Read & Run on the Road: Running Tour of Reveille in Washington

Use your Marine Corps Marathon shakeout run to connect with runners as you tour significant Civil War sites in DC. Given this is the Marine Corps Marathon, I thought it appropriate to reflect on DC military history.

In just 2 miles, we'll see monuments, buildings, and museums off the beaten path dedicated to memorializing the Civil War. The route ends at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum for a 30 minute private, staff-led tour.

SaltStick has generously agreed to sponsor the first 20 tickets. A representative will also provide FastChews samples. I couldn't be more excited to partner with them because heat (and surely electrolyte loss) were a significant issue for Civil War soldiers, as we'll discuss on the run and at the museum.

During the Civil War, a soldier could expect to march an average of 15 miles a day. Since most military campaigns occurred during the warmer months of the year, it was not surprising that heat became another deadly enemy to fight. There were over 7,000 cases of sunstroke recorded during the four years of the war, with over 300 resulting in death. National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Excessive sweating is the primary way the body cools itself. But the lack of evaporation from the weight of the gear and humidity caused many to develop skin irritations and severe dehydration. A member of the 19th Massachusetts wrote, “the salty liquid got into the eyes, causing them to burn...and down the sides of the face ...” American Battlefield Trust

I (Chelsey, your tour guide) am running the marathon as well, so I'll keep the pace easy. We'll also make stops along the way, and, at the museum, we'll sit for a presentation before touring a few of the rooms. But if you need further convincing this is an ideal shakeout run option, check out this post.

Everyone is welcome to join, including folks not running the MCM!Learn more on my website: chelseygrassfield.com

(P.S. I'd like to eliminate fees for you and me, so if you happen to mosey on over to my webpage above, there's info on how to venmo and register via google forms. However, the 20 sponsored tix must be reserved on Eventbrite.)

Info: Meet at the Nuns of the Battlefield memorial (1745 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036) between 5:15–5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct 24. The program will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.

Info: We’ll run an easy-paced (~11:00 minute/mile), 2-mile route with stops at sites significant to the Civil War and mentioned in the book.

Info: After the route, we’ll have a ~30 minute private, guided tour by staff at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Museum (437 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004).

Host or Publisher Chelsey Stone / Read & Run on the Road