Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - IAD to Arlington

Long story short: Its been a personal goal of mine to get into marathon running shape. By December I should be able to at least do a half, so I planned to to Las Vegas to do the Rock and Roll series marathon with some friends. I had already paid the entrance fee and booked flights there using a DL VDB voucher I got a few months ago.

But yesterday I received notification, I have to be in Arlington for mandatory training on the day after the run (Monday December 5th). I did find the UA 380 redeye that arrives at IAD at 6:23AM. If I don't check any bags (and assuming there aren't any IRROPS), is it possible to make to the Virginia Square area around 7:30-7:45 via cab? I know I'm probably pushing it, but this is something I definitely want to do if at all possible.

Working backwards:

By taxi, you should be able to get to Virginia Square in about 30 minutes door to door, outside of rush hour. However, you will be traveling at rush hour, albeit on I-66 which is limited to high-occupancy-vehicles. Absent an accident or other traffic tie-up, you should still be in the 35-45 minute range.

I have never arrived at Dulles that early, but I would presume that it can't take more than 15 minutes to get from the gate to a taxi.

So, if the flight is on-time, you should make it. Perhaps you should check the ontime stats for the flight to see if it tends to be late, because you are cutting it close.

You will most likely arrive approx. 30 mins. late. From gate to terminal exit is 15-25 mins. depending on arrival gate and Aerotrain/people mover schedule. Make certain that you board early as OH can be jammed on those flights and if your carry-on gets checked, add at least 20 mins for baggage claim.

Unfortunately, I-66 will be jammed at that time of day (DC has 2nd worst traffic commute in nation) and the last 7-8 miles will be at a snail's pace.

You may be able to save a little bit of time by booking a car service and having the driver meet you in baggage claim (even though you don't have checked luggage). That way, no wait in a cab line which can take a good 10 mins.

Unfortunately, I-66 will be jammed at that time of day (DC has 2nd worst traffic commute in nation) and the last 7-8 miles will be at a snail's pace.


I'm not sure that that is correct. I commute to Arlington from Gaithersburg often at 6:30 to 7 am and I notice that 66 is not usually jammed up at the time of morning (at least not the portion he needs to use). Of course, watch, the day he flys in it will be jammed up. ;)

I think he'd make it - but it will be close. Dulless Access Road should not be bad, and you will likely have tie up only at the Dulless Acces Road merge to I-66 in Falls Church. You'll then go only about 3 miles to Fairfax Drive, and Fairfax shouldn't be too bad at that time of the morning.

If the OP needs a good driver who will make sure you make it, send me a PM. My normal sedan driver lives in Sterling and is quite good. Other FT users have used him.

Why do you guys think I-66 East will be jammed? It is legally limited to HOV and airport traffic from 6:30 to 9 AM.

i would put OP's chances at >90%.

The timing looks workable to me. I-66 can be atrocious, but at 7 a.m. it shouldn't be near its worst. You've also got a decent cushion to get out of IAD--especially since you're not checking bags.

But this will also be the day after your first half marathon, so you shouldn't expect to be sprinting through the airport or anyplace else :) Good luck!

Wow...

After having typed a long response about how it will be easy to run the race, take a shower and take the last daytime flights to get into Washington...I check the race time - 17h30 for the half and 16h00 for the full, ouch.

The direct flight back is probably your best bet! Even if you are a few minutes late, do you think people will really get mad at a training event, when you tell them the story of running thirteen and a tenth miles in vegas, immediately flying overnight and rushing to get to the event?

If so, you are in a really serious career or the folks you are dealing with have no life outside work...

-jeremy

Well, it's not Vegas, and it's not with your friends, but you can run a race near DC that day:


http://raggedmountainrunning.com/the-racing-scene/2009-three-bridges-marathon

Charlottesville isn't that far from DC, about 100 miles.