Dear Participant,

Thank you for entering the 10th Annual Potomac River Run Marathon

LATE BREAKING NEWS

Our marathon courses are now USATF certififed!

The DC course starting at Fletcher's Cove is DC09005RT.

The MD course starting at Lock 5 is MD09012RT.

The course maps will appear in a few days on USATF's web page www.usatf.org/events/courses/search (maybe Friday).

I asked the regional course certifier to send me his scanned map images so I can post them on our web page. When the maps are ready, I shall send you another message.

CLARIFICATION

In previous messages, I used the term "Maryland Starters." Let me clarify what that means. A "Maryland Starter" a marathoner who needs a race that starts (or finishes) in the State of Maryland, en route to collecting marathons in all 50 states. We welcome 50 State marathoners, and our flat course is way easier than the hilly Baltimore and Washington's Birthday courses -- though I love both those races.

When we changed the start from Carderock in Maryland to Fletcher's Cove in Washington DC (to accommodate a school group who wanted Carderock to hold a memorial walk to honor a beloved recently-deceased teacher), we disappointed those 50 Staters who were counting on a Maryland start. So we invented a way to assist them by measuring and certifying a marathon course that starts at Lock 5, about 1.8 miles west of Fletcher's Cove and definitely across the Maryland State Line. (When you drive west from Fletcher's Cove to Lock 5, you see the sign "Maryland State Line" about 0.4 miles before you get to Lock 5.)

About 25 of our participants specifically stated they wanted the Maryland Start. Most are 50 Staters, plus a couple of friends and family members. Parking at Lock 5 is limited to about 20 cars, so it's not suitable for a mass start. The Maryland Starters start at Milestone 5 at 7:00 AM, synchonized by cell phone with the mass start at Fletcher's Cove. They run 0.9 miles east = half the distance from Milestone 5 to Fletcher's Cove. They stay right and turn around left at a cone and marshal about 100m east of Chain Bridge. There, they join the main pack of runners heading west from Fletcher's Cove. Thereafter, the Maryand Starters are at the same distance and time as everyone else who started at Fletcher's Cove.

Except for those intrepid 25 runners, everyone else starts at Fletcher's Cove, even if you live in Maryland! (Some people asked that question.)

PARKING IS LIMITED AT FLETCHER'S COVE

Another reminder: Parking at Fletcher's Cove is limited to about 150 cars. We expect to fill the parking lot at Fletcher's at about 7:15 AM. We will post a volunteer at the entry to Fletcher's Cove when the parking lot is full.

For both 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM starters, we urge you to park off-site. Turn onto Reservoir Road to park on-street for free, 0.3 to 0.7 miles away on side streets -- V Street, Bending Lane, Hutchins Place -- or on MacArthur Boulevard or Whitehaven Parkway.

For example, here is a map from CVS Pharmacy at 4859 MacArthur Bou;evard.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=CVS%2Fpharmacy+4859+MacArthur+Boulevard+Northwest+Washington,+DC+20007&daddr=4940+Canal+Road+Northwest,+Washington,+DC

The walk is easy down Reservoir Road -- a lovely street -- from MacArthur Boulevard to Fletcher's Cove, and shorter than the walks from Rosslyn Metro to Marine Corps Marathon's start line or from Hopkinton High School to Boston Marathon's start line. (The walk uphill post-race may not be so easy.)

PRE-RACE EVENTS

o Help us assemble bib numbers and goodie bags, and get your bib number early on Thursday, May 2, 6:00-8:00 PM, at Road Runner Sports, 1120 West Broad Street, Falls Church VA 22046 (703-237-3636) -- 10% discount on all store merchandise during packet pick-up.

o Pick up your bib number, t-shirt, and goodie bag pre-race on Saturday, May 4, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, at Georgetown Running Company, 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC 20007 (202-337-8626) -- 15% discount on shoes and apparel purchased during packet pick-up

o Join us for pre-race dinner on Saturday, May 4, 6:30 PM, at Cosi Restaurant, 1801 North Lynn Street, Arlington VA, featuring guest speaker Michael Proulx, account executive at Competitor Group, author and frequent contributor to Competitor Magazine. His topic: How marathons have changed and grown over the past decade.

Dinner tickets are $15 via https://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2068061 ($20 at the door)

CAR-POOL / RIDE REQUESTS

Join our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/53196613490 to share rides, thoughts, and photos. Via that page, we received these messages:

o Meghan Hardy (https://www.facebook.com/heymeghanhighfive) wrote, "Anyone going that's headed south on 16th street past 16th and Spring road NW (Columbia Heights)? If so or anywhere in vicinity, I am interested in a ride. Thx and happy run, everyone!" (heymeghanhighfive@gmail.com)

o James Dishaw (https://www.facebook.com/james.dishaw.3) wrote, "I plan on driving from Burke and can provide a ride to people from that area. Let me know if you are interested."

o Mark Keats (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5738352) wrote, "If anyone needs a ride, I'll be coming from Columbia, MD. Just send me a message. I plan on arriving about 7-7:15 AM. Best, Mark."

o Nikki Ummel (https://www.facebook.com/mellamonikki) wrote, "Anyone want to carpool from the Alexandria area?" (bessiegoesmooo@gmail.com)

o Jamie Sheesley (https://www.facebook.com/jpsheesley) wrote, "Anyone looking for a carpool or rider from Rockville / Gaithersburg?"

BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART 26.2

BTW, yesterday, April 30, 2013, was the day that Marty McFly arrived in the future in "Back To The Future Part 2." Where are the hoverboards?

Registration is now open for SHF's two future marathons this year:

o Saturday, September 14, 9 AM, C&O Canal Towpath starting from Georgetown. For information, please see https://safetyandhealthfoundation.org/bikila

For registration, please see https://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2096439

o Sunday, November 17, 8 AM and 9 AM. C&O Canal Towpath starting from Carderock.

For registration, please see https://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2092795

(I don't have the information page isn't ready yet, but last year's information page was https://safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon/20121118.php)

SHF Grand Prix: We offer a $100 cash award to anyone who finishes all three SHF marathons this year, May 5, September 14, and November 17.

Set your clock for Sunday, May 4, 2014, for next year's 11th annual Potomac RIver Run Marathon. We plan to be back at Carderock in 2014.

SEE Y'ALL THIS WEEKEND!

-- Thank you
-- Jay Jacob Wind, director
-- Safety And Health Foundation