Marathon News
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Our new courses were officially measured last week by DC-course certifier Bob Thurston, and we expect USATF certification numbers in the next week for both the DC start at Fletcher's Cove and the MD start at Lock 5.
Parking at Fletcher's Cove is limited to about 150 cars. Please ...
o Share a ride with others (see https://www.facebook.com/groups/53196613490/ to ride-share)
o Sign up for the Red Top Cab taxi from Rosslyn to Fletcher's leaving from Key Bridge Marriott starting at 6:00 AM (see https://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2068061 to sign up for the taxi)
o Park on Macarthur Boulevard, Whitehaven Parkway, Ashby Street, Potomac Avenue, Hutchins Place, Bending Lane, U Street, V Street, W Street, or Reservoir Road and walk down to Canal Road and cross to Fletcher's Cove (see http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5884593 for a map). Palisades Library at Macarthur Boulevard and V Street is closed on Sunday morning, so you can park there. There's a Safeway with a large parking lot on U Street near Macarthur Boulevard
Marathon runner John Ganzi wants to drive four others from Dupont Circle in DC. He's also looking for M60-64 and F40-49 runners to pace with, targeting a Boston-qualifying 3:40-3;45 time. Please contact him directly (202-248-0786, 919-923-8035, johnganzi@gmail.com)
A note to Maryland starters: Lock 5 has parking for about 15 cars. Getting there is safer from eastbound Clara Barton Parkway (e.g., from the I-495 Beltway or Cabin John) rather than westbound Clara Barton Parkway). You can pick up your packets on Thursday or Saturday. Any remaining packets will be available at Lock 5 on Sunday morning -- not at Fletcher's -- so you don't have to stop at Fletcher's en route to Lock 5.
The bathrooms are now open at Lock 5, with running water, but the drinking fountain doesn't work. We will have aid stations at Lock 5, Lock 7, and Lock 10, plus at the marathon midpoint at Fletcher's Cove, with water, athletic beverage, and bananas.
We have 6 portable toilets are at Fletcher's Cove, plus 1 more each at Lock 5, Lock 7, and Lock 10.
I ran the entire course recently and picked up 3 big bags of trash and hauled them away. I plan to go back again a few days before the marathon to scrub the course again. At each of the aid stations, we will have big cardboard trash boxes. Please be considerate and dispose of all trash into the trash boxes. The biggest problem are the little bitty tear-off tags at the tops of products like GU, PowerGel, AccelGel, etc. Please, if you use those products on-course, place the empties and those little tear-off tags into trash containers.
We are grateful to Clean Air Partners, Big Wheel Bikes, Georgetown Running Company, Honest Tea, Metro 29 Diner, PowerBars, and Whole Foods Market for sponsoring our event, and we thank Buy A Brick Foundation TeamAfrica.com, Capital Area Runners, and DC Capital Striders for volunteering at packet pick-up and at the aid stations.
We welcome your help at goodie bag bag assembly on Thursday, May 2, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Road Runner Sports, 1120 West Broad Street, Falls Church. Come help stuff goodie bags and get your bib number early. Get a 10% discount at the store during packet pick-up.
Packet pick-up continues on Saturday, May 4, 3:00 PM-6:00 PM at Georgetown Running Company, 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC (202-337-8626). Get a 15% discount at the store during packet pick-up.
Packet pick-up opens on Sunday, May 5, 6:15-7:45 AM, on-site at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC.
If you're off to Boston this weekend, we wish you great weather and good times!
-- Thank you
-- Jay Jacob Wind, director
-- Safety And Health Foundation