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SLR: 14 Miles Festivus Run

Seasons Greetings Saturday Long Runners!

We're officially into December which means a fun filled month of holiday themed runs starting this week and lasting us til the end of the year. Old Man Winter has also decided to join us this week and it's going to be a cold one, bundle up and be prepared for a few extra streetlights this route compared to our usual runs. If you missed having to run through downtown in the Taco Bell 50K last week it's okay, there's Festivus for the rest of us! Now let's get into it:

The Route: Pull out those checkbooks and get ready to write your donations to The Human Fund, it's Festivus (strava, gps, pdf) week! We'll cross into the city via the Key Bridge then head straight down K street to start our foray into Strava art. The trick for this one is to remember your diagonals: Rhode Island and Massachusetts to be exact. Go out to 18th and 14th streets on both of those for the base and up 16th street as far as you'd like for the Festivus Pole (for the full route, turn around at Arkansas Ave, the same place we turn down to go onto Piney Branch).

Partake In Some Traditions: For those who aren't Seinfeld Fans (I still haven't seen this episode, or any for that matter), Festivus is a holiday celebrated as an alternative to the pressures and commercialism of this season. More importantly, though, it's a time to come together, romp around DC trying to remember which turns you still have to make, and savor the little things in life like when you cross Harvard Street for the third time in three weeks and think "dang, why do I keep ending up here". It also comes with its own traditions, which I think we can all take part in in little ways tomorrow:
The Airing of Grievances: Sick of winter and this cold spell already, even though it's only getting worse from here? Shovel down a burrito supreme at mile 24 last week and think "what am I doing with my life" (we've all been there, Mark)? Keep getting one-stepped by that guy on group runs who swears he's "taking it easy and going as slow as he can"? Well this is the time to list all the problems you have with running, get the complaints out, and focus back in before the next training cycle.
Feats of Strength: Maybe don't wrestle anyone in the middle of 16th street, but there are plenty of ways to show feats of strength tomorrow. Challenge someone in your group to a race for a block, push a little harder up that dang hill (then air your grievances about it afterwards), and remember Festivus isn't over until the head of SLR has been taken down in a strava segment.
Festivus Miracles: Honestly, the fact any of us are making it out of bed when it's below freezing to go run over a half marathon is a miracle in itself. Take some time tomorrow to appreciate the little things, like not having to run up the stairs in Meridian Hill Park and whenever you actually make it through a stoplight without having to wait for a minute. Marathon training and long runs can feel like a slog a lot of the time, but as soon as an injury or illness pops up you suddenly relaly wish you were back out there. Appreciate what your body is letting you do! There are little miracles happening around us all the time, take some notice of them.
Festivus Dinner: Though usually the start of the Festivus celebration, maybe this time save it for the end. Finish your run with your favorite bagel (I should've just said Brooklyn Bagels, for it is your favorite bagel) or breakfast. Refuel, rehydrate, and bake some bread for the Bread Run on Sunday!

Want Something Shorter? Other than this e-mail? Festivus Poles don't have any standar proportions, which in our case means they can be as short as you'd like. Cut off a few miles from the top and skip the 16th street hill while you're at it. To ignore the strava art, and get some more miles with the group, Piney Branch is a great 12 mile option!

Need a Longer Route? Add your mileage south of K Street to maintain a solid foundation for your festivus pole. Consider a Mall Loop or crossing Memorial Bridge instead of Key for your return trip.

Thirsty? There aren't any water fountains along this route, so come prepared tomorrow or add something else to your list of grievances.

Need a Bathroom? Other than the occasional CVS and Starbucks, those are also limited on this route.

The next club race (and what I have many times referred to as the best club race of the year) is the Bread Run on Sunday! Come prepared with your favorite home baked loaf of bread for a fun 10K. The book club is also meeting on Sunday discussing Tales From Out There, a book about the Barkley Marathons that you probably don't have time to read at this point but do have time to watch a bootleg copy of the netflix special (which they for some reason took off netflix), which is pretty close.

Head's up! Next week we're running the Christmas Tree Run! And great news! SLR's war against the Laying of the Wreaths (whereas for one weekend a year parking at SLR is a nightmare for a great cause) is over and we've won. This year's ceremony is Sunday, December 7th, so SLR parking won't be an issue next weekend! We will (as tradition), be doing an easy group run for the first 6 miles (targeting 9:30-10 minute pace with lots of stopping for lights and trees). Don't be a scrooge, plan your workouts for later in the run!

Happy Running and Happy Early Festivus!

Anna