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SLR: 12 Miles Custis-W&OD

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Sorry about the last minute route change, after reviewing the Army's 250th Road Closure Route, I believe Custis-W&OD is (quite literally) our only option for tomorrow morning. I'll still be standing on the rock at 7 AM, but please note that traffic into and out of and all around DC this weekend will be a nightmare, so plan your long runs accordingly (if you're staying home tomorrow, enjoy the morning!). If you need route recommendations for where you're at, feel free to drop me an e-mail (though I'm sure you know your neighborhood better than I do). Now let's get into it:

The Route: We're heading out to Falls Church and back again for a classic Custis - W&OD (strava, gpx, pdf) run! We'll head down Lynn and up Custis (which thus far seems like it should be okay for closures, if not we'll go up Wilson and cut over to Custis in Courthouse). We'll hit the Custis hills before heading down the W&OD just into Falls Church before turning around and doing the whole thing over again.

Want Something Shorter or Longer? Well you're in luck, out and backs make that super easy. Just head out however long you'd like, make a U-Turn, and come straight back. For a little bit of novelty on the way back, make a bird loop out of Bluemont, which will get you roughly the same amount of miles, but will spare you from a pure out and back route.

Thirsty? This route is plentiful for water, including fountains along Custis, at the corner of Custis and the W&OD, and just past the five mile mark of the W&OD.

Need a Bathroom? Similarly, there are plenty along the way. The W&L ones at the track should be open for the summer in the morning, but those are the only ones I'd call a bit of a gamble tomorrow, otherwise the portopotty at the soccer fields just past mile 5 of the W&OD will definitely be there!

The next club Happy Hour is June 19th at 6 PM at Four Courts! We'll be handing out snowball series awards, come out and congratulate our winners! Back by popular demand: the New Balance store is once again open for business! Look fast all fall and contact Steve Klug with questions!

Happy Running!

Anna

SLR: 15 Miles Iron Triangle

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Sorry for the route change, it's due to a combination of WorldPride weekend + we just did Southeast DC May 9th (time flies!) + getting us a little more shade on one of the first warmer SLRs of the year. On that note it's going to be hot and muggy tomorrow (or potentially nice and rainy, who knows!). Bring water, take it easy on the hills, and enjoy the run! Now 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 a 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 (source: me, circa 2020 crying somewhere around the East Falls Church Metro 20 miles into a 15 miler) so make sure to review the cue sheets ahead of time!

Want Something Shorter? For a few less hills and a few less miles, the Chain Bridge Loop 10 miler is one of my all-time favorite loops. 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 $2.25 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! Running east on the W&OD can also lend itself to what I've dubbed the Iron Arlington Triangle if anyone needs 20 this weekend and wants a challenge!

Thirsty? We don't have any volunteers for post-run drinks this week and still have some gaps the rest of the summer! Help out if you can! 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 there are some others if you keep going down the W&OD after Custis for an extra mile and some indoor plumbing. The portopotty at the soccer fields near W&OD MM5 is also back 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!

The first Bunion Derby race of the year is this Sunday's Women's Distance Festival and Run After the Women 5K! Thanks to everyone who volunteered, we're good on this weekend's race but still need more throughout the rest of the summer. The next Happy Hour will be June 19th at Four Court's in Courthouse and we'll be presenting Snowball Series Prizes.

Happy Running!

Anna