Ok guys, notice the slightly earlier start: we're starting at 8am this Saturday, so those folks that are training for the Marine Corps Marathon won't have to finish at almost noon.

We're repeating a route that a few of us tried out a few weeks ago, and it was great!

We'll be meeting at our usual Crystal City garage (free parking!), taking the Mt. Vernon Trail over to DC -- but there's a twist! Right after passing Gravely Point (where we see the planes taking off), we'll be taking over the trail on the left towards 14th street bridge, going over the bridge. When you get to the DC side you'll run around the Tidal Basin, then off to Rock Creek Trail, on the right. When it's time to turn around, you'll reverse the route, taking one more spin around the Tidal Basin (either same direction or reverse direction) before hopping back to the bridge.

It was a very pretty view, and the change of trails definitely defeats boredom!

Those of you training for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon and the Army Ten Miler will run 45 minutes, then turn around and head back. The Marine Corps Marathon runners will run for 90 minutes then turn back.

Of course, if you're not training for anything, and just want to join us for a run, come on out! Either 90 or 180 minutes, or any other distance you feel like it that day!

And if you're training for the MCM, but want to run with the RnR people you can do what Margaret has done in the past -- turn around at the RnR point, but instead of taking the trail exit to Crystal City, at the very end, run for another 45 minutes past the exit and turn back around to the end. That way you'll only run 90 minutes by yourself, instead of almost the whole thing.

If you're afraid of your pace, or cannot run the whole thing, a walk/run pace is more than ok -- since we're all turning around at the same time, we will start and end together, as always. Despite the scary long runs, beginner runners should not be discouraged -- you can always walk part of it!

I will see you then!