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SLR: **Metro Route** 16 Miles The Awakening

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

For those of you who only read the first sentence of this e-mail:This week's route is Point to Point and will require a Metro card. I've got ~20 extras loaded up with $2 (thank you, weekend flat fares!) so if you don't have a metro card, no need to run out and buy one tonight. I'll have them before the start and will drop a few off at mid-run drinks in case anyone decides to switch plans last minute. Otherwise we're looking at a better morning tomorrow than what we've had this week, but still warm and humid. The 10+ Minute crews will be starting at 6:15, but for everyone else I'll see you at the park at 7AM! Though we have some drink stops on this route, please bring hydration! Now let's get into it:

The Route: Ever driven across that massive bridge between National Harbor and Alexandria and wished you could run over it instead becasuse 495 traffic is so gosh darn slow? Miss when The Awakening used to be at the end of Hains Point so at least there was something interesting out there? Love Randy Clarke and what he's done for the DC Metro? Well this is the week for you with The Awakening (strava, gps, pdf). We'll travel down the Mount Vernon Trail to Alexandria and across the Wilson Bridge to National Harbor. After giving The Awakening the biggest high five, we'll head back across and to the Braddock Road Metro station to take the Blue Line back to the Rosslyn station.

Don't Have the Time for the Metro Tomorrow? An out and back on the Mount Vernon Trail is also a lovely way to start off your morning! Although you'll miss out on the adventure to Maryland, Bob and Ida Draim have wonderfully volunteered for a second mid-run drinks stop at Daingerfield Island (approximately mile 6 on this route), so you'll still have drinks and company for the first half! If you're planning to do an out and back, please let them know and they will wait for you to return (otherwise running the route will have folks only hit them once)!

Want a Longer Route? It's a perfect 24 mile out and back if you don't take the metro for anyone who needs some peak week marathon mileage! Otherwise, continuing along the Blue Line towards Rosslyn will allow you to get in some extra miles and cut down the commute. For about 18 miles, continue up Washington until it becomes Abington Street and take Slater's Lane to the Potomac Yard trail and metro stop (the newest in the DC area)! Crystal City is also a great option for anyone looking to go around 20 miles, just follow the Mount Vernon Trail up to the Crystal City connector and get off that way.

Need Something Shorter?There isn't a great way to get less mileage on this route and still go into National Harbor, but turning around partially across the bridge or after getting into Maryland will allow you to cut off between 1-2 miles. Otherwise as I mentioned in the "Don't Have Time for the Metro Tomorrow" section we've got drinks at 6 miles and an out and back is still a wonderful run!

Thirsty? Thank you so much to all our drink volunteers this week! Ken Strazzerri will be at the park at North Meade Street after the run for post run drinks (and especially for anyone not taking the metro). Bob and Ida Draim will be at Daingerfield Island at Mile 6 for mid-run drinks! And Jana will be down in Alexandria near Jones Point Park/the Wilson Bridge for mid-run drinks around mile 9.5 and pseudo-post run drinks at mile 14.5. Make sure to swing by her before getting on the metro if you want some extra liquids for the trip back! There's a few additional water fountains on the route, most notably along the Mount Vernon Trail near the airport, under the WIlson Bridge, and (possibly) just across the Wilson Bridge (though 50/50 that it's on). Make sure to thank all our volunteers and take advantage as the other options are limited!

Need a Bathroom? There are a few excellent options (and some that are, well, less excellent). Starting off with my favorite public bathrooms in the greater DC Area (and yes, this is saying a lot): there are some incredible restrooms located under the Wilson Bridge that have always been reliably clean and open. Gravelly Point also has some portopotties and there are usually additional ones across the Wilson Bridge (but seriously, use the ones under the bridge, or just go check them out and have a glimmer of hope for what public restrooms could look like).

The next club race is the National Capital 20 Miler and Janet Braunstein 5 Miler, both great tuneup races for all your fall training plans on Sunday the 24th of September. This is also your last option to get Bunion Derby volunteer credit, so help out if you can. The book club is meeting on Sunday as well and Choosing to Run is such a quick read you can probably get through it by then if you start on Saturday!

Happy Running!

Anna