2009 Marine Corps Historic Half set

We've known for some time that May 17th is going to bring the 2nd annual Marine Corps historic half marathon to Fredericksburg, VA. Registration is now open, but limited to the first 9000 registrations. To register, visit the official race website http://www.marinecorpshistorichalf.com/

Here are some important changes from last year. No running on canal path this year. To make up for the lost mile, the course changed a little bit in the college terrace area of town. Looks like there will be two doglegs out to William street this time. The course will also go around the back of MWH for the last major hill instead of using Sam Perry Blvd. It's still going to be the most challenging hill of the course.

For those that arrived at this page from outside the area, here are a few tips from last year:
1 - If traveling from DC/MD or points north on Friday afternoon, consider coming down 301 to RT3. Don't follow your GPS down I-95 on Friday afternoon unless you feel like being a commuter for the day.
2 - Don't push yourself too hard by driving down from north of about Dale City on the morning of the marathon. The city does a lot to support this activity, and you'll find more places to stay this year. Consider coming Friday night and staying through Sunday. It's an interesting city to explore. Most any of us bloggers will happily point you to our favorite spots around town.

Here are the road closures:
6:50 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. Carl D Silver Parkway (CDSP) southbound from Convention Center to Cowan Boulevard.
6:50 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Traffic control point (TCP) at Fall Hill Avenue and CDSP.
6:50 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Cowan Boulevard (eastbound) from CDSP to Keeneland Road.
7:00 a.m. - 8:05 a.m. Woodland, Keeneland and Westwood Roads from Cowan Blvd to Route 3.
7:05 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. Route 3 (westbound lanes) from Westwood Rd to William Street.
7:10 a.m. - 8:55 a.m. William Street (westbound) from Blue/Gray Parkway to Sunken Road.
7:10 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Sunken Road northbound from William Street to Fitzhugh Street.
7:15 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Fitzhugh Street between Sunken Road and Franklin Street.
7:15 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Franklin Street between Fitzhugh and Madison Streets.
7:15 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Madison Street between Franklin Street and Littlepage Street.
7:15 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. Littlepage Street between Madison and Grove Avenue.
7:15 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. Grove between Littlepage and Kenmore Avenue.
7:20 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. Kenmore Avenue between Grove and William Street.
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. William Street between Kenmore Avenue and Washington Avenue.
7:20 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. Washington Avenue between William Street and Maury Street.
7:20 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. Maury Street from Washington Avenue to Fall Hill Road.
7:25 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. Fall Hill Road/Canal Street from Maury to Princess Anne Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Prince Edward Street from Canal Road to William Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. William Street between Prince Edward Street to Princess Anne Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Princess Anne Street between William Street and Charlotte Street.
7:25 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Charlotte Street between Princess Anne and Caroline Streets.
7:30 a.m.- 9:50 a.m. Caroline Street between Charlotte and Van Buren Streets.
7:35 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Amelia Street between Caroline Street and Sophia Street.
7:35 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Sophia Street between Amelia Street and Pitt Street.
7:35 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Riverside Drive from Woodford Street to Fall Hill Avenue.
7:35 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fall Hill from Riverside Drive to US Route 1.
7:40 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. US Route 1 (southbound) from Fall Hill to Mary Washington Boulevard.
7:40 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Mary Washington Boulevard from Route 1 to Hospital Drive.
7:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Hospital Drive from Mary Washington Boulevard to Cowan Boulevard.
7:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Cowan Boulevard (westbound) from Hospital Drive to CDSP.
7:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CDSP northbound from Cowan Boulevard to Fall Hill Avenue.

Here is a google terrain map of the course:

View Larger Map
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2512580