Dear Entrant, Thank you for entering Potomac River Run Marathon, Sunday, May 6, starting and finishing at Carderock Recreation Area on the C&O Canal Towpath. Early start -- non-competitive, but officially-timed -- is at 6:30 AM. Take the early start if you need an extra hour to finish, or if you want to watch the sun rise over the Potomac River as you run the first few miles. Competitive start - 7:30 AM. Take the competitive start if you expect to win an award overall ($250, $150, $100 for the first 3 M/F) or an age-group award (19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69m 70 & over - gift certificates for the top 3 M/F). Awards come from Falls Road Running Store, Georgetown Running Company, Glory Days Grill, Road Runner Sports, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Silver Diner, and Spira Footwear, plus a $500 certificate from Big Wheel Bikes in Arlington as a random prize. Post-race refreshments are from Mario's Pizza House and Whole Foods Market of Arlington. If your company wishes to provide gift certificates or post-race refreshments, we will announce your donation on our web page www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon, in our weekly messages, in our welcome letter, and in our results booklet. See www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon/sponsor.pdf to assist us. You may still make reservations at our host hotel, Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington VA 22209-1201 - $135/night Call 1-800-676-2959 toll-free, 703-524-6400 local -- Group Number PRRPRRA -- Reserve On-Line at http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/waskb?groupCode=-prrprra&app=resvlink&fromDate=5/03/12&toDate=5/7/12 Please help us assemble bib numbers and goodie bags, and get your bib number early on Thursday, May 3, 6:00-8:00 PM, Road Runner Sports, 1120 West Broad Street, Falls Church VA 22046 (703-237-3636) -- you get a 10% discount on all store merchandise during packet pick-up. You can also pick up your bib number, t-shirt, and goodie bag pre-race on Saturday, May 5, from 12 noon to 3:00 PM, Georgetown Running Company, 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC 20007 (202-337-8626) -- 15% discount on shoes and apparel purchased during packet pick-up. (Note change of time to 12-3 PM.) Join us for pre-race dinner on Saturday, May 5, 6:30 PM, at Cosi Restaurant, 1801 North Lynn Street, Arlington VA, featuring WALT KLINE. H2 Kinetics LLC (http://www.h2ksports.com) "Skill Development for Running Your Best Marathon" Dinner tickets are $15 ($20 at the door). See http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2011539 for tickets. On Sunday, May 6, you may park near Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, and take our 5:30 AM Red Top Cab service to Carderock. Taxi rides are are $10 pre-paid only. Please see http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2011539 to sign up for the cab. Carderock has about 300 parking spaces. We want to leave some spaces open for other park users. Please car-pool with other participants or have a friends drop you off. Use our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53196613490 to share rides. You can also pick up your bib number, t-shirt, and goodie bag on race-day, Sunday, May 6, 6:15–7:15 AM, at Carderock Recreation Area, Parking Lot 3. (NOTE - we may move packet pick-up and post-race refreshments to the picnic shelter next to Parking Lot 4, on the left of the entrance road, just a one-minute walk from Parking Lot 3.) Our course is out'n'back for the half marathon and out'n'back again for the full marathon, almost entirely flat, unpaved, no road crossings or turns except at the turnarounds. We will offer PowerBar PowerGel at the half-way point at Carderock. USATF-certified course MD09011RT -- For a map, please see http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=MD09011RT We thank volunteers from AIMS India Foundation, Capital Area Runners, DC Capital Striders, High Cloud Foundation, and TeamAfrica.com for their assistance on the course. If your friend or family member wishes to assist, please let me know. Our aid stations are at the start/midpoint/finish at Carderock; Lock 10, Lock 7, and Lock 5. The aid station volunteers always welcome assistance. In addition, spectators may park and view the race at Lock 8, Lock 6, and Chain Bridge. Please note: Towpath Locks 10-8-7-6-5 are accessible only from EASTBOUND Clara Barton Parkway. When you finish the race, we present you with a medal and refreshments on the Towpath. We try to present overall and age-group awards right after you finish, before you go off to the post-race picnic under the shelter at Parking Lot 4. We mail any awards not claimed on race day. We also mail a printed certificate certifying your finish about a week after the race, and we send all results -- 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM -- to Boston Athletic Association so you can qualify for the 2013 and 2014 Boston Marathon. We thank you for joining us May 3-May 6. -- Thank you -- Jay Jacob Wind, director -- Potomac River Run Marathon -- Safety And Health Foundation