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Welcome! This is the home of the world-famous (well, maybe locally well-known) SLR.
Our start time is at 7:00 AM for the remainder of the summer! 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 |
| 8/2 | 12 | Water Route | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 8/9 | 15 | Battery Kemble | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Anne C. |
| 8/16 | 16 | Mock MCM | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Anne C. |
| 8/23 | 17 | The Awakening | Cue Sheet & GPS | Mid: Ruby Len |
| 8/30 | 18 | Rock Creek MBT | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 9/6 | 16 | Arlington Triangle | Cue Sheet & GPS | Mid and Post: Brian & Rae |
| 9/13 | 19 | Anacostia Riverwalk | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 9/20 | 20 | Ross Drive: Extended Edition | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 9/27 | 21 | The Big Loop | Cue Sheet & GPS |
SLR: **METRO ROUTE** 17 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 some spares with $2.50 loaded on them (the max weekend fare) 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. We're looking at some absolutely fabulous weather this weekend as part of our false fall! Though we have a mid-run drink stop 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 because 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? 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 your day! Although you'll miss out on the adventure to Maryland, the Mount Vernon trail is the happiest place on earth on a cool summer morning.
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 there to be plopped in front of the metro station.
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 there are plenty of earlier metro stations to peel off at if you want to save your legs for the Club Picnic later that afternoon.
Thirsty? Thank you so much to Ruby Len, who will be by the Wilson Bridge with mid-run drinks this week! 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).
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 Club Picnic and Cross Country Three Miler tomorrow evening! Take your new metro card from SLR and use it to ride out to Vienna and do a quick warmup jog to Nottoway Park for the festivities. This is one of the biggest club events of the year and we can't do it without a lot of volunteers!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: 16 Miles Mock MCM
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Summer has come back to us and it's going to be a bad one out there tomorrow morning. Bring water, take advantage of the fountains along the Mall, and take care of eachother! Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we'll be doing a DCRR-once-a-year classic: Mock MCM (strava, pdf, gps). This is the perfect opportunity to test out your fitness on 16/26ths of the Marine Corps Marathon course while getting a nice tour of DC. We'll head in through Georgetown, down Rock Creek to Hains Point and make a loop, back over to Lincoln via the Tidal Basin, then around the Mall and Washington Monument before returning over the 14th Street Bridge. For those following along at home that means we'll miss the dreaded Rosslyn hill, an out and back in Rock Creek Park, and some twists and turns in Crystal City from the true course.
Want Something Shorter? Luckily, the MCM organizers have made a lot of great opportunities to cut serious mileage off this route (just don't try it on race day). Cutting off Hains Point will save you over 3 miles for around 12.5, Skipping the out and back to the Capitol will also give you around 2.5 less miles, and cutting off that (in my opinion, rather annoying) out and back to Lincoln will cut off a little less than 2! Luckily any twists and turns you're confused by today will be well marked come race day, so don't worry too much if you find yourself taking a slightly different path than the cue sheet says.
Need a Longer Route? Hains Point gives a lovely option for adding on mileage in multiples of 3! Running south along the Mount Vernon trail after crossing the 14th street bridge is another excellent way to get a few more miles and a bit of a taste of the latter stages of the marathon.
Thirsty? The water fountains along the Mall are flowing properly this year and give plenty of options for stops along the way. Thanks to Anne Coia once again for post-run drinks!
Need a Bathroom? There are a few decent options to choose from! There are some great ones outside the Lincoln Memorial which we'll pass a few times throughout the morning. Additional bathrooms can be found at the Washington Monment when we pass it around miles 9.5 and 12, though these ones aren't nearly as nice. Hains Point also generally has some options, but which ones are unlocked depends on the day (though I generally have luck with the ones by the picnic area and playground at the end of the point).
Thanks to everyone who came out and ran or volunteered at Bluemont on Wednesday! The next club race is the annual 3 Mile "Cross Country" Race and Club Picnic next Saturday, August 23, at Nottoway Park out in Vienna. Please register ahead of time so we can get an accurate count on food! Calling this cross country would make some coaches roll over in their graves, but we're Road Runners after all!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: 15 Miles Battery Kemble Park
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
We've got a perfect August morning in DC in store for tomorrow morning, complete with low-60s and a gorgeous route up the Capital Crescent Trail. That doesn't, however, mean summer is over! Practice hydrating and fueling when it's comfortable out, so that when it's hot again you'll be nice and prepared. Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we'll be treated to some trails and hills as we head up to Battery Kemble Park (strava, gps, pdf). To get there, we'll cross the Key Bridge and head up the Capital Crescent Trail and over to Potomac Ave past the Washington Aqueduct and up the very steep Chain Bridge Road Hill into the park. Historically, there have been some issues with off-leash dogs along the trail here, so please be careful and watch out for dogs that are "so friendly" and "just want to play". Note the cue sheet for this route says 16 miles, which assumes two loops of the park. We're calling it 15 here at SLR HQ for only one loop (because let's be honest, after one time up the Chain Bridge Road Hill you probably won't want another). This is also a great route for everyone who wants to "just do an out and back on the CCT" every week. Just stay straight instead of turning up the trail and take this old railroad line all the way to Bethesda!
Want Something Shorter? This is one of my favorite routes because there are so many ways to change the distance for it and still get to run in some really neat places! For about 14 miles, instead of taking the small out and back to the water fountain on the CCT, go straight up to the park and back. For even less (around 12.5 miles), take a left on Potomac Ave instead of a right when coming back down from Battery Kemble. There is a small trail at the end of the street (which I refer to as "Mark B's Trail", because he's the one who first introduced me to it). This takes you down to the bridge on the CCT and is a great way to get all the sights of the route without as much of the mileage. If 12.5 is still to much, take a left on McArthur Boulevard instead of a right and run straight down MacArthur back to the Key Bridge and cross for 11 miles. Both the 12.5 and 11 mile options skip the out and back on the CCT like the 14 mile option.
Need a Longer Route? We need more loops, Batman! Each additional loop of Battery Kemble Park will add an extra 1.3 miles to your run (and about 175 feet of climbing). If you want something flatter, an out and back on either the canal or the CCT is a great bet (though calling the CCT up in Maryland flat is a bit of a hard sell).
Thirsty? Thanks to Anne Coia for post-run drinks this week! We've got plenty of slots open the rest of the summer! There are water fountains at mile 3.3 and 12.4 at Fletcher's Cove Boathouse near the snack shack. There is also a water fountain at the turnaround on the CCT at miles 5 and 10.7.
Need a Bathroom? The bathrooms at Fletcher's Cove at miles 3.3 and 12.4 are your best options along this route. There have also historically been some along Potomac Ave with random home improvement projects, but those aren't a guarantee.
Allllllllll Aboard! The next club race pulls into the station at Bluemont Park for the Bluemont 5K this Wednesday Augsut 13th at 7 PM, now with more trains than ever! I'm race directing this one, so this is my personal plea to come out and race (and maybe win a model train), or better yet volunteer!
Happy Running!
Anna
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Upcoming Events
| DCRRC 3+mile Cross Country Race, Kids' Races and Club Picnic Sat, Aug 23rd, 2025, @4:30pm |
| Bastille Day 5K Sun, Aug 31st, 2025, @7:30am |
| DCRRC Steve Thompson 8K Sun, Sep 14th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Book Club Sun, Sep 28th, 2025, @4:00pm |
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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. |