Might the long-running search for a Northern Virginia marathon finally be over?
    Marathon enthusiast Jay Wind was granted approval by the National Park Service just days ago to conduct a 26.2-mile race along the Mount Vernon bicycle trail, beginning at Belle Haven Park in Alexandria.
    The May 2 race is appropriately named the Potomac River Run Marathon & Half Marathon. The field will be limited to 200, as was the proposed field in his failed Arlington Marathon, and should be a Boston Marathon qualifier.
    The course resembles that for the Belle Haven Half Marathon in November, meanders down the path to Fort Hunt Park and back. The marathon will consist of two down-and-backs, while the half-marathon will be one trip out and back.
    "It's nothing but a nice race for people to run," said Bob Weiner, president of the Capitol Hill Runners, a club which has been supporting efforts to create a marathon in Northern Virginia for months.
    Coincidentally, the race is scheduled the same day as the Frederick (Md.) Marathon, as well as the Governor's Bay Bridge Run 10K. If you are interested in running the Bay Bridge Run, registration is two-thirds full, according to race officials, so sign onto annapolisstriders.org to register.