Reston: The Marathon a Run Through Awesome Recent History

Yet another sign that our beloved earth-toned community is All Grown Up is that we're getting our very first marathon (not to be confused with our first forced march). Yep, on Sunday, the Runners Marathon of Reston will begin and end at South Lakes High School, filling lanes of streets and paths throughout South Reston with attractive orange cones. But while those endorphins kick in, you can relive some great moments in recent and not-so-recent Reston history as you make your way through South Reston. If, like us, you'll be enjoying a mayonnaise-intensive sandwich instead, click on this larger map of the route and follow along.

As you start at South Lakes High School, you can rest assured that if you twist an ankle during your run, you won't be subjected to a Death Panel, thanks to the efforts of right-thinking patriots in that very spot. Heading up Soapstone, enjoy the ambiance of the dieted suicide lane as you pass several parcels of land of indeterminate zoning status. Turning right on South Lakes, you'll take in the scene of the most daring heist in Reston history before heading off in the general direction of Reston's antecedent community of homicidal nudists. Then you'll run through Reston's horse country before swinging back towards Soapstone, near the site of the pivotal Battle for Glade Pool. Sadly, you'll have to settle for having those cups of water or Gatorade handed to you instead of a Big Gulp, but at least that will spare you from having your aesthetics offended by DRB violations and denuded stream beds.

All in all, it's a pretty eye-opening route. It almost makes us want to get up from whatever public access programming they'll be showing on the teevee at that time, whenever it is.