1. Take the Mt Vernon Trail south from the airport terminal
2. Take the 4 Mile Run trail west and follow the green signs for the Bike Trail, especially when you get to the intersection of Glebe, S Glebe and W Glebe
3. Continue on 4 Mile Run trail through Shirlington
4. EITHER bear right on Arlington Mile Dr to Quaker (left) to Milepost (MP) 0 of the W&OD,
5. OR bear left along Arlington Mile Drive continuing on the 4 Mile Run trail which will eventually begin to parallel and intersect the W&OD
6. Take the W&OD back to Wiehle Ave

1. From the airport terminal, head to your left (south) towards Alexandria. If this seems like you're heading away from Reston, you are, but not for long.
2. The sidewalk in front of the terminal goes down a hill and next to a long building. At the south end of the building is a large parking lot. The Mt Vernon Trail is on your right parallel to the GW Pkwy.
3. Follow the Mt Vernon trail south only as far as the end of the parking lot on your left. At the southern end of the parking lot is a marked trail intersection.
4. Bear left at the fork, taking the Four Mile Run trail which then goes under a bridge to your right.
5. The trail parallels the waterway for the next 2 miles (approx). Stay on this trail as it heads west and upstream and away from the Potomac river.
6. At Mt Vernon Ave there is an underpass to the left which avoids a street crossing. Continue on the asphalt path to the intersection of S Glebe, W Glebe and Glebe Rd.
7. Follow the signs for the bike trail! There are white arrows painted on the sidewalk. This will take you left over 4 Mile Run, the body of water, onto West Glebe Rd towards a Pizza Hut.
8. You will then take the 1st right turn (traffic light) onto Valley Drive; continue following the signs for the Bike Trail.
9. Bear right at the fork onto Martha Custis Dr. (Did I mention you should follow the bike trail signs?)
10. After cresting a hill past several apartment buildings you will come to Gunston Rd on your left and a stop sign.
11. Take the long pedestrian overpass on your right over to the north side of Shirley Highway (I395).
12. At the bottom of the ramp turn right on 28th Street and go 1 short block to Quincy.
13. Turn right on Quincy (the painted arrow is after the turn) for a short block to Arlington Mile Drive, cross the street.
    Here is the decision point: The simpler, perhaps slightly shorter, flatter but much less scenic route is to go right on Arlington Mile Dr to Quaker Lane, left on Quaker for 1 block. The beginning of the W&OD is at the next intersection (Quaker and 4 Mile Run Dr). Look for the overhead powerlines, go left staying on the W&OD for the remainder of the run. You have 17 miles to go to Wiehle Avenue. Follow the signs for the W&OD.
    If you are more adventurous, the traditional course continues to use the 4 Mile Run Trail. It is a bit more complicated, more scenic, more hilly, and more shady. The traditional course description continues.
14. After you cross Arlington Mile Dr, go left following the asphalt path. Keep Arlington Mile Drive on your left.
15. After about half a mile Arlington Mile Dr ends at Walter Reed Drive. The trail continues across Walter Reed and slightly to your left going into the woods (away from Shirlington) across a small stone bridge into a park area.
16. The next 2-3 miles are possibly the most difficult as you run up and down and up some more as you parallel 4 Mile Run as it makes its way NW across Arlington. There are a number of intersections with other trails. The correct way is generally straight ahead staying in the main valley of the stream. The trail is marked with a centerline.
17. After 0.5-1.0 miles, the trail will cross over 4 Mile Run four times, the first 3 in relatively quick succession. At one point (between the 3rd and 4th crossing?) you will come to a "T" where you go left (downhill).
18. When you get to George Mason drive, the trail goes under the road, then circles 180 degrees (left) up to road level. The most direct route back onto the trail is to then go left at this point over the bridge on the sidewalk next to the road and then left into a long parking lot following a sidewalk between the parking lot and and the stream.
19. At the end of the sidewalk, follow the asphalt path which goes off slightly to the left back into the park. A short time later the W&OD will merge with you coming in on your right. You will see a metal fence (above you and to your right) and powerlines. There are several opportunities to join the W&OD. There are also several possible water and/or bathroom possibilities just off the W&OD on your left.
20. At some point you need to switch onto the W&OD but there are several options for doing this. It is not critical which point you choose to move onto the W&OD but don't wait too long.
21. When you reach I66, you will bear left parallelling it alongside the sound barrier. Follow the signs for the W&OD as it diverges to the left from I66 going under Roosevelt Drive.
22. Watch for a W&OD sign taking you to your right over a short bridge, briefly reversing course and emerging onto Tuckahoe. Run straight (uphill) on Tuckahoe.
23. The East Falls Church Metro stop is visible at the top of the hill. A sign where the street bears left directs you back onto the W&OD on your right.
24. If you've made it this far, it's a straight shot back to Reston on the W&OD from here.

Jim Nagle's Preface:
"[This run] might sound intimidating to some but having done this run every year beginning in 1996, I have reminisced at the end of the year and concluded that doing this run makes for one of the best days of the year. It is an adventure being left 20 miles from your destination and that is what makes it fun for me. Your mileage may vary."

