Welcome! This is the home of the world-famous (well, maybe locally well-known) SLR.
Our start time is at 8:00 AM until next 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.
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Schedule:
| Date | Miles | Route Map | Navigation Downloads | Post/Mid-Run Beverages |
| 4/5 | 14 | Marymount Chain Bridge | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 4/12 | 12 | Pentagon Army Navy | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 4/19 | 13 | Cathedral Clintons | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 4/26 | 18 | National Arboretum | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/3 | 12 | Potomac Overlook Loops | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/10 | 13 | Southeast DC | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/17 | 16 | Around the World in Fourteen Miles | Cue Sheet & GPS | 62 Embassies! New Route! |
| 5/24 | 14 | Ross Drive | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/31 | 15 | Long Bridge Park | Cue Sheet & GPS |
SLR - 12 Miles - Pentagon Army-Navy
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
We've officially entered the dog days of summer and tomorrow should be another warm one! Training in these conditions sucks, but there's no greater feeling than crushing a run on the first 50 degree day of the fall after working hard all summer. Remember to bring water, be okay with slowing down a little, and that nutrition is twice as important in the summer as it is any other time of year. Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we'll be doing the classic Pentagon Army Navy route (strava, pdf, gpx), which will take us around National Landing (does anyone actually call it that?) via Army Navy Drive before coming back along the Four Mile Run and Mount Vernon Trails. On our way by the Pentagon we'll also pass by LBJ Memorial Grove, where LBJ used to go to escape the city (and also an excellent view of the National Mall). Also don't forget to cross at South Meade Street when crossing Glebe Road, that's a bit of a tricky intersection and safety is always the priority!
Want Something Shorter? For al ittle over 11 come back through the cemetery instead of going all the way up to Rosslyn (this also saves you from my least favorite hill by Roosevelt Island). If you want an even shorter run, come up South Eads Street off of the Four Mile Run and take the 27 Trail back for around 10.5 miles!
Need a Longer Route? To add another mile, take a trek over any of the bridges into DC and come back along one of the further ones. Adding an extra out and back on the Mount Vernnon Trail towards Alexandria can also get you any number of extra miles. In the summer, however, I usually recommend people do an earlier add-on for routes instead of during the run, just because the sun does get stronger throughout the day and the temperatures will creep up on you.
Thirsty? There's a water fountain along the Mount Vernon Trail just past the metro bridge right before mile 7 and one up near Roosevelt Island at mile 11. We've also got both mid and post run drinks this week! Thank you to Russ (and Baby Theo) for mid run drinks, they'll be at the intersection of South Eads Street and the Four Mile Run trail at exactly 6 miles. Gina is also providing post-run drinks once again! We don't have any volunteers for future weeks, so please sign up (send me an email)!
Need a Bathroom? There are portopotties at Gravelly Point at Mile 8 (maybe even some nicer ones left over from the fireworks). There's also some portopotties at Roosevelt Island at Mile 11.
Bonjour! La prochaine course du club est le Jour de La Bastille Quatre Miler le 14 julliet! If you haven't been taking French on Duolingo, that means the next club race is the Bastille Day Four Miler on July 14th! This is a fun race every year with French wine, croissants, and the canal! If you can't race, volunteer here. The red singlets are also still available for a little while longer, make sure to grab yours before they're gone!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: Chain Bridge Loop 10 Miles
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
It seems like this will be an ongoing trend for the summer, but the air quality issues are back once again. It would appear the fates have spared us again and SLR should have decent air quality (putting on my amateur meterologist hat, I'd approximate anywhere from 80-110 which is rounghly "safe to run outside, but take it easy" range in my book). As always be safe, missing a long run isn't worth major health impacts. Otherwise be prepared for a warm one, this is a shorter route but temperatures are still estimated to climb from around 70 to 75 from 7 to 9 AM. There are a couple very nice and dependable water fountains, but as always bring extra if you need it. Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we're doing my all time favorite loop, the Chain Bridge Loop (strava, pdf, gpx), or as Jack and I nicknamed it, "The Hilly Loop". We'll start by going up the Rosslyn Hill and then following Military Road up four very nice climbs (that's only five hills total! You can do five hills!) before a nice run back down the C&O Canal. Need something to look forward to on the hills? There's a church on top of the second one on Military with a bunch of cell towers on top and a cute little rainbow drawing on the sidewalk on top of the third one!
Want Something Shorter? This route doesn't have a lot of great ways to shorten it, but an out and back on Military Road is never a bad run.
Need a Longer Route? This route is easily extended by going over any of the other bridges to return back to the park at North Meade Street. Taking Memorial Bridge back and going straight to the park will make it 12 miles and taking memorial bridge and going up through Rosslyn will be 13. The 14th Street Bridge makes for a convenient 14 miler if you come back up by the cemetery and 15 miles if you go through Rosslyn. For any more than that, throw in a loop of Hains for 18+.
