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I'm all about getting sporty on my trips. When I was training for the NYC marathon, I had to visit Washington, D.C. at a crucial point of my training. Instead of halting training or spending hours running on the hotel treadmill, I hired a running guide through City Running Tours who took me on a sightseeing run through our nation's capital.

So when I heard about a physical fitness event  -- again, in Washington, DC -- coming up on October 11, I thought I would share it with you. Bike for the Heart is a day-long event put on by the Sister to Sister organization, a group dedicated to educating women about heart health and risk prevention and providing free heart health checkups.

The day consists of four events:

 - a family-friendly five-mile bike ride around our nation's capital (this would be my choice)

- a "spinathon" on stationary bikes inside the Verizon center

 - Heart of the Nation Time trial  -- a five-mile time trial bike ride around the city

 - a festival featuring activities for kids and a host of circus-style entertainment. World-famous clowns will conduct a Ringling Bros. Clown College® crash course where kids will earn their clown noses as they learn how to juggle, spin plates, and walk the low-wire.

If you're a D.C. reader or your travels will take you there this upcoming weekend, consider seeing the sites by bike and supporting a worthwhile cause at the same time. Nothing says run like a biking past the White House! If you don't typically travel with your bike, you can rent one -- and get a $5 discount -- at Bike and Roll.