NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON WASHINGTON, DC

We have been reading over the maps-many times.  Last week while up in Buffalo area, we stopped at AAA for a better city map of DC.  Bob was not happy with the one that they had sent in our package.  It looks confusing once close to the city; it won't be the first time that we went around the outside loop many times!  Ha! 

While there we asked if they had a Metro train schedule.  They did not so the young attendant went on line an then sent us the web site.   We have looked at it and have a concern; the Metro train from our hotel does not start until 7:00 am and everyone is suppose to be at the start gate at 7:00 am.  Hoa, Hoa!  Hope they have a shuttle!

Debbie and who ever is busy making t-shirts for all to wear to the Saturday night dinner.  Oh, I'm so relieved as I won't have to pack a suit for Bob.  Easy Peasy!  

We have our rooms booked for driving down and back.  We will leave for home following the race.

ON OUR WAY:
First stop is for lunch!  Over the years we have enjoyed stopping at the TURKEY ROOST RANCH on Route 15, just before Trout Run.  Always a delicious meal and very reasonable. 

We drove to Frederick, Maryland and stayed over night there.  Very nice accommodations and a mall right across the highway.  We ate over there and went thru several shops.  Beautiful spring colors in CHICO'S. 

The next morning we had 2 hours to go.  Traffic was something else; with a couple of "round abouts."  We arrived about 11:30am.  

FLOWERS AT HOTEL WERE BEAUTIFUL.

Our room was not available so we walked around.  The hotel had been on "lock down" because President Obama was there for a conference.  Secret service men all about the lobby.  Bob talked to one of them, but he didn't know where the bathrooms were. 
I watched a young girl go thru the lobby with about 40 men and women following her with cameras.  At first I thought it was his daughter but then thought it was probably a press agent.  We left the hotel and walked down to the street outside.  We found the Metro (train station) and a McDonald's (in a cellar) and had lunch.  We walked the whole block; lots of Indian dress shops.   Debbie and Co. had gone to the race site to pick up their race jerseys at the Nike tent.

All that behind us, we had our room, changed clothes and met the family in the lobby.  We took a taxi down to Carmine's restaurant.  Food is served family style.  Some of Rocco's cousins who live in DC met us there.  Also, Deb & Rocco's college friends who live in Maryland.  (19 for dinner)

VEAL PARMAGINE

 

 

 

STEAK

THE KIDS TABLE
ROCKY,FRANCESCA ANNALYNN, CHRISTIANNA, DREW, CHELESA, STEPHANIE

 

Taxi back to hotel.   Plans for next day not decided yet.  We crashed.

Bob and I decided to investigate the town!  We didn't want them to think they had to baby sit us.  It was a lot of people to move!!!!
So we went to Deb's room for our Metro tickets and told them our plans and promised to meet back in lobby for 6:30 Inspiration Dinner.

We headed for the Metro station which was down a steep hill out back of hotel.  At the station, there were two sets of stairs to go down; the escalator moved slowly and I couldn't look down-the belly rolled!  Probably a hundred feet in the ground, maybe more.  We had to change trains once.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

 

When we surfaced, we were in the green mall. 

THE CAPITAL BUILDING WAS TO OUR RIGHT.

THE NATIONAL MONUMENT WAS TO OUR LEFT  IT STILL HAS SCAFFOLDING AROUND IT FOR REPAIR SINCE THE EARTH QUAKE.






BOB THINKS THIS IS THE FBI BUILDING.
THE CITY IS ALL CEMENT!

With the race route in our hands, we walked almost all of it looking for the best picture spot for tomorrow.  We saw them setting up the barricades on the side walk.  We found the Nike tents.   Then walked to the Metro station; rode it to a spot to catch a bus to Georgetown.  It's a big shopping area.  It was hot and crowded.  We walked some more.  Had lunch in a restaurant near the river and then had a taxi ride back to hotel. 

 Everyone in their "Team Annalynn" t-shirts met to go to the Inspiration Dinner.  When the dinning hall opened; everyone was  greeted by volunteers all dressed in crazy outfits and using noise makers to rev all the runners up.   It was something.




A VOLUNTEER 

 

 

 

ANNALYNN GIVING HER INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH.

 

 

AFTER DINNER-MISSING SEVERAL MEMBERS HERE.

AUNT BARB, ANNALYNN & FRANCESCA

SUNDAY: TEAM HEADING FOR THE METRO AT 5:30 AM






ANNALYNN GIVING A SEND OFF SPEECH-YOU CAN DO IT AND I'LL BE WITH YOU!



THE GATES OPENED AND THEY ARE OFF!

 

-JUST A BLUR!  2500 RUNNERS.

VOLUNTEERS PICKING UP JACKETS THAT WERE CAST ASIDE BY THE RUNNERS-THESE ARE DONATED TO CHARITIES.

ANNALYNN AND COUSINS-NICOLE AND CARRIE  (I THINK)

DEBBIE  



CHRISTIANNA AND ROCKY





 

BARB & FRANCESCA




OVER AT LAST.

THE TIFFANY NECKLACE FOR EACH PARTICIPANT






DEBBIE GAVE ME THIS T-SHIRT!
   I GUESS I DESERVED IT,
 I STOOD FOR 3 HOURS TO FIND THEM IN AMONGST THE RUNNERS!


A wonderful experience for us, glad we didn't stay home because of the bomb scare.  Our thanks to all the participants and all the thousand volunteers.  It was announced that the race made 6 million dollars!  Can't imagine it.   More for research.  

So now we recoup and get ready for the next thing-Annalynn is already posting information on the Ride For Roswell.   That girl is non stop!

Thanks for clicking in!  

Golden Gram