Hello Saturday runners!

This week I've been approached with a couple of options, as both the Boston Marathon and National Marathon are nearing, and we've had a relatively new and exciting route waiting for us (and waiting for the snow to melt) for some time.

First, the regularly scheduled route is Iron Triangle, which is so new it's not in our stock of linked routes.  But the cue sheet is at the bottom of this post, and we can thank Carl Ford for contributing this, um, uplifting route (that means there are hills).  It's about 15 miles.

A few Boston people are planning on the big 22-mile Rock Creek/ Capital Crescent loop.  They are planning on planting some beverage aid for themselves near the north end of that course; if you'd like to have them plan for you let Brian Danza know ASAP-- thanks for the option, Brian!

And our National Marathon people are tapering, and some of them have been leaning toward the possibility of a Custis/W&OD out and back.  This can accommodate plenty of distances, although our taperers are probably going to be doing somewhere around ten.  I hear there will be plentiful cue sheets for this option, too-- thanks, Janet Braunstein!

If none of those sound good to you, you may want to consider working toward being a little less picky about things.  :)

Here's the route:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3296561

Iron Triangle – 15.0 mi

0.0 mi – Go north on Lynn St to the Custis Trail (at Rt 29/Lee Hwy)

0.6 mi – Go left onto the Custis Trail (sidewalk along Rt 29/Lee Hwy westbound)

1.5 mi – After crossing the I-66 overpass, bear right to stay on the Custis Trail

2.0 mi – Take the ramp to the left after crossing the Spout Run overpass.  At the bottom of the ramp, bear left onto sidewalk

2.1 mi – Go left on paved trail

2.2 mi – Trail ends at Lorcom Ln, go left onto Lorcom Ln

2.5 mi – Go right onto N Nelly Custis Dr (at bottom of hill)

3.0 mi – Nelly Custis Dr becomes Military Rd, stay straight

4.7 mi – Go left at T-intersection onto N Old Glebe Rd

5.3 mi – Go left onto N Glebe Rd

5.9 mi – Go right onto N Williamsburg Blvd

7.5 mi – Bear left onto N Sycamore St

8.8 mi – Go right onto 19^th St (just after the Metro), then take immediate left onto Tuckahoe St.

8.9 mi – Enter trail at end of Tuckahoe St.  Trail crosses small footbridge, then go left onto the W&OD Trail.

9.0 mi – Stay on W&OD trail as it merges with an access road briefly

9.9 mi – Go left onto the Custis Trail.  There’s a small shelter with water at this turn.

10.0 mi – Go left, under the overpass, to stay on the Custis Trail

13.5 mi – Go left to stay on the Custis Trail

14.4 mi – Go right at end of Custis Trail onto Lynn St

15.0 mi – Arrive back at Iwo Jima Memorial