"Olympic Torch" Route

This route was developed by Aaron Cheskis when the Olympic Torch came in December 2001. The torch relay started at 6:30 am in Chevy Chase and was carried to the White House.

See COURSE MAP

~ 12 mile route
- Start at the Iwo Jima and cross the Memorial Bridge into DC
- run down the National Mall to 15th St (first street after Washington Monument) and make a left towards the White House

- take 15th Street to Pennsylvania Ave, turning left onto Penn Ave.
- run down Pennsylvania Avenue past the north side of the White House before cutting diagonally right through Lafayette Park towards Connecticut Avenue

- take Connecticut Ave all the way up to Van Ness St and make a left (you will go through DuPont Circle, over Rock Creek Park, and past the zoo)

- take Van Ness past Wisconsin Avenue to the trailhead of the Glover Archbold Trail on your left  (this is approx a block after Wisconsin Ave, a store with green awnings will be on the right side of the street at the trail head)

- run the length of the Glover Archbold Trail to Canal St.  Once on Canal make a left to go down to the tunnel that takes you under the C&O Canal to the Capital Crescent Trail.  Go left on the Capital Crescent Trail toward the Key Bridge

- after the Capital Crescent Trail turns into Water St go left up the concrete stair that goes up toward the Canal.  Cross over the Canal and head up to the Key Bridge

- take the Key Bridge into Rosslyn and return back to the Iwo Jima.  If the course seems short you have the opportunity to take a side trip to Roosevelt Island for an additional 1.75 miles

~ 8 mile route
Starts at the same as the 12 mile route.  The 8 mile route splits after crossing over Rock Creek Park.
- on the far side of the bridge over Rock Creek Park make a left onto Calvert St.
- go a block or so on Calvert before making a left into Rock Creek Park on the paved asphalt trail
- continue down the Rock Creek trail to where the C&O Canal Trail intersects just after the M St/Penn Ave overpass
- make a right onto the C&O Canal Path and take it to the Key Bridge
- take the Key Bridge into Rosslyn and return back to the Iwo Jima.  If the course seems short you have the opportunity to take a side trip to Roosevelt Island for an additional 1.75 miles