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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.
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 |
| 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 Cathedral Clintons
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
The Heat Dome(TM) is upon us and it's going to be a sticky one out there for the next few weeks. Thus I begin my yearly pleading to please please please stay safe and hydrated out there on this and all of your runs. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are dangerous and staying hydrated and knowing when to stop are imperative to avoiding them. Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we'll be heading up Rock Creek Park and up (and up and up) Calvert and Cleveland to Cathedral Clintons(strava, gps, pdf). After trudging uphill for seemingly the entire run, we'll be treated to the best downhill in DC (as voted by me, this morning while writing this) along Massachusetts Avenue along Embassy Row and past the White House back to the park.
Want Something Shorter? Take a right on 22nd Street and then another right on M Street to cut this down from a 12 miler to a 10 miler and skip a bit of the stop-and-go of running through the city. Otherwise a shorter out and back in Rock Creek Park is the way to go!
Need a Longer Route? Heading down the Mall towards Capitol Hill will get you some sun this weekend, but will also get you a few more miles and a few water fountains along the way. Running along the Mount Vernon Trail to get back to the park instead of the Cemetery will also tack on an extra mile.
Thirsty? Water is few and far between on this route (other than once we get to the Mall, but those are late in the game), so be sure to bring your own. We've had some reshuffling of post-run drinks and no longer have any planned for this week, if you've got any lying around and put them out tomorrow I'll be sure to get you some credit towards volunteering!
Need a Bathroom? Those are also limited. There are usually some portopotties in people's yards for construction along Cleveland. There are also the reliable-yet-disgusting bathrooms at the Washington Monument, which are great options in a pinch! The Lincoln Memorial's construction project may be a bit of an eye sore, but it does come with nice standalone bathrooms across the street towards Ohio Drive which are wonderful!
We'll miss you Jill! The rumors are unfortunately true and former board member, Marathon Training Program lead, and SLR stalwart Coach Jill Brasky is moving to Ohio in July! Jill has long been one of the people I (and many others) have looked up to most in the club, she always knows what to say after a good or bad race, has provided guidance and mentorship to countless first-time (and many-time) marathoners, and will attack any challenge (or metal pole) in her path. Come say goodbye after SLR on Saturday (coffee, tea, bagels, and baked goods included). Feel free to bring anything else, we'll be in the party room where there is plenty of space to bring kids and other family/friends. The building gym locker rooms will also be available to freshen up if you need to! The party will be held at the Williamsburg Condominium (1276 N Wayne St. Arlington)from 9-12 on Saturday June 15th, enter #522 in the lobby to be buzzed in, the party room is just to the right. Thanks to Deb, Lisa, Anne, and Eunja for organizing!
The next club race is the Hugh Jascourt 4-Miler on Friday June 21st. We need plenty of volunteers to keep this event running (and if it's anything like the past editions, we'll have birthday cake for the club's birthday!). The Book Club also meets this Sunday from 4-5 to discuss Running with the Buffalos, contact Eunja for more information!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: Metro Route!! Vienna Metro 13 Miles
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Doors opening! This is an Orange Line train to Vienna! That’s right, this week’s SLR is a metro route! I’ll have some cards loaded up with a couple dollars before the start if you forget, but remember your metro cards and a shirt for the train ride back!! After a very soupy week it seems like we’ll get a bit of a reprieve tomorrow morning, but hydration and fueling are important regardless! Now let’s get into it:
The Route: We’re making a trek out west this week during Vienna Metro (strava, gps, pdf). This is a pretty simple route with some nice views we don’t get too often as we head further west on the W&OD all the way to the end of the Orange Line!
Want something shorter? There are plenty of other metro stops along the way, including East Falls Church (6), West Falls Church (9), and Dunn Loring (10). An out and back is also of course an option if you don’t want to take the train back!
Need a Longer Route? There are also some Silver Line Stations that can extend this route to Reston and beyond! Weihle Reston East will get you roughly 19 miles and Reston Town Center close to 20!
Thirsty? Thanks to Carolyn for post run drinks! Zach will be doing mid-run drinks around East Falls Church with popsicles included! There are also water fountains every few miles along the W&OD and very good signage pointing towards them when they’re a little off the trail.
Need a Bathroom? There are also a great amount of them along the trail if you keep an eye out. Pro tip: every metro station has a restroom, just ask the station manager to unlock it.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the next club race is this Sunday at Bon Air Park for the Women’s Distance Festival and Run After the Women 5K! Thank you to everyone who volunteered, we’re set for this weekend but still need plenty for our other Bunion Derby races!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: 15 Miles Battery Kemble Park
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Welcome to June! In case you missed it last week, SLR now (and throughout the summer) begins at 7 AM to beat the heat! We shouldn't have too much of a problem with that this week, as we're getting some great fall weather over the past couple of days that should continue til tomorrow. Get ready for some nice shaded trails! Now let's get into it:
The Route: Keeping with our Battery theme from last week, 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!
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? 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. Thanks to Carolyn Yang for post run drinks this week and for everyone who volunteered last week after my mild pleading! The next open slot for post-run drinks is the last week of July, but we've got plenty of openings for mid-run drinks over the next few months (remember how great they were last week? don't you want that every week?!).
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.
Missed the signup for the Tracksmith 5K? Well you're in luck! For less than a third of the cost (if you're not a DCRR member, if you are then for 35 bucks less) and less than a third of the chance of a thunderstorm, check out the Women's Distance Festival and Run After the Women 5K next weekend on Sunday June 9th at Bon Air Park! We need plenty of volunteers for this and all our Bunion Derby races, so sign up today!
Happy Running!
Anna
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Upcoming Events
| Kenmore PTSA 5K Sat, May 10th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Hero Dogs 5K9 Sat, May 17th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Jamestown 5K Sat, May 17th, 2025, @9:00am |
| DCRRC One Hour Track Run Wed, May 21st, 2025, @6:45pm |
| Women's Distance Festival and Run After The Women Sun, Jun 8th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Rock Creek 5K Sun, Jun 22nd, 2025, @8:00am |
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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. |