A Marathon Run Into Gridlock on Capitol Hill

Kudos to the powers that be for essentially bringing the city to a standstill on Saturday morning. The SunTrust National Marathon [Sports, March 22] shut major arteries in the city, seemingly clogging every street east of the Capitol.

Having missed not one, but two trains departing from Union Station as a result, I was especially frustrated with the attitude of police officers along the route. Three times I asked officers along the route about streets that might be open in the direction of Union Station. Each time I received the same response: "I don't know, I was just told to stand here this morning."

And their mission is to protect and serve?

GEOFFREY LANE

Washington