Kathy Dalby, CEO of Pacers Running

Kathy Dalby’s story started the way a lot of great Alexandria stories do: on King Street. But the thing about Alexandria stories is they rarely stay on this one famed street. They cross into the next block, the next neighborhood and sometimes the next decade. 

It was 2000, and Kathy was a recent graduate navigating early adulthood in Washington, D.C., picking up part-time shifts at Pacers Running, a small, locally-owned running specialty store that had been a fixture in Old Town since 1991. It was her second job, but would become her life’s work. 

By day, Kathy was a health care policy analyst with a newly-minted Masters of Public Health from George Washington University. Her background had always been about supporting healthy communities. In 2005, Kathy made a leap driven by her greatest passion. 

“I left my policy job to pursue what mattered most: helping as many people as possible through running,” said Kathy. 

Today, with CEO Kathy Dalby at the helm, Pacers Running is an institution not just to the Alexandria community, but the greater Washington D.C. metro and beyond. It’s a “beloved resource,” says Kathy. 

And it’s recognized as best-in-class nationally. Like a decorated runner hoarding finisher medals, the Pacers team has accumulated a crowded trophy shelf. They have won several business awards and been recognized nationally and locally for philanthropic efforts. 

Kathy describes Alexandria as a place of authentic, timeless charm. The Pacers flagship store sits at 1301 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. It’s the historic heart of the city that Kathy says embodies everything Pacers stands for: history, community, local business collaboration and a shared sense of place. Kathy views her neighbors, including both residents and fellow business leaders, as co-hosts in what she and her team are building. 

The building itself was once a grocery store, providing everyday essentials to the neighborhood. In a way, not much has changed. Pacers has become its own kind of community anchor, the place where Alexandria’s runners come for gear, guidance and each other. 

Step inside and you’ll feel it right away. “Customers feel seen and part of something larger,” said Kathy. “They experience hospitality and a welcoming community.” 

Kathy describes the entire Pacers running ecosystem – retail stores, a robust e-commerce platform, national caliber races and community events – as a community “rooted in giving back.” 

Pacers organized a relief run after Hurricane Katrina, and now stewards the PNC Alexandria Half & 5K, which will take place on April 26, 2026. Over the years, there have been countless fundraisers and community events in between.  

“When you visit Alexandria, you’re joining a community rooted in that same belief: that showing up for each other, with kindness and authenticity, matters,” said Kathy. “Pacers Running is how I serve others through the transformative power of running.” 

The PNC Alexandria Half & 5K, evolved from the PNC Parkway Classic, is the team’s “bespoke expression of community and craft.” An Alexandria fixture since 1984, Kathy says it’s “running, redefined.” 

It doesn’t hurt that the course itself is stunning: It’s a spring morning along the Potomac River, with cherry blossoms in full bloom, and some of the most historic pavement your running shoes will ever touch. 

But Kathy says it’s the people who make this race. The route isn’t just dotted with blooms; it’s dotted with neighbors on porches, volunteers who know your name and the kind of hospitality you don’t expect at a road race but never forget. 

“Pacers is a space of belonging, where every runner is welcome, regardless of ability. It’s the kind of place where you go to find your people, your gear and your next adventure,” said Kathy. 

The PNC Alexandria Half & 5K is on April 26, 2026. 

Pacers Running is located at 1301 King Street, Alexandria, VA.