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Welcome! This is the home of the world-famous (well, maybe locally well-known) SLR.
Our start time is at 8:00 AM for the rest of the year. Every Saturday we meet at North Meade Street Park, a small park northwest of the USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) in Rosslyn. The closest address for mapping purposes is 1300 Arlington Blvd, and street parking is available in the neighborhoods adjacent to N. Meade Street. Be mindful of parking signs, since Arlington County enforces them enthusiastically, and please do not park on Marine Memorial Circle (inside Iwo Jima), because this parking area is for memorial use only. At least one porta-john is available year-round near the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the memorial's water fountain is usually on during the summer.
We run rain or shine! In cases of extreme weather (snow, ice, thunderstorms, heat waves) we do occasionally either change our meeting time or cancel the run for safety, but the run will be held as planned unless otherwise posted via email/twitter/facebook and here on the SLR web page.
All are welcome! We're an informal group, and there are no requirements for speed, racing experience, or what distance means "long" for you, other than the suggested route that most of our group will be running each week. If you don't want to run the same distance or course as the main group, you can go out for half of your own target distance and re-trace your steps back to Iwo Jima. More specific route info and mileage options will be given in the email/post preceding each Saturday's run. SLR always features a run from our extensive Route Catalog, which gives us a wide range of options to keep things fresh for you each week. We have routes that are flat, hilly, looped, out & back, roads, sidewalks, trails, and more, reaching all around the local area of DC, VA, and MD!
For more details about Saturday Long Runs please read our Frequently Asked Questions to get a sense for what it's like to run with us, or send an email to Anna if you have any other questions that are not covered.
To receive weekly SLR updates via email, please log in and check your email subscriptions.
Schedule:
| Date | Miles | Route Map | Navigation Downloads | Post/Mid-Run Beverages |
| 4/20 | 18 | Arboretum - Azaleas!! | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 4/27 | 12 | Piney Branch | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/4 | 14 | MBT - Catholic | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/11 | 14 | Capital Crescent OaB | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/18 | 16 | Arlington Loop | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/25 | 14 | Battery Garesche | Cue Sheet & GPS |
SLR: 10 Miles Cemetery Loop
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
To those running Marine Corps next weekend: Congrats! You've officially made it not only to the taper, but to the last long run of the training cycle. Take this weekend to focus on how far you've come and get excited for the race next week! SLR will be hosting a three mile shakeout run next Saturday morning in conjunction with our normal long run. Come out for a couple miles and a post run meetup at Bethesda Bagels and Compass Coffee for some carbs before the big race on Sunday! In unrelated, yet still happy news: it looks like tomorrow we actually might stay dry for the entire run for the first time in weeks! Fall is finally giving us a treat, come out tomorrow and celebrate! Now let's get into it:
The Route: Back and better than ever for the second time at SLR, we're doing the Cemetery Loop (strava, gps, pdf) this week! This route circumnavigates Arlington Cemetery and Fort Myer, where the Wright Brothers first demonstrated their newfangled flying machine. I know there were a couple wrong turns last time, so pay attention to the cue sheet and remember that the turn onto Rolfe Street is the first right after all the highway underpasses and should look something like this.
Want Something Shorter? For about 7 miles, turn off the Mount Vernon Trail onto the 27 Trail and go directly to the Pentagon, then continue the route as normal for an abbreviated Cemetery Loop. If you want to avoid the hills, an out and back on the Mount Vernon trail is an easy way to get any number of miles in as well!
Need a Longer Route? The Mount Vernon Trail makes adding on additional miles easy, just add an extra out and back after getting to Crystal City. If you're feeling adventerous and need a lot more miles, taking a right instead of a left on the Arlington Boulevard trail will eventually lead you down to the W&OD near Bluemont park. This makes for a great loop returning on Custis for about 17 miles (and may make for a great actual SLR route one of these days).
