Playing Running Tour Guide In Washington D.C.

Last week one of my on-line running friends was in town for a conference. Her hotel was conveniently located near the Mount Vernon Trail, and she didn’t mind getting up early to run, so I ditched my regularly scheduled training runs to play running tour guide in Washington D.C.

At first the weather forecast called for cold rain, but it ended up being cloudy and almost balmy–great weather for running around the monuments.

Running Tour Guide Run #1

For our first run, we started at her hotel in Crystal City and picked up the Mount Vernon Trail at National Airport. We ran north, and then crossed the Fourteenth Street Bridge.

Our first stop was at the Jefferson Memorial.

Her boss joined us — how cool to have a boss who runs!

We also visited George Mason. 

Did you know he refused to sign the Constitution
because it didn’t include a Bill of Rights?

Running Tour Guide Run #2

For our second run, I picked her up at her hotel and drove to Iwo Jima (officially the named the Marine Corps War Memorial) so we could see some other monuments.

Our first stop was at the Lincoln Memorial.

Lincoln has the best view in town! 

From Lincoln, we ran over to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and then ran back along the Reflecting Pool to the World War II Memorial. From there, we headed over to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

As my friend said, you can’t help but be hopeful in his presence.

We made a final stop at the Korean War Memorial, and then headed back over Memorial Bridge, through Arlington National Cemetery, and back to Iwo Jima. 

I’m so glad our schedules worked out for these “tour guide” runs. If you ever come to D.C., let me know–I’d be happy to take you around the monuments too! 

[Tweet “Playing #Running Tour Guide In Washington D.C. #runchat”]

NYC Half Training Plan Update

As far as my NYC Half training plan goes,
I went to OTF Monday,
did strength workouts Friday and Sunday,
and did a 10 mile long run Sunday.
I also made it to indoor cycling on Thursday.

I’m starting to psych myself to do
hill repeats this week so I’ll be ready
for the north end of Central Park.

I’m linking up with  Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap and joining Courtney‘s Training Recap link up.

What sights would you show me in your home town?

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49 Responses to Playing Running Tour Guide In Washington D.C.

  1. What a fun way to show your friend around! You can be my running tour guide any day

  2. I want to run in DC!!!

    I finally got 10 miles in for NYC training and I actually did hills and it felt good. I’m trying to find elevation in my area that matches the elevation in central park.

    Great job on your training. You are gonna rock that race!

  3. What a fun run with many things to see. I always feel like runs go by so much faster when it is more scenic.

  4. My home town is pretty compared to DC! We have a beautiful college campus, and a lake with a nice 1-mile trail/cement path….and that’s about it LOL There are a few good hills west of town that I train on occasionally. But, you’ll be getting a big heads-up if/when I make your way πŸ˜‰ I’d love a guided tour (via the running shoes) of DC πŸ˜‰

  5. How fun! Marcia and I did something similar when Kim came to town last month. The weather cooperated and it was fun!

  6. Sounds like you two had a fun time! I love seeing the monuments in DC…the next time I have a work trip I need to try to do a “running tour”, it’s such a great way to get out and explore the city.

  7. I could show you the Hudson river, the Erie Canal . . . otherwise it’s not really super scenic here. You’re very lucky!

  8. What a fun way to play tour guide! I always say that its better to see the sights by foot than by car, and in DC you won’t get very far in your car.

  9. Rachel says:

    THIS IS SO FUN! I want to come run with you πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

  10. Jen says:

    I’ve never done a running tour but it looks so cool!!! I feel like this would be fun to do an a vacation to see sights and still get in some activity!

  11. Wow beautiful pictures! I could show you pics of the lake we live on and that’s about it. I’m from small town Mississippi living small town life. There isn’t even a red light here! Lol!

  12. Gina says:

    Wow! What a great tour guide and so memorable for her! You are so nice! I can’t wait to go to DC some day. We are waiting for the kids to be a tad older so they can appreciate it too!

  13. I love playing running tour guide – such fun!

  14. Best tour guide ever!! Running is an awesome way to explore a new city!

  15. Chaitali says:

    How fun! That’s such a great idea. There are definitely places I’ve visited that I would have loved to have a running tour guide.

  16. Now that’s a great way to show someone around! And you have so many great sights to see around DC! Boston actually has a Freedom Trail run, but I’ve never done it.

  17. That was nice of you playing tour guide! So many good sights to see in DC. I really liked running MCM in 2015 where I got a chance to view some of the memorials.
    If you were to run in San Diego, I’d take you around Balboa Park one day, on an ocean view run around Sunset Cliffs and a trail run at one of the nearby mountains.

  18. What a fantastic way to show a friend around, this would be amazing! And runs always fly by when you’re running with someone else!

    Sounds like you had a fun time!

  19. Jenn says:

    How fun! DC is such a beautiful city with so much to offer.

    If you were to come here, I would you on a route from the Lighthouse to the beach. Of course, we would be passing through the oldest city in the country, so there are more than a few landmarks, including the fort, some historic cemeteries, Flagler College and the Casa Monica hotel. The end of the run would pass the carousel, over a pretty big bridge, and end at the Atlantic. Not too bad.

  20. I love running in DC! I did a long run on one of the trails a couple years ago, and I was also there for a conference in 2013 and did some running. I wish it was just a little bit closer to Baltimore!

  21. I’ll be in DC for Cherry Blossom and hope I get to run near some of these places! One of my running friends lives there, so I’m hoping she’ll play tour guide for me!

    • Coco says:

      Are you doing the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler? You will start at the Washington Monument, run past the back of Lincoln, the back of Jefferson and I think even by George Mason, but you’d have to look back to see him!

  22. What a fun way to get in some runs with your friend.

  23. I used to run the monuments all the time when I worked downtown. It’s been years since I’ve done that now. I like staying on the Virginia side of the river.

  24. Madhuri says:

    That’s such a cool way to show DC around. Would love to do it one day with you!

  25. What a great idea for a tour! I love D.C. but haven’t been in several years.

  26. HoHo Runs says:

    How awesome! Great pics too. I would definitely want you as my running tour guide. Maybe you should charge for your services? LOL. Thanks for linking, Coco.

  27. So cool! I want to take one of your running tours! Where do I sign up?

  28. How very cool. If I didn’t already know, I sure do now who to call to give me a running tour of DC!
    I’m still wondering how cool it would be to have a boss that is a runner too!
    Thanks for joining in the link up Coco!

  29. Farrah says:

    Aww, this sounds like such a fun way to show your friend around!! It’d probably actually get me to run! πŸ˜›

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