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SLR - 15 Miles National Arboretum

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

All those March showers seem to be paying off, as we're in for a treat tomorrow! Temperatures will be in the mid-50s and we'll get some sun towards the end of the run, so come prepared. Now let's get into it:

The Route: We're pulling an audible this week because peak bloom in the National Arboretum (strava, gps, pdf) came early this year! For those who haven't been, the National Arboretum (whose website is coincidentally down when I'm sending this out) has one of the best collections of azaleas in the area and it's worth a trip up there once a year! We'll head across the Mall and up via Maryland Avenue and Bladensburg Avenue to get to the Arboretum, where it's a big of a choose your own adventure once you're inside. Head right and follow signs for the azaleas (you should be able to see the color on the hillside) for the shortest route, which is around 15 miles.

Want Something Shorter? If 15 miles is too long for you this weekend because you just ran a marathon on Monday, there's a few options for a shorter route that will still get you some time in the gardens. For 10, hop on the metro at the Capitol South when you get back to the Capitol for a $2 train ride back to Rosslyn. If you'd like a little bit longer, the Smithsonian station is at 12!

Need a longer route? Get some great hill training in with more loops of the Arboretum. The route map we use is an 18 miler that inclues another few loops, but it's hard to get too lost and easy to find some cool plants. Head up to the Asian gardens, which should also be blooming at this time of the year or stop by the Capitol Columns! 

Thirsty? Some of the Mall water fountains are back on for the summer! There's also a water fountain immediately in the Arboretum inside the same building as the bathrooms (take a right when you enter)! We're getting to the season of drink volunteers, help out the club and knock out some volunteer credit!

Need a Bathroom? The Arboretum has a great one! The Washington Monument has a less-great one, but is an option. The bathrooms that are set up next to the Lincoln Memorial have also been a good option lately, and should stay around for quite some time during construction.

No major club events in the next month, but the Bunion Derby is quickly approaching and signups are open for many of the races!

Happy Running!

Anna

SLR: 14 Miles Long Bridge

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Anna is currently in Boston and going to crush it on Monday, so here's Nate Rathjen, your faithful ersatz SLR leader (if you don't know me, strava and instagram) writing to you this week -- it's been hot, but sounds like we'll get a nice breeze and cooler temperatures for Saturday morning, let's get at it!

The Route: Let's go trainspotting, it's Long Bridge Park (strava, gps, pdf) week! As your resident Del Ray-vian (is that the right demonym? I've decided it is!) I'm excited for SLR to finally come back to my neck of the woods. This is a nice, chill hot dog of a route where we start heading through the Pentagon and Crystal City, then through Potomac Yard and briefly into Old Town Alexandria before turning around up the familiar Mount Vernon Trail. You'll also pass the site of the very-ill-fated Glenn Dome, so feel free to stop and thank Senator Lucas (and laugh at our schlub of a governor) for saving us all from that nonsense!

Want Something Shorter? Bring your SmarTrip card (Randy would be proud of you!) and this is easy to turn into a point-to-point, as you'll pass Potomac Yard metro at 6-1/2 miles. Continue on the Potomac Yard Trail (the marked trail on the left side of Potomac Avenue) instead of turning on to route 1 and you will reach Braddock Road metro at 8 miles, or continue following the trail across Braddock to head for King Street at 8-2/3 miles. Or, you can use the Crystal City "escape hatch" back to the Mount Vernon Trail (at 18th and Crystal) to make it a 9-mile loop.

Need a Longer Route? Just as many opportunities -- turn right on the Mount Vernon Trail toward Old Town for an out-and-back for as long as you want, or detour over the 14th Street Bridge on your way back and catch what's left of the blossoms! For a longer loop (about 18 miles) in Alexandria, I would continue on the aforementioned Potomac Yard Trail to its end outside King Street metro, then left on Cameron Street and left on Union to connect back up with the Mount Vernon Trail.

Thirsty? There are a set of water fountains outside the entrance to the Long Bridge Park gym (about 4 miles). After that, not much...I have two IRL friends running for Alexandria council and I have expressed my displeasure at the fact that this city apparently doesn't believe in water fountains! One of the things Arlington does better. One of the few sets in the entire city happens to be at 7 miles on the left (northbound) side of Potomac Ave just before your turn onto Route 1 (after the large brick building that seems like it belongs on a farm), then there is one more at 10-3/4 miles after you turn onto the Mount Vernon Trail!

Need a Bathroom?The Long Bridge Park soccer fields have restrooms on the other side from the path...it seems Arlington has removed the hilariously large "Restrooms Here" signs, but they are in the low-set grey buildings you can see. After that, unfortunately the Potomac Yard Park port-a-pots have been removed, so all you've got are the Gravelly Point ones that are...there! In a pinch I'd detour into the world-famous (ok, regionally-famous) Potomac Yard shopping center, as Giant, Target and Dunkin' will definitely be open this early, as will the Crystal City Starbucks.

Happy running, and have a blast!

Nate