Dreaming of visiting the nation’s capitol this fall? Don’t do it the weekend of October 30th, unless of course you happen to be one of the 30,000 people running the, then it’s absolutely spectacular! Having run the marathon, I can say it is probably the best way to see the city. The constantly changing scenery on the course will not bore any runner. Seeing national monuments, the Kennedy Center, and the riverbanks up close is reason enough to run 26.2 miles through DC.
Family sightseeing while Mom is out running.
While running, I noticed the people in Georgetown appeared to be having the most fun. Maybe it’s because they have so many cute eateries and coffee shops over there, but something keeps those people cheering and smiling. It’s probably La Madeleine’s Café with their huge assortment of pastries and yummy treats, I don’t know. I only know I was slightly jealous as I rounded mile 5 and didn’t have a cup of espresso in my hand.
Spectators can hang out around the Lincoln Memorial and catch runners on miles 10 and 16. The best place by far to see friends and family is the Mall. My family hung out around the Smithsonian Museums and on the mall to see me pass mile markers 18 and 19. If the day is a pretty one, the lawn is a stellar place to hang out.
If you are visiting DC and get caught on marathon day, use the closed off streets to your advantage bike or walk around the town rich with our nation’s history. No matter what, if you’re there that weekend, make sure to get your hotel concierge to make dinner reservations. Whether you’ve run 26.2 miles or watched it, no one wants to go walking around hungry in a booked up town.
