Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon takes over chilly DC

Participants gather at the starting line of the 2017 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Saturday morning, March 11, on Constitution Ave. NW. (草莓传媒/Dennis Foley) — Participants gather at the starting line of the 2017 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Saturday morning, March 11, on Constitution Avenue NW in D.C. (草莓传媒/Dennis Foley)

It was a chillier morning than some participants expected as they gathered at the starting line of the 2017 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Saturday morning, March 11, on Constitution Avenue NW in D.C. (草莓传媒/Dennis Foley)

We are rocking, rolling... and running! Rock n Roll marathon now underway!
— Dennis J. Foley (@DJFoley草莓传媒)

(草莓传媒/Dennis Foley)

More runners, well layered for the cold, hit the streets of DC!
— Dennis J. Foley (@DJFoley草莓传媒)

(草莓传媒/Dennis Foley)

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March 11, 2017 | 草莓传媒's Dennis Foley asks runners why they chose to participate in this year's Rock 'N' Roll Marathon on Saturday, March 11, in D.C. (Dennis Foley)

WASHINGTON 鈥� A聽massive mobile party hit the streets of D.C. Saturday morning.

Thousands of runners from all around the world lined up on Constitution Avenue NW in the bitter cold to take part in the Rock 鈥榥鈥� Roll Marathon.

At the start around 8:30 a.m., the temperature was 26 degrees with wind chills in the teens.

Some participants, but not all, were ready for the cold.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit colder than I think everyone was expecting, and my training didn鈥檛 exactly go to plan, but I鈥檓 going to give it a shot to see how far I can go,鈥� participant Kyle Macken said before the race.

It was聽Macken’s first marathon, and he said he was going to give it all he had, both in terms of performance and in staying warm.

鈥淚鈥檓 wearing more layers, borrowed some of my wife鈥檚 tighter clothing that somehow fits me,鈥� Macken said.

Others came more prepared.

鈥淲ell, I鈥檓 from Canada, so the cold doesn鈥檛 really bother me,鈥� Lindsay Robertson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been training for four or five months.鈥�

Robertson is taking part in this year鈥檚 event because she wanted to come to D.C. for the first time.

The course began on Constitution Avenue NW near 14th Street. Runners then took on the Rock Creek Parkway and eventually crossed the city to end at RFK Stadium.