Thirsty? The water fountain at mile 3.5 at Zachary Taylor Park has been a lifesaver on many, many summer runs. Additional water can be found at Fletcher's Cove Boathouse, just take a right off the canal and head down the steps and it's on the left. Hungry? It's finally wineberry season on the C&O Canal! These are delicious and make for a great summer snack (just be mindful of poison ivy if you go foraging for any). Thank you to Gina for pre and post run drinks this week! As an added incentive, we're offering a special opportunity! If you volunteer for post run or mid run drinks at least once between now and September 16th, you will be eligible for a chance to win free entry into the National Capital 20 Miler and 5 Miler race taking place on September 24th. Even if you are unable to participate this year, this free entry can be used for the 2024 race! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to contribute and potentially earn a compilementary race entry!
Need a Bathroom? There's a portopotty around mile 4.3 at the Nature Center and working bathrooms (with indoor plumbing!) at Fletcher's Cove! I've also had a lot of luck with construction sites in front yards, so keep an eye out.
The DC Road Runner Red Singlets are still available for purchase until 7/16, guaranteed to make you faster and more fashionable for your fall races! The next club race is the Age Handicapped Four Miler on the fourth of July! Come for the chance to break the tape in this age-graded event, stay for the unique and zany prizes that people provide every year. If you can't run this year, please consider volunteering!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: **New Route** Battery Garesché 14 Miles
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
I'm still soaking in the heat and humidity of the Twin Cities (and seeing Taylor Swift tonight), so Nate Rathjen will be taking over this week for what looks to be a steamy long run. As the weather continues to warm up, I implore you to volunteer for mid-run or post run drinks. I try to make sure the routes we do have some sort of water options along the way, but having dependable drinks is key to a good long run. As a reminder, for Bunion Derby volunteer credit you need to volunteer for either two weeks of post run or one week of mid-run drinks. Thanks to Miguel Cuya for volunteering this week for post run drinks! Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week's brand new route is a Nate Rathjen original, taking you near his neighborhood in Alexandria and by Battery Garesché, an old Civil War artillary battery named for Lieutenant Colonel Julius Peter Garesche. Battery Garesché (strava, pdf, gpx) runs down Army Navy Drive to the 4 Mile run before a little lolipop in Fairlington and back up to North Meade Park.
Want Something Shorter? For an 11 or 12 mile option, the Pentagon Army Navy route is a good way to cut off a few miles while still running on Army Navy Drive. There are also metro stations at Potomac Yard, Crystal City, and Pentagon City that can make for shorter routes as well. For less than 10, I'd recommend an out and back on Army Navy down to the 4 Mile Run.
Need a Longer Route? To add two miles, take the 4 Mile Run to the Mount Vernon Trail and follow it back to the Memorial Bridge for about 16 miles. If you want even more, coming through Rosslyn instead of the Memorial Bridge will give you around 17 miles total!
Thirsty? Water fountains are limited on this route, but there is possibly one in Utah Park and by the Fairlington community center around 7.7 miles. Thanks again to Miguel C. for post run drinks!
Need a Bathroom? Bathrooms are also a bit limited on this route, but keep an eye out throughout the neighborhood, there's generally a portopotty in someone's yard. The Target at the corner of Army Navy Drive also has public restrooms and the Fairlington Community Center would likely let you use theirs in a pinch.
Want a new Singlet? Back by popular demand, the DC Road Runners Red Singlets are back on sale now! These are completely optional, but guaranteed to make you faster and more stylish than ever before. They'll ship in August, just in time for fall races! Act fast, they'll only be avaialable til 7/16, reach out to steve@dcroadrunners.org with any questions!
The next club race is the Age Handicapped Four Miler on July 4th! This is one of the most unique and fun races in our roster with over 20 separate start times as older runners start first, younger runners start last, and the first one to the line wins! Runners are also highly encouraged to donate unique items to the prize pool, past years have included 1970s baseball cards, a Simpsons Dart Board, and a New Guinean sheath. This event wouldn't be possible without our volunteers, consider helping out if you aren't planning on racing.
Happy Running!
Anna
More Articles...
- SLR - 14 Miles - Cleveland Park Cathedral Clintons
- SLR - 10 Miles - Cemetery Loop **New Route**
- SLR - 15 Miles - Battery Kemble Park
- SLR - 12 Miles - Cathedral Clintons (Alt Route)
- SLR - 15 Miles - Iron Triangle
- SLR - 14 Miles - Catholic MBT
- SLR New Start Time 7 AM
- SLR - 12 Miles - Pentagon Army-Navy