PRR
Potomac River Run
Marathon & Half Marathon
Sunday, May 4, 2008 -- 7:00 AM

"Run From Belle Haven to Boston" -- This race is a Boston Marathon Qualifier
Thank you for participating!
We are working to perfect the official results.
Meanwhile, here is a preview.

www.pvtc.org/marathon.html | Certified course map
ACF







GWSA

  • WELCOME!
  • NEW! 2008 front
  • NEW! 2008 back
  • NEW! YouTube video of the Mount Vernon Trail Bikeway - Southern Half - Our course runs from about 1:06 to 8:08 on this video.
  • Thank you so much your interest in Potomac River Run Marathon and Half Marathon.
    Alas, registration is now closed. We have printed the bib numbers and t-shirts, ordered the food, and counted out the medals. We love you too, but DON'T EVEN ASK!
    Instead, please consider one of our other friendly neighborhood races:

  • Frederick Marathon - Sunday, May 4, 8:00 am - Frederick MD
  • Cassidy & Pinkard 5K Race for Hope - Sunday, May 4, 8:30 am, Freedom Plaza, Washington DC
  • Patriot's Cup 8K - Sunday, May 4, 9:00 am - George Mason University campus, Fairfax VA
  • Athens Classic Marathon - Sunday, November 9 - Athens GREECE
  • brightroom Photography by Brightroom.Com • Click here for your photos after the race
  • 2007 photos
  • MAPS and DIRECTIONS
  • Confirm registration on-line
  • Confirm registration on-line by e-mail
  • Press release about the 2007 marathon
  • In Washington Running Report
  • Donate to Arlington Cooperation Foundation - 501(c)3 deductible
  • Please join our e-mail list for future events
  • Our goal: to be the friendliest small marathon and half marathon this side of the Potomac, to help you get from Belle Haven to Boston! CY
  • Our host hotel is Alexandria Courtyard by Marriott, 2700 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria VA 22314, four miles from the start/finish -- free parking | one block west of Eisenhower Metro | [Directions] (call 703-329-2323 for directions)
  • Saturday, May 3, 2-6 PM - Pre-race packet pick-up and free College of Running, featuring:
          • 2:00 PM -- John Steitz, ACF director and College of Running dean -- Welcome and Introduction -- Jefferson Room
          • 2:05 PM -- Ben Cooke, Georgetown Running Company manager www.therunningcompany.net -- "How to Choose and Use Equipment and Clothing for the Marathon" -- in Jefferson Room -- Georgetown Running Company will have a display table where you can buy equipment for the race
          • 2:30 PM -- Dr. Bernard Etherly, ACF director, chiropractor, and triathlete -- "Injury Prevention and Stride Clinic" -- Jefferson Room
          • 3:00 PM -- Walt Cline, H2 Kinetics -- "Training and Programming: Running Techniques" -- Jefferson Room
          • 3:30 PM -- John Steitz, ACF director and MCP Coach -- "Hydration for the Distance Runner -- Jefferson Room
          • 4:00 PM -- Dr. Charles B. Simone, internist, medical oncologist, tumor immunologist, radiation oncologist, author, inventor, health advocate -- "Nutritional Hydration -- Jefferson Room
          • 4:30 PM -- Adriana Anderson, www.highcloud.org -- "Fundraising 101 for Charity Marathoners" -- Jefferson Room
          • 5:00 PM -- Brian Boyle, Kona Ironman Triathlon finisher after being nearly killed by a runaway truck -- "The Courage to Survive" -- Jefferson Room
          • 5:30 PM -- John Steitz, ACF director and Potomac River Marathon associate associate -- "Course Overview and Logistics for Tomorrow's Race" -- Jefferson Room
          • 6:00 PM -- Dinner with Christina Hsu, www.sheltering-wings.org and TV's "The Amazing Race" -- Courtyard Cafe ($20 on May 3) | Register on-line
          • 2-6 PM -- Selected vendors of distance-running-related products