1. Take the Mt Vernon Trail south from the airport terminal
2. Take the 4 Mile Run trail west and follow the green signs for the Bike Trail, especially when you get to the intersection of Glebe, S Glebe and W Glebe
3. Continue on 4 Mile Run trail through Shirlington
4. EITHER bear right on Arlington Mile Dr to Quaker (left) to Milepost (MP) 0 of the W&OD,
5. OR bear left along Arlington Mile Drive continuing on
   the 4 Mile Run trail which will eventually begin to parallel and intersect the W&OD
6. Take the W&OD back to Wiehle Ave

1. From the airport terminal, head to your left (south) towards Alexandria. If this seems like you're heading away from Reston, you are, but not for long.
2. The sidewalk in front of the terminal goes down a hill and next to a long building. At the south end of the building is a large parking lot. The Mt Vernon Trail is on your right parallel to the GW Pkwy.
3. Follow the Mt Vernon trail south only as far as the end of the parking lot on your left. At the southern end of the parking lot is a marked trail intersection.
4. Bear left at the fork, taking the Four Mile Run trail which then goes under a bridge to your right.
5. The trail parallels the waterway for the next 2 miles (approx). Stay on this trail as it heads west and upstream and away from the Potomac river.
6. At Mt Vernon Ave there is an underpass to the left which avoids a street crossing. Continue on the asphalt path to the intersection of S Glebe, W Glebe and Glebe Rd.
7. Follow the signs for the bike trail! There are white arrows painted on the sidewalk. This will take you left over 4 Mile Run, the body of water, onto West Glebe Rd towards a Pizza Hut.
8. You will then take the 1st right turn (traffic light) onto Valley Drive; continue following the signs for the Bike Trail.
9. Bear right at the fork onto Martha Custis Dr. (Did I mention you should follow the bike trail signs?)
10. After cresting a hill past several apartment buildings you will come to Gunston Rd on your left and a stop sign.
11. Take the long pedestrian overpass on your right over to the north side of Shirley Highway (I395).
12. At the bottom of the ramp turn right on 28th Street and go 1 short block to Quincy.
13. Turn right on Quincy (the painted arrow is after the turn) for a short block to Arlington Mile Drive, cross the street.
    Here is the decision point: The simpler, perhaps slightly shorter, flatter but much less scenic route is to go right on Arlington Mile Dr to Quaker Lane, left on Quaker for 1 block. The beginning of the W&OD is at the next intersection (Quaker and 4 Mile Run Dr). Look for the overhead powerlines, go left staying on the W&OD for the remainder of the run. You have 17 miles to go to Wiehle Avenue. Follow the signs for the W&OD.
    If you are more adventurous, the traditional course continues to use the 4 Mile Run Trail. It is a bit more complicated, more scenic, more hilly, and more shady. The traditional course description continues.
14. After you cross Arlington Mile Dr, go left following the asphalt path. Keep Arlington Mile Drive on your left.
15. After about half a mile Arlington Mile Dr ends at Walter Reed Drive. The trail continues across Walter Reed and slightly to your left going into the woods (away from Shirlington) across a small stone bridge into a park area.
16. The next 2-3 miles are possibly the most difficult as you run up and down and up some more as you parallel 4 Mile Run as it makes its way NW across Arlington. There are a number of intersections with other trails. The correct way is generally straight ahead staying in the main valley of the stream. The trail is marked with a centerline.
17. After 0.5-1.0 miles, the trail will cross over 4 Mile Run four times, the first 3 in relatively quick succession. At one point (between the 3rd and 4th crossing?) you will come to a "T" where you go left (downhill).
18. When you get to George Mason drive, the trail goes under the road, then circles 180 degrees (left) up to road level. The most direct route back onto the trail is to then go left at this point over the bridge on the sidewalk next to the road and then left into a long parking lot following a sidewalk between the parking lot and and the stream.
19. At the end of the sidewalk, follow the asphalt path which goes off slightly to the left back into the park. A short time later the W&OD will merge with you coming in on your right. You will see a metal fence (above you and to your right) and powerlines. There are several opportunities to join the W&OD. There are also several possible water and/or bathroom possibilities just off the W&OD on your left.
20. At some point you need to switch onto the W&OD but there are several options for doing this. It is not critical which point you choose to move onto the W&OD but don't wait too long.
21. When you reach I66, you will bear left parallelling it alongside the sound barrier. Follow the signs for the W&OD as it diverges to the left from I66 going under Roosevelt Drive.
22. Watch for a W&OD sign taking you to your right over a short bridge, briefly reversing course and emerging onto Tuckahoe. Run straight (uphill) on Tuckahoe.
23. The East Falls Church Metro stop is visible at the top of the hill. A sign where the street bears left directs you back onto the W&OD on your right.
24. If you've made it this far, it's a straight shot back to Reston on the W&OD from here.

Jim's Notes:

• If I had any advice for 1st timers running this it would be to save yourself and not push at all until you have crossed I66 or the Beltway shortly after I66 overpass. This point is several miles beyond where the directions above end and about 1-1.5 miles after crossing over Rt 7 in Falls Church. With the exception of what I call the Buckthorn hump on the W&OD, the running is relatively flat on the W&OD from Gallows Rd to the finish at Wiehle Avenue. The halfway point is somewhere around the bridge over Rt 7 (W Broad St) in Falls Church. Negative splits rule on long runs like this. Knowing yourself well will provide confidence and increase the likelihood of a successful marathon a few weeks later.
• A word about water. It's never a bad idea to carry some but it's not essential. Hydrate well at the airport. There are fountains available on the 4 Mile Run trail after Shirlington, at Rt 7 in Falls Church, in Vienna either: at the Rec center just before Maple Ave, or with bathrooms at Fresh Fields(slight detour off trail), water at mp 12 after crossing Maple Ave. The club may also have Gatorade at Rt 7 and/or at Hunter Mill.
• Have fun. It's not just a run, it's an adventure!

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