Save the Date!  On Thursday, August 19, at 6:30 PM, NOVA will host a Summer 5K to benefit Community Connections, http://www.communityconnectionsdc.org/, the largest not-for-profit mental health agency serving men, women and children in the nation's capital.  The race will be held at Bluemont Park but we are meeting at the shelter area off of 4th and Manchester, rather than the pavilion off of Wilson and Manchester.  If you are interested in running or volunteering let me or Samantha (Sam@tecole.com) know.  More details to follow.

Yesterday I did my long run at Burke Lake.  There were quite a few runners out there but the best part was that nearly the entire 4.5+ mile loop was shaded and the surface was a soft forgiving trail, leaving my legs relatively fresh after a long run.  Another benefit of running around Burke Lake is that it gave us a chance to stop and drink from our water bottles after each loop so we didn't have to carry our fluids with us.  There is no charge for entry before 9 AM, so if you are looking for an ideal place to do your marathon training runs, I highly recommend Burke Lake.