Fred Irby

Fred Irby—affectionately known as “Innkeeper Freddie”—hails from Silver Spring, MD, just outside the District of Columbia. Shortly after graduating from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL, Freddie moved back to the DMV, eventually settling in Washington, DC where he has resided since 2009. It was around this time Freddie, having no prior experience nor exposure to distance running, completed his first marathon and was, needless to say, hooked. Ironically, it was less the physical benefits of running that struck a chord with Freddie, rather it was the clarity of mind provided during and after a run that created what has now become essential outlet for Freddie, changing his life immeasurably for the better.

In 2020, Freddie co-founded Juneteenth Marathon, a non-profit organization thatorganizes an annual running event to formally and physically bring together the many disparate running clubs/communities throughout the DC-Baltimore region and beyond. In the years since, the Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K has become a