].

As for Jason, we hope that with each day we get closer to his release. The verdict in the sham case Iranians brought against him is believed to be imminent. Could he be released by the day of the race? We hope so, which would really give us something to celebrate that day.

The Rezaian shirt, which will have #FreeJason on it, will be short sleeved. We hope participants wear it so they quite literally will run for freedom! The drawing of Jason on the shirt is being done by Washington Post columnist/cartoonist Michael Cavna.

For traditionalists, the long-sleeve regular shirt will be available. For $10, people can have one of each!

Fitness trainer and P90X creator Tony Horton again will be honorary Race Marshall. He will conduct a P90X Boot Camp at 6:30pm Thursday, Sept. 3. The boot camp is covered by the cost of the entry fee for the race, which begins at 7:30am on Sept. 5.

See you there!