CHRISTMAS LIGHT RUN

A wonderful tradition in DC, is the annual Christmas Light Run. This year I got to enjoy it with alot of my running friends, as well as many of the DC Tri Club members. We began at Union Station, which overlooks the US Capitol, then headed down to the National Mall across to the Washington Monument, and then over to the White House eliptical where we stopped and sang carols at the National Christmas Tree.

From there we ran up and down the streets of downtown DC, where all the people we encountered stopped and cheered, phoned their friends, and took pictures of nearly 400 jingle-bell wearing, santa-hat clad runners. The highlight of the run was our stop at the "Blue Christmas Tree" outside the Federal Police Station. The Blue Christmas Tree symbolizies all the men and women of our police force who have given the ultimate sacrifice in their duty to protect and serve.

We changed the words to the traditional "Oh Christmas Tree" song and sang this version at the Blue Christmas Tree:

Blue Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas tree,
We love our Christmas Light Run!!

We like to sing, we like to run
To do them both, is so much fun
Blue Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas Tree
We love our Christmas Lights Run!!

We are all filled with Christmas Cheer
That's why we do this every year
Blue Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas tree
We love our Christmas Lights Run!!

We gather 'round to sing to you
beneath your twinkling lights of blue
Blue Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas Tree
We love our Christmas Lights Run!!

It's cold and dark but we've no fear
Instead we're filled with Yultide Cheer
Blue Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas Tree
We love our Christmas Lights Run!!

'A Caroling with joy we come
A merry group to sing and run
Blue Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas Tree
WE love our Christmas Lights Run!!

You stand alone with grace and pride
Your spirit keeps us warm inside
Blue Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas Tree
We love our Christmas Lights Run!!


We finished back at Union Station, completing about 5 miles and many, many Christmas carols, and headed off to the Union Pub for some fine post-run refreshments!

For all the pictures from this year's run, and if you're interested in doing the Christmas Lights Run next year, please check out their website: www.christmaslightrun.com