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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 | Hope Seck |
| 4/27 | 12 | Piney Branch | Cue Sheet & GPS | Kristine Gift |
| 5/4 | 14 | MBT - Catholic | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/11 | 14 | Capital Crescent OaB | Cue Sheet & GPS | Kate Scott |
| 5/18 | 16 | Arlington Loop | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/25 | 14 | Battery Garesche | Cue Sheet & GPS | Kate Scott |
SLR: **New Route** Battery Garesché 14 Miles
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
I'm still soaking in the heat and humidity of the Twin Cities (and seeing Taylor Swift tonight), so Nate Rathjen will be taking over this week for what looks to be a steamy long run. As the weather continues to warm up, I implore you to volunteer for mid-run or post run drinks. I try to make sure the routes we do have some sort of water options along the way, but having dependable drinks is key to a good long run. As a reminder, for Bunion Derby volunteer credit you need to volunteer for either two weeks of post run or one week of mid-run drinks. Thanks to Miguel Cuya for volunteering this week for post run drinks! Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week's brand new route is a Nate Rathjen original, taking you near his neighborhood in Alexandria and by Battery Garesché, an old Civil War artillary battery named for Lieutenant Colonel Julius Peter Garesche. Battery Garesché (strava, pdf, gpx) runs down Army Navy Drive to the 4 Mile run before a little lolipop in Fairlington and back up to North Meade Park.
Want Something Shorter? For an 11 or 12 mile option, the Pentagon Army Navy route is a good way to cut off a few miles while still running on Army Navy Drive. There are also metro stations at Potomac Yard, Crystal City, and Pentagon City that can make for shorter routes as well. For less than 10, I'd recommend an out and back on Army Navy down to the 4 Mile Run.
Need a Longer Route? To add two miles, take the 4 Mile Run to the Mount Vernon Trail and follow it back to the Memorial Bridge for about 16 miles. If you want even more, coming through Rosslyn instead of the Memorial Bridge will give you around 17 miles total!
Thirsty? Water fountains are limited on this route, but there is possibly one in Utah Park and by the Fairlington community center around 7.7 miles. Thanks again to Miguel C. for post run drinks!
Need a Bathroom? Bathrooms are also a bit limited on this route, but keep an eye out throughout the neighborhood, there's generally a portopotty in someone's yard. The Target at the corner of Army Navy Drive also has public restrooms and the Fairlington Community Center would likely let you use theirs in a pinch.
Want a new Singlet? Back by popular demand, the DC Road Runners Red Singlets are back on sale now! These are completely optional, but guaranteed to make you faster and more stylish than ever before. They'll ship in August, just in time for fall races! Act fast, they'll only be avaialable til 7/16, reach out to steve@dcroadrunners.org with any questions!
The next club race is the Age Handicapped Four Miler on July 4th! This is one of the most unique and fun races in our roster with over 20 separate start times as older runners start first, younger runners start last, and the first one to the line wins! Runners are also highly encouraged to donate unique items to the prize pool, past years have included 1970s baseball cards, a Simpsons Dart Board, and a New Guinean sheath. This event wouldn't be possible without our volunteers, consider helping out if you aren't planning on racing.
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR - 14 Miles - Cleveland Park Cathedral Clintons
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Break out those Silly Bandz and Do the Harlem Shake, we're throwing it back to the early 2010s this week at SLR. That's right, our former leader Erik Price is taking over from me this week as I attempt to throw my body from Two Harbors to Duluth as fast as possible on Saturday morning. The weather looks as good as it gets in mid-June for a long run tomorrow with temps in the mid-60s to low-70s and a nice breeze. Be sure to tell all your friends on YikYak about it and remember, You Only Live Once #YOLO.ÂÂÂ Now let's get into it:
The Route: New to some, old to many, hilly to everyone, Cleveland Park Cathedral Clintons (strava, gps) is back baby! For those who don't know, anytime someone takes over to lead SLR, they get to pick the route and this one is Erik's favorite. The only slight (and unfortunate) modification from its former glory is we will no longer be running through the zoo (for a variety of reasons mostly surrounding timed passes and restrictions the zoo has placed on clubs like us trying to run through). Nevertheless this fun loop will take us up Rock Creek to Connecticut where we'll get a tour of Cleveland Park (named after former president Grover Cleveland, not the Wolfstone song) before coming back down by the Cathedral and through Dumbarton Oaks.
