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SLR: 15 Miles Iron Triangle

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

You have me for one more week, and it is another excellent fall morning (and another Spirit playoff gameday!) Let's get into it:

The Route: Bum bum bummmmm *insert menacing piano music here* it's Iron Triangle (strava, gps, pdf), a personal favorite of Anna's (and mine) and a personal horror of anyone who believes the mound in front of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing constitutes a hill. We'll head up Custis to Lorcom Lane and Military Road until we hit some more hills climbing Glebe and Williamsburg. After this we're treated to a lovely mile downhill into Falls Church before returning down Custis (yes! it's downhill coming east!). People tend to get a little lost on this route (including Anna once upon a time) so make sure to review the cue sheets ahead of time!

Want Something Shorter? For a few less hills and a few less miles, turn right at Military Road to do the Chain Bridge 10-miler. It'll allow you to be with the group for almost five miles before heading back in a much flatter way than how you came out. There are also excellent metro stops at mile 9 (East Falls Church) and 12 (Ballston-MU) where for a mere $2.50 you can be back to Rosslyn in a jiffy!

Need a Longer Route? The W&OD is a fabulous trail to add anywhere from 1 to 80 miles to your weekend long run!

Thirsty? Water fountains can be found at mile 3.5 in Zachary Taylor Park just off Military, at Fort Ethan Allen Park around mile 5, the Custis and W&OD interchange at mile 10, and along Custis at mile 12.

Need a Bathroom? Ethan Allen Park also has bathrooms around mile 5, and hopefully the ones at Westover Park (immediately after you turn on to Custis, take the first left after crossing under I-66) are not yet closed for the season. Otherwise there is always a house or two along this route that has some contruction going on and a portopotty in the yard, so keep your eyes peeled!

If you haven't signed up yet, the rescheduled National Capital 10- and 5-miler is Sunday morning. The Bunion Derby is coming up faster than you think, check the website for schedule and registration!

Happy Running!

Nate

SLR: 17 Miles Mount Vernon Trail

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

It's Nate, your faithful ersatz SLR leader, here with you for the next two weeks. We have an excellent fall Saturday on tap with the weather forecast to be in the mid 50s and sunny. And an obligatory "go Spirit!" (say hello if you are going to the game, I'm in the supporters end!) and "go Hoos!"

Where Are We Going This Time?It's time for a classicMount Vernon Trail Out and Back (strava, gps, pdf). Ask Anna about the time she ran the whole thing out and back! Our prescribed distance for this week is 17 miles, which puts the turnaround just past the end of Union Street, as you turn toward Jones Point Park.

Want Something Shorter or Longer? Out and backs make that easy! The mile markers along the trail roughly line up with half miles from the park, where MM 12 is 5.5 miles, MM 11 is 6.5, and so on. You can also detour to Potomac Yard (~5-2/3 miles out, ~13 miles back), Braddock Road (~8 miles out, ~11 miles back), or King Street (~9 miles out, ~10-1/2 miles back) metro stops if you would like.

Parched?With last night's frost, I would expect all non-freeze-proof water fountains to be turned off. FoMVT unfortunately have not replaced the one by the airport yet, but the one at Jones Point is good to go! If you'd like to detour to the waterfront and try your luck, there are a couple though they are often broken if not also turned off.

Swimming Eyeballs?I am not certain about this, but I would expect the toxic waste dump, er, Gravelly Point port-a-pots, to be locked due to the shutdown. Old Town has two sets of public restrooms that open at 9 a.m.: one is to the left of Blackwall Hitch when facing its entrance (turn left on Cameron in the 200 block of North Union) and one is on Pioneer Mill Way (turn left in the 300 block of South Union). The latter has a large Public Restrooms sign and is easier to find. There are also Anna's favorite park restrooms in the area underneath the bridge in Jones Point Park, slightly past the turnaround point.

Happy Running!

Nate