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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 |
| 5/31 | 15 | Long Bridge Park | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Eric Price |
| 6/7 | 13 | Iron Triangle | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Chris Walsh |
| 6/14 | 12 | Custis - W&OD | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 6/21 | 14 | Capital Crescent OaB | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Kate Scott Mid: Alan Dixon |
| 6/28 | 13 | Marymount Chain Bridge | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Kate Scott |
| 7/5 | 14 | MBT - Catholic | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 7/12 | 12 | RFK | Cue Sheet & GPS | Mid: Ben Richter |
| 7/19 | 14 | Ross Drive | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Kate Scott |
| 7/26 | 14 | Capital Crescent OaB | Cue Sheet & GPS | Post: Kate Scott |
SLR: 12 Miles Pentagon Army Navy
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Snow? Nothing? Wintery Mix? Who knows what's going to happen on Sunday so it's a good week to knock your long run out on Saturday (but isn't every week)! Doesn't look like we'll get much of anything in the realm of preciptiation this afternoon, but on the off chance we do please be safe in coming to SLR tomorrow morning! Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we'll be doing the classic Pentagon Army Navy route (strava, gps, pdf), which will take us around National Landing (which is really just Pentagon City/Crystal City) via Army Navy Drive before coming back along the Four Mile Run and Mount Vernon Trails. 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 a little 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! There are also metro stations in Pentagon City and Crystal City that can get you back easily, consider the turn into Crystal City off of the Mount Vernon Trail as your point of no return (as in you're committed to running at least 4 more miles back to the park).
Need a Longer Route? An out and back on the Mount Vernon or Four Mile Run trails can get you some more mileage without too much mental energy. Otherwise heading into the city over any of the bridges can add about 1-2 miles (depending on which bridges) and save you from what will likely be a headwind on the Mount Vernon Trail.
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, but I doubt either will be turned on tomorrow morning. Bring water and remember that Saratoga Springs, New York (which is much much colder than Northern Virginia) has working water fountains all year in their parks.
Need a Bathroom? There are portopotties at Gravelly Point at Mile 8 if you really need them in addition to the ones at Roosevelt Island at Mile 11. Both of these are of questionable cleanliness, but better than the alternative.
The next club race is Sunday for the