Thirsty? Thank you so much to Kate Scott for post-run drinks this week! There is also a water fountain in National Landing Crystal City at Virginia Highlands Park off of South Hayes Street around mile 5.5 that has never failed me. Another option for a little bit of a scavenger hunt is the water fountain on the opposite side of the tennis courts at mile 7.9 in Towers Park, which is the park you'll see right after getting on the trail at the end of Rolfe Street. It's a little bit out of the way, but provides another good option in a pinch!
Need a Bathroom? Gravelly Point, though never the best option, is always an option for bathroom at the 3.7 mile mark (sidenote: they may be building permanent restrooms there, which would be absolutely fantastic if they also leave them open 24/7). Virginia Highlands Park also has a nice set of permanent restrooms which I've always had luck with being open. There is also the Target on the corner of Army Navy Drive in a pinch if you need a restroom or some scented candles and new lightbulbs.
The next club race is the Alexandria Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning! This is the fastest five miler you'll ever run and a great way to start Thanksgiving off with a PR! We also need a tremendous amount of volunteers to keep this race running smoothly, so please consider helping out either race morning or the week before with packet pickup if you're in the area for the holiday! As a reminder,DCRR Memberships expire on November 30th! Renew today or face the wrath of Nate Rathjen!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: 14 Miles Ross Drive
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Along with the gorgeous fall weather we've been having during the week, we will also apparently have rain every Saturday (at least it sure feels that way). Luckily tomorrow shouldn't be too bad when we start out, but prepare to be damp by the end of the run. Rainy runs in Rock Creek Park are always a treat, though, so take in the scenery and appreciate that at least it isn't 80 and sunny! Now let's get into it:
The Route: Ross Drive (strava, gps, pdf) is such a crowd favorite that it's the only route we're doing twice in this cycle and was requested for this week by several people! Rock Creek Park in the fall is the best place in the city and if running there earlier this week was any indication we should have some great colors on the trees! We'll head up Rock Creek through the Zoo Loop (whose hours recently got cut for the winter :() then up Beach Drive before heading back down via Ross Drive and Ridge Road. As a reminder, Beach Drive is closed to vehicle traffic but Ross Drive and Ridge Road are not, stay alert in these areas especially in the rain!
Want Something Shorter? An out and back through Rock Creek Park is the easiest way to cut mileage off. If you're looking for a different route back, you can also come down to the waterfront instead of the trail when leaving Rock Creek Park (though that does add a little bit of mileage, so keep that in mind).
Need a Longer Route?I know a lot of folks were a little disappointed when the Big Loop fell on the same weekend as the DC Half, so part of the motivation for a run through Rock Creek was to give a second chance to get the Big Loop in before your Big Race Day! If you want to do this option, continue up Rock Creek Park before heading over to the CCT via Leland and coming back down for a total of 21! Another good option for adding on a little less mileage is to run a second loop of Beach-Ross-Ridge for a little over 3 miles extra.
Thirsty? Thanks to Kristine Gift for providing post run drinks this week! Other than those there aren't a ton of options for water, so be sure to bring some if you need it. The only really reliable stop is at Peirce Mill in Rock Creek around miles 5.3 and 9, and that fountain has been having some issues lately.
Need a Bathroom? Peirce Mill is also your best bet for those as well at miles 5.3 and 9! There aren't a lot of other options, so keep that in mind for tomorrow!
