Operation Enduring Warrior Half Marathon at Great Falls

Our son-in-law ran his first half marathon yesterday near Great Falls Park on the C&O Canal Towpath just outside of DC.  It was cold and windy but tolerable with the sun out.  It got colder later mid-day. Snow flurries had their way with us and the poor runners before all was said and done.  

Above is one of many pictures I took of the Great Falls on the Potomac.  It's just so beautiful and so amazing that it's a handful of miles outside of Washington, DC.  Kayakers were heading out to run these falls as the runners and walkers and just a few cyclists enjoyed the towpath despite the cold and windy day. My hat is off to all of them as so many others sat in their homes watching the boob tube or had their heads bent over their phones or maybe best case, went from warm home to warm car to warm restaurant for Sunday brunch and that was the extent of their adventure.  

Gear up, I say, enjoy nature's way.  

Below is the first picture I took as the morning sun was just hitting the area shortly after 7 am.  

I think this may have been the first time Dave and I have been back on the C&O since we rode our Surly Long Haul Trucker bikes from Georgetown to Pittsburgh several years ago.  That was fun.  Sometimes I feel surprised and amazed at the joyful adventures we've had.  I am so grateful. 

I love the old canal boats. What a time in history with the race between the building of railroad tracks and the C&O Canal.  Many workers for each effort died.  Much money was made by the already rich but not so much by the oh-so-poor but glad-to-have-a-job.  So American.  And in case you don't know your history or haven't thought it through past the dull of the duh moment, the railroads won.  

There were only 30 entrants for the half marathon, a few more for the 5K and 10K.