Dear Participant,

We are all saddened by the deaths and injuries caused by the bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday.

The board of drectors of Safety And Health Foundation agreed today that Potomac River Run will donate $1,000 to The One Fund Boston, the fund created by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013.

See www.onefundboston.org for more information about The One Fund Boston.

You may also wish to donate to The One Fund of Boston.

At pre-race packet pickup for our upcoming marathon and post-race, we will have large pads of paper so that you can write personal words of comfort and support to the victims and the people of Boston. We will send your personal messages along with our donation to The One Fund Boston.

Pre-race packet pick-up times:

o Thursday, May 2, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, at Road Runner Sports, 1120 West Broad Street, Falls Church VA (703-237-3636)

o Saturday, May 4, 3:00 PM-6:00 PM, at Georgetown Running Company, 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC (202-337-8626)

Please try to pick up your packet at one of those two dates to minimize delays on race day.

o Sunday, May 5, 6:15 AM-7:45 AM, on-site at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road, Washington DC

o Maryland starters only: on race day, we will have your bib numbers at your start at Lock 5.

We have corresponded with National Park Service about ways to assure that our marathon on May 5 is secure and safe.

o We want to reduce the numbers of individual vehicles parking at Fletcher's Cove. Please see our Facebook page to share rides, please sign up for our pre-race taxi service, or please park off-site on nearby Reservoir Road, MacArthur Boulevard, or neighborhood side streets.

o We will place official trash boxes at all aid stations. Please deposit your paper cups and all other waste including warm-up clothes in these trash boxes. Please do not litter anywhere along the course. [Especially, please do not discard the tear-off tags or the bottoms of energy gels anywhere on the course except in the trash boxes.]

o We will provide all water and athletic beverages in sealed bottles. Please dispose of these bottles and caps in the official trash boxes. We will recycle empty bottles and paper cups.

o We ask, please, only registered runners wearing bib numbers in the race on the course. The course is, however, always open to the public.

o Spectators may watch their runners at Locks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. All of those places will be open to the public. Aid stations are at Locks 5, 7, and 10, approximately every two miles.

o We will know the names of all volunteers and captains at all aid stations. If you wish to volunteer at one of the aid stations as you watch the race, please check in with the aid station captain and provide your name.

o Please leave your personal belongings at home, or please leave them in your vehicle and run with your car key. We will accept personal bags clearly marked with your bib number and name. We will store personal bags away from gathering areas.

A few runners asked us about changing from 8 AM to 7 AM or from the full marathon to the half. No problem. Simply write us at racedirector@att.net, subject Potomac River Run.

Thank you for joining us, and thank you for assisting us to make our race secure, safe, and enjoyable for all.

-- Thank you

-- Jay Jacob Wind, director

-- Potomac River Run