The next club race is the Alexandria Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day! Not only is this the best Turkey Trot in the Mid-Atlantic, but it is also the club's biggest race of the year. We need a ton of volunteers for packet pickup and race day, so please volunteer if you're able to! It is also time to renew your DCRR Membership, as those expire on November 30th! Your membership gets you access to hundreds of organized group runs and workouts a year, 22 free races, countless discounts at local running stores, and so much more for only $35 a year! Renew today!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: **8 AM Start** **New Route** 22 Miles North Anacostia
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
SLR will be starting at 8 AM this week and every week from now until spring! Figured I'd get that news out of the way early. The weather looks very mild for this weekend, but we might see some showers on the run so be prepared for a little rain! Also I'd like to give a very loud good luck to everyone racing Chicago or Army 10 Miler this weekend. If you're looking for the perfect Army 10 Miler shakeout, this route will run us very close to Stadium Armory (where the expo and packet pickup are located) at right around 6 miles. Come for a pre-race jog, grab your packet, and take the Metro back to North Meade Street! Now let's get into it:
The Route: I'm not sure how I convinced the board to let me do a 22 mile long run, but man am I excited for it (and you should be too)! North Anacostia (strava, gps, pdf), as I'm calling it will take us to the northern part of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail all the way through Bladensburg, MD before we traverse our way back into DC and down the Metropolitan Branch Trail. This gives us an opportunity to see some parts of the city we don't normally get to see on our long runs and will be a bit of an adventure! Pay attention to the turns between the Riverwalk and Monroe Street, there aren't many of them and they aren't particularly confusing, but it is a new area which provides every opportunity to get turned around. When in doubt, follow signs for Catholic University and DC! If you're not already sold, the northern part of the riverwalk when we'll run through Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is one of my absolute favorite places in the DC area and I'm really excited for everyone to get a chance to see it!
Want Something Shorter? The best way to cut off distance is to take the metro back to the park (and we're even starting at 8, which means that you can also take the metro to SLR and just grab a train home if you're near a station)! For around 15.5 miles, take the train back from the Brookland-CUA station. After that there are stops roughly every half mile to mile along the MBT, in addition to Union Station at mile 18.5 and Smithsonian around mile 19.5. As I mentioned in the intro, if you want a lot less mileage and need to pick up your bib, cutting off from the group at Lincoln Park and making a beeline for Stadium Armory is an excellent move!
Need a Longer Route? If you insist. Coming back up along the Mount Vernon trail instead of by the cemetery will add an extra mile to make it 23, and traversing the 14th street bridge instead of Memorial can also add another extra mile to your run for 24.
Thirsty? We've got two mid-run drinks in store for this weekend because of the longer route (and lack of water along the Anacostia Riverwalk)! Deborah Magraff and Lisa Towell will be at Lincoln Park at mile 5 and will stick around if anyone is doing a shorter out and back version of the route (just let them know when you pass them the first time!). Jack Phillips will be along the Anacostia Riverwalk between miles 9-11 depending on the parking situation! He's also providing post run drinks which leads to me begging and pleading for folks to sign up for the next few weeks! The weather is getting cooler, but hydration is important year round! Other opportunities for water will come along the Mall (which fingers crossed will stay on for at least a few more weeks, but their time is dwindling), at the Bladensburg boathouse at mile 12, and along the MBT at Alethia Tanner Park around mile 17.
Need a bathroom? There are bathrooms along the Mall at the Washington Monument (which _should_ be open), some at the Bladensburg Boathouse around mile 12, and a few portopotties scattered along the MBT (the Dew Drop Inn has them blocked off, but they aren't locked and fences can move for a reason). Union Station has also finished their remodel and provides another good option around mile 18.5!
I am once again asking for SLR drinks support! As a reminder you can be reimbursed for any purchases made and it greatly benefits the club and your fellow runners! Any volunteering you do from now through the spring will also count towards Snowball Series volunteer credit! Get it out of the way early and focusing on crushing your age-group enemies throughout the winter!
Happy Running!
Anna
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Upcoming Events
| DCRRC Women's Distance Festival 5K and Run After the Women 5K Sun, Jun 9th, 2024, @8:00am |
| Book Club Sun, Jun 16th, 2024, @4:00pm |
| DCRRC Hugh Jascourt 4-Miler Fri, Jun 21st, 2024, @7:00pm |
| DCRRC Age Handicapped 4-Miler Thu, Jul 4th, 2024, @8:00am |
| DCRRC Bluemont 5K Wed, Jul 24th, 2024, @7:00pm |
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The DC Road Runners Club is a member of the Road Runners Club of America and is also affiliated with USA Track & Field. We provide a year-round schedule of running events that offer everyone a chance to participate regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability. |