#rnrdc

For the past two years, the weather in DC on Rock’n’Roll Race Day has been anything, but perfect. Cold, windy and a tad wet.  Here’s hoping that won’t be the case in 2017. But one item that WILL still be there?  Calvert Hill at mile 5. Every year one of the first statements I hear out of a finisher’s mouth is, “Woah, that hill at 5 was no joke.” With that being said, here’s what else you should know about the most “monumental” Rock’n’Roll Course on their tour...

The sights you see in the first 3 miles are spectacular. Soak it in (hopefully not literally) and enjoy running by the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

There aren’t too many sharp turns in the race, which can help you stay in a groove and maintain your cadence and rhythm.  

Mile 5. It’s an underrated beast of hill. It’s long and a lot of runners, for whatever reason, don’t see it coming.  Plan accordingly.  Manage your pace for the first 5k and keep some juice in the tank to get you to the first 10k still feeling fresh.  

After the 10k sign, let loose and fly through the neighborhoods of DC.  If the weather is nice, there will hopefully be a decent amount of spectators on the course and the roads are fairly narrow which can add some well needed boosts towards the end.

Plan accordingly: you finish WAY out by RFK Stadium.  Getting a taxi or Uber is difficult so I’d suggest you take the Metro as long as there aren’t any Frank Underwood sightings.  But there can even be some lines at the Metro so manage your expectations.

Most importantly, have fun out there. High five some volunteers. Don’t look at your watch through the finish line and raise your hands like the champion you are.