And they are off to start the Rock n Roll Marathon! #WTOP pic.twitter.com/3DYe63BxgX
— Dennis J. Foley (@DJFoleyWTOP) March 12, 2016
WASHINGTON — The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is the biggest party in D.C. this weekend.
Roughly 24,000 runners lined up on Constitution Avenue NW to take on the 26.2 mile course through the District, eventually finishing at RFK Stadium.
“It’s a tour of the city,” said runner Angela Bess, describing the event.
“You get to see all of the buildings without all of the traffic and lots of supporters come out to hear all kinds of bands and voices and cheers.”
There are many reasons why people choose to participate in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.
“I have a friend that lives down here and it’s one of my goals to get fit and fabulous by 40, which is September,” Crystal Dougherty said, after making the trip from New York City.
“So, I figured what the hell, just get this done.”
Dougherty was going to walk the course with her friend. Others were planning to run it at a casual pace.
Unfortunately, Erik Peterson was planning to take it slow, but his running partner made him reconsider his plan.
“I’m running with a co-worker from out of town who casually mentioned yesterday that she qualified for the Boston Marathon,” Erik Peterson shared, noting that he could end the race with a personal record time because of the circumstances.
Luckily for participants, the rather cool and grim-looking weather is good news.
“Overcast and 45 or 50 is perfect for a runner,” Brooke Curran explained, before embarking on her 95th marathon.
“It’s going to be a little warm, but it’s not terrible at all.”
This is the fifth year the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series has had a race in Washington.