Want Something Shorter?An out and back to Connecticut Avenue will not only let you avoid all the hills, but will also get you 9 miles if you come back via Memorial Bridge and 8 via Key. The original Cathedral Clintons loop is also a great way to modify this and still get in 12 miles (with some hills of course). If you want all the up and none of the down, the Cleveland Park, Van Ness, and Tenleytown metro stations also give good options for coming back early.
Need a Longer Route? Adding an out and back on Rock Creek Park on the way back will get you any number of extra miles. Another option is to come back via Memorial instead of Key, which will also add between one and two miles depending on how you get onto it.
Thirsty? We'll have pre and post run drinks provided by Carolyn Y. again (and Erik said he'll throw in some extras as well)! On the route itself, however, water fountains are few and far between, so definitely bring water for this one. There is, however, a CVS at mile 8.5 that provides a good place to buy a drink if you need one!
Need a Bathroom? There aren't many public bathorooms along this route, but it's generally a safe bet that in the summer in Cleveland Park someone is going to have a portopotty in their yard for house construction. There are also a few stores along Wisconsin and Massachusettes that should have public restrooms in a pinch!
The next club race is the Hugh Jascourt 4 Miler on June 20th, named for club founder Hugh Jascourt (fun fact: Hugh Jascourt was one of the first RRCA presidents and it was under his leadership that in 1963 RRCA began sponsoring distance races for women). If you aren't able to race, please consider volunteering! The book club will also be meeting next Sunday June 25th to discuss For the Glory: The Untold Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire by Duncan Hamilton!
Happy Running!
Anna
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SLR - 10 Miles - Cemetery Loop **New Route**
Hello Saturday Long Runners!!
I hope everyone had a great week despite the hazerdous AQI levels we've been seeing the past few days. I'll be continuing to monitor the AQI throughout the day today and will send an update tonight or early tomorrow morning if anything changes. For now, however, SLR is on but please please please be careful out there and make the call that is right for you. Missing a run here and there is not the end of the world, but the negative health impacts from running in dangerous air qualities can be a major issue. Play it safe tomorrow and if you stop if you have any difficulty breathing or other symptoms. With that being said, let's get into it:
The Route: Have you ever been driving on the major streets of Arlington and looked to the side of the road to see a bike trail and thought "huh maybe I should run there sometime"? Well this route (which I shamelessly stole from Brian Danza's strava three years ago) will take you there! The Cemetery Loop (strava, pdf, gpx) circumnavigates Arlington National Cemetery, which is home to countless famous gravesites from presidents to supreme court justices to the inventor of baseball. We'll get a chance to run on the Mount Vernon, Arlington Boulevard, and Washington Boulevard trails, as well as by the Air Force Memorial. There is a significant amount of construction currently by the Air Force Memorial, but the route accounts for this and the sidewalks are mostly untouched. Use caution in that area and always yield to oncoming traffic.
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.
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 left instead of a right 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? There's a water fountain in Virginia Highlands Park on South Hayes Street in Crystal City that has saved me during many a run. Otherwise bring water, as the options on this route are minimal and that's the only sure one I know of. Thanks to Carolyn once again this week for post-run drinks! Shoot me an email if you want to volunteer!
Need a Bathroom? Virginia Highlands Park is also equipped with bathrooms near the drinking fountain! Additional ones can be found in the Target at the corner of Army Navy Drive in a pinch.
Want to Party? The Mattas are moving! Miguel Cuya and Abbey got engaged! Two good reasons for a long overdue get together. Stop by after SLR or whatever you're doing Saturday morning for a casual brunch hosted by Deborah Margraff. She'll have coffee, tea, and some baked goods, but feel free to bring anything else. It will be hosted in the Party Room at the Williamsburg Condo from 9AM to Noon after SLR (1276 Wayne St Arlington, Enter #522 in the lobby directory to be buzzed in). Family members and kids are welcome to attend. The building gym is also available for showers or to freshen up. If you have questions e-mail Deborah at deborah@dcroadrunners.org or text her at 703-628-8153.
The next club race is the Hugh Jascourt 4 Miler, named for club founder Hugh Jascourt (Washington Post Article on some of his many achievements in the running world from shortly after his death in 2005). It's a fun race every year and if you don't want to race it, please consider volunteering! The book club also meets on Sunday June 25th to discuss "For the Glory: The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire" by Duncan Hamilton, if you haven't started reading it now's your time!
Happy Running!
Anna
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Upcoming Events
| May Happy Hour/Snowball Series Awards Ceremony Thu, May 23rd, 2024, @6:00pm |
| 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 Bastille Day 4-Miler Sun, Jul 14th, 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. |