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Christmas Tree Run Photos!

Thanks to Rodrigo and Ben for coralling the group and getting some great photos of everyone. Happy Holidays and see you all next week! And of course, a bonus poem to recap the morning:

‘Twas nine days before Christmas
And at North Meade Park
DC Road Runners were off
On their morning lark
The Christmas Tree Run
The best S-L-R of all
Ten miles of joy
And did we have a ball
We left from the start
A huge massive crew
Almost seventy people
And a new face or two!
Across Key onto M
To the tree at the House
Then the Willard and nut crackers
As quick as a mouse
City Center then Mass
into Union Station
And another photo
Full of great jubilation
Across to the Capitol
And down the big Hill
To meet another run club!
And oh what a thrill
Then up Penn to the North
The Canadian Embassy
For the last one of our
Original, official trees
To the mall and then over
Down past L’Enfant
As the pace quickened
To more than a jaunt
One more bonus tree
And then one with the barrels
Then back over memorial
Singing Christmas Carols
Thanks to Ben and Rodrigo
For all of the pics!
And the bystanders who helped
In taking our flicks
Today’s joy knows no bounds
For this club I’m so thankful
To lead this great group
Fills my heart up a tank full
This year has been perfect
And I cannot wait for more
Holiday Cards next weekend
Yes, a new route’s in store!
An excellent morning
Hope you had tons of fun!
Happy Holidays to all
And to all a good run!

Anna

SLR: 10 Miles Christmas Tree Run

'Twas nine days before Christmas
And all through DC,
DC Road Runners
Romping and stomping with glee.
The weather tomorrow
will be cold yet still clear
bundle up, bring your gloves
because winter is here.
As always this weekend
is the Cemetery Wreaths
show up early, park further
take the metro please!!
We'll be off in a flash
around 8 am sharp
now let's get into it
see you all at the park:

The route we'll be running
is one a bit new
an updated version
from the past year-or-two
So come out, celebrate
all your fall marathons
with a nice jingle jog
at the Christmas Tree Run
We'll keep this one chill,
no racing now (Steve)
Nine minutes or slower
for each mile you see
This one's a celebration
a fun route that's in store
a time to relax
a chance not to do more
On strava, mapometer
P-D-F, G-P-S
however you view it
this run's just the best
We'll take off down Lynn
then straight across Key
down M Street and east
past the Nutcrackers, see
then we'll turn down Penn Ave.
past the Spanish Embassy
"We were just there!"
"Valencia supremacy!"
The first tree of the day
will be the White House south lawn
with fifty around it
one per state, with hand-drawn
ornaments and stars
it will be quite a sight
but we've got places to be,
we'll be off with quick might!
Straight across the street
to the Willard Hotel
with the gorgeous views
and that peppermint smell
After this we'll go up
On New York towards Eye
Straight past City Center
and the tree the most high
Another stop and a pic
then back down on Mass
Right to Union and inside
to Norway in a flash!
After that we'll head over
and 'round Capitol Hill
where we'll race to the big one
it'll be quite a thrill
this year's version
was cut straight from the West
of Virginia in Laurel Fork
and it's just the best
Then our newest addition
from our northern neighbors
the Canadian Embassy
cut off hundreds of acres
With gold and red hues
and a perfect arch dome
and a view of the capitol
it just feels like home
Then back down the mall
and back to the park
for just over ten miles
on our morning lark!

"But I need more miles!"
you scream and you shout
And you want some more trees?
Well I'll help you out
Head down to the wharf
via L'Enfant station
and see two more trees
(one a barrel-situation)
That'll gain you two miles
and if that's not enough
do some loops around Hains,
'ya know the classic stuff

If you don't want to run ten
or that's just way too far
hop on the metro!
Please don't take a car!
After mile seven
we'll have seen all the trees
so get on at Smithsonian
or Fed. Triangle if you please!

If you find yourself parched
on our trek 'round the city
there aren't many options
and that's such a pity
Union Station has fountains
in their big atrium
but the ones on the Mall
are turned off and I'm bummed
Why they shut off at all
is a huge mystery
so bring your own bottle
or you'll be thirsty

"A bathroom?" you ask
and the answer's the same!
Union Station for sure
then the Mall might be pain
There's also of course
a million Starbucks
but you never know there
at least not with my luck

The next club event
is the book club tomorrow!
Come out, eat some cookies,
I have a copy to borrow!
We'll talk about Meb
and his 26 Marathons
Contact Eunja or Ginny,
Our leadership paragons!
Then the next club race
is Predictions Resolutions
run by our very own Rich
who just begs you to do it
Volunteer, come help out
to work off that hangover
or start the year off right
with that course rollercoaster

Thanks to all for a fantastic,
great, helluva year
leading this group
has been blessings and cheer.
So come jog 'round DC
with all your training pals
see some trees and some lights
it's good for moral
May your holidays be joyous
and full of great fun
Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good run!

Anna