  • Please bring your used (but not abused) shoes to the College of Running or the race for collection by Perpetual Prosperity Pumps Foundation for Africa

  • Please don't wear headphones during our race -- we want you to hear us cheering for you! For the USATF rules on headphones, see www.usatf.org/about/rules/2007/2007USATFRules_Article4.pdf and scroll to Rule 144.3.b but don't ask us to interpret the rule or its context.
  • Proud member of National Co-operative Business Association & USA Track & Field
                                      NCBA
                            USATF
  • Proud Sponsors:
  • Ferris Baker WattsFBW
  • Greater Washington Sports Alliance
  • Annandale Foot and Ankle | Dr. Myles Schneider 703-750-1124
  • Jack Taylor's Alexandria Toyota 703-684-0700
  • Big Wheel BikesBWB
  • Georgetown Running CompanyGeorgetown
  • Mario's Pizza HouseMarios
  • Simone Protective Cancer Institute
  • Ola Loa
  • Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon & 10K
  • Please join us as a sponsor!
  • Sponsor a display table at College of Running
  • We mailed pre-race instructions to all US and Canada participants on 04/13/2008. You should receive yours by mail before 4/20/2008
  • Please write us after 04/20 if you did not receive your pre-race mailing.
  • Belle Haven Park is one mile south of Old Town Alexandria, on the George Washington Memorial Parkway
  • Race-Day packet pick-up opens at dawn, 6:09 am.
  • The first finishers return at 8:15 am in the half-marathon, 9:20 am in the full marathon.
    Beneficiaries: mcp mcp

    Our charitable partners are now actively assisting children on four continents and worldwide:

  • Africa -- Tunisia: High Cloud Foundation; Burkina Faso: Sheltering Wings
  • Asia -- India: AIMS India Foundation, Association for India's Development (AID), Asha for Education, High Cloud Foundation; Palestine: Iqraa Education Foundation
  • North America -- USA: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area, Stop the Silence, American Red Cross - Prince William Chapter
  • South America -- Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru: High Cloud Foundation
  • Worldwide: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne (FED) Muscular Dystrophy

    2008 Marathon Charity Partners:
  • AIMS for India
  • Asha for Education
  • Association for India's Development (AID)
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area
  • High Cloud Foundation
  • Iqraa Education Foundation
  • American Red Cross - Prince William Chapter
  • Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse
  • CFFCystic Fibrosis Foundation -- Adding tomorrows every day

    with additional support of

  • Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne (FED) Muscular Dystrophy
  • Sheltering Wings (www.sheltering-wings.org)

  • Supported by Alexandria Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
  • Powered by HammerGel HammerGel
  • Thursday, May 1, 7 PM to 10 PM -- goodie-bag staffing party at Courtyard by Marriott, 2700 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria 22314, in Washington Room. Call 703-329-2323 for directions. Sponsored by Mario's Pizza House.
    The Saturday before Potomac River Run Marathon & Half,
  • Saturday, May 3, starting at 9:30 am, Arlington Cooperation Foundation leads a clean-up of the Mount Vernon Trail
  • from Belle Haven Park, south of Old Town Alexandria,
  • to Riverside Park, north of Mount Vernon,
  • as part of a free 5-mile (8-km) group run (tour of the course) starting at 10 am
  • (If we have enough volunteers, we can also cover also the trail north of Belle Haven up to Hunting Towers, and the trail south of Riverside Park to the edge of Mount Vernon.)
  • The day of Potomac River Run Marathon & Half,

  • Sunday, May 4, starting at 1:00 pm, following the post-race picnic, ACF leads a post-race clean-up on the same stretch of trail
  • to leave the "campground" cleaner than we found it
  • Please join us for either clean-up or both. We will provide signed certificates for volunteer credit hours.
  • Please write us if you want to volunteer at either trail clean-up.
  • We will provide trash bags and other materiel
  • Please bring your own protective gloves, clothing, and headgear.
  • laugh In celebration of World Laughter Day, Sunday, May 4, in cooperation with World Laughter Tour
  • *** Click here and LAUGH! ***
    What you get:
  • Pre-race, Saturday, May 3:
  • 6 pm: Buffet spaghetti dinner at Courtyard by Marriott -- $13.00 a person in advance, $20 on May 3 -- Guest speaker -- Christine Hsu of TV's "The Amazing Race"
  • 6:30 pm Guest Speaker
  • Race Day, Sunday, May 4:
  • After the race:
  • Volunteers: Please write us and we'll put you to work!
    Sign up now on-line
    Sign up now by mail

    Conducted by: Supported by local running clubs (click the link to join the club):
    Acknowledgements:
  • Potomac River Run wishes to thank Potomac River Running Stores in Ashburn VA (703-729-0133) and Burke VA (703-978-0500) for granting permission to use the name Potomac River Run for this race. "Potomac River Running" is a trademark of Potomac River Running Store.

    Course Description:
  • The marathon, two weeks after Boston Marathon, is a Boston qualifier, USATF-certified course
  • Start and finish at Belle Haven Park.  Parking is very limited, so please arrange car-pools and please plan to park off-site
  • Entire course is on the narrow paved multi-use Mount Vernon Trail, away from cars and often in the midst of a forest
  • Flat section for 2 miles  Run south past Tulane Drive (one-mile point) [aid station].  View Potomac River
  • Slight drop to Northdown Drive.  Moderate rise to Alexandria Avenue bridge [aid station].  Cross bridge
  • Flat section resumes for 2 miles.  Continue south.  Cross Wellington, Collingwood [aid station], and Waynewood
  • Hilly section for 1 mile.  Two long hills, rising and falling 60 feet each.  Cross Fort Hunt entrance [aid station]
  • Rolling section for 1.6 miles.  Pass Riverside Park [aid station] and turn around just north of Mount Vernon estate
  • Return to start for the half-marathon.  Last four miles of half-marathon are mostly flat
  • Repeat course for the full marathon.  Middle eight miles and last four miles of full marathon are mostly flat
  • Numb3rs: Marathon = 42.195 kilometers | Half-Marathon = 21.0975 kilometers.
    Marathoners and half-marathoners start together and run together for 21 kilometers out'n'back, until the last 97.5 meters.
    Back at Belle Haven Park, half marathoners continue 97.5 meters to the finish,
    while marathoners veer to the right into a roundabout (a coned-off turnaround) for 48.75 meters,
    then return for 48.75 meters to the main course.
    Then the marathoners run another 21 kilometers out'n'back.
    Upon returning to Belle Haven Park, they pass the baffle and continue 97.5 meters to the finish.
  • SURFACE: 96% paved asphalt trail; 3% wood bridges over wetlands; 1% road crossings
    Elevation Profile:
     
    Start              Turn              Half                 Turn             Finish 
    
    0--1--2--3--4--5--6--7--8--9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26- (Mile)
    ____________^__^__~~^~~_^__^_________________________^__^__~~^~~_^__^___________
    ^ = hills ~ = rolling sections


    Schematic Diagram:
     Mile Marks:  
    Belle                                                    Riverside   > Mount  
    Haven                                                         Park     Vernon 
    .........1.........2.........3.........4.........5.........6...... 
    .13........12........11........10........9.........8.........7...
    .......14........15........16........17........18........19......
    ..26........25........24........23........22........21........20..
    
  • Each . represents 0.1 mile
  • Start on grass, join trail after 100m. Grass may be wet. Run to Riverside Park and turnaround at 10.5k mark.
  • Run back to Belle Haven to 21k mark.
  • Half-marathoners continue past start line for 97.5m to finish line.
  • Marathoners bear right past start line for 48.75m into roundabout, turn around cone, and head back out for another 21k.
  • At end of second 21k, marathoners continue past start line for 97.5m to finish line.
    Directions to marathon weekend events:
  • Saturday, May 3, from 2 pm to 6 pm - Packet pick-up, Courtyard by Marriott, 2700 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria VA 22314
  • Free parking -- one block west of Eisenhower Metro
  • From George Washington Memorial Parkway (Washington Street), take Duke Street west, turn left on Holland Avenue, which becomes Eisenhower Avenue.  
  • Pass the Metro Station, cross the bridge,  and turn left into Courtyard by Marriott's free parking

  • Sunday, May 4, 6:09 to 6:45 am - Packet pickup at Belle Haven Park, 1101 Belle Haven Road, Alexandria VA
  • From George Washington Memorial Parkway (Washington Street), pass National Airport, Old Town Alexandria, last stoplight at Hunting Road, and I-495 bridge
  • Belle Haven Road is the first right, a mile south of I-495. Free parking is available on Belle Haven Road, courtesy of De Costa's Inc., Belle Haven Animal Hospital, Medical Building, and Prestiss Building
  • Designated off-site parking
  • The starting line is on your left. You can also pass the starting line by 100 meters, turn left at Belle Haven Marina, and park free at Belle Haven Park (don't park in the marina), but Belle Haven Park has only 160 parking spaces, so please use offsite parking first

  • From Courtyard by Marriott, take Eisenhower Avenue east, which becomes Holland Avenue.  Turn right onto Duke Street.  Turn right at Washington Street and follow the directions above

    Results of the 2007 Potomac River Run

  • Complete 2007 Results
  • Photos: Brightroom.com
  • Photo: Team CF's aid station at Fort Hunt
  • Photos: Northern Virginia Running Club's aid station at Riverside Park
  • From the 2007 Potomac River Run Marathon and Half, Arlington Cooperation Foundation was proud to announce $15,150 in charitable donations:
     
    
  • $3,750 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area
  • $2,500 to Invisible Children
  • $2,250 to Asha for Education
  • $1,500 to STOP The Silence on Childhood Sexual Abuse
  • $1,250 to AIMS for India
  • $1,250 to Association for India's Development
  • $ 500 to Girls on the Run - Montgomery County
  • $ 550 to National Kidney Foundation Team National Capital Area
  • $ 500 to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
  • $ 500 to Northern Virginia Running Club
  • $ 250 to Doorways
  • $ 250 to Ethiopian Community Development Council
  • $ 100 to Congregation Etz Hayim
  • ------
  • $15,150 total

  • Results of the 2006 Potomac River Run


  • Complete results
  • From the 2006 Potomac River Run Marathon and Half, Arlington Cooperation Foundation was proud to announce $7,250 in charitable donations:
     
    
  • $1,000 to AIMS for India
  • $1,000 to Asha for Education
  • $1,000 to Association for India's Development
  • $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area
  • $1,000 to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
  • $1,000 to STOP The Silence on Childhood Sexual Abuse
  • $ 100 to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
  • $ 200 to Young Professionals Keshet
  • $ 200 to Northern Virginia Conservation Trust
  • $ 250 to Laughter and Arts Foundation
  • $ 500 to Northern Virginia Running Club
  • In-Kind to Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless
  • ------
  • $7,250
  • Photos by Brightroom.Com
  • Photos by Andresa Hart, Northern Virginia Running Club
  • Photos by James Scarborough
  • Photos by Karla McDuffie
  • Photos by Luis Amaya
  • Press release about the 2006 marathon
  • U.S. Newswire story on the 2006 marathon

    Results of the 2005 Potomac River Run


    Results of the 2004 Potomac River Run



    Photos:
  • Photos from Brightroom.com  Brightroom    (Select by bib number or name)    (Browse photos)
  • Photos by Robert Sweeney:
  • Photos by Ken Goldwasser:
    Links:
  • Marathon Chronicles
  • MarathonGuide.Com
  • RunThePlanet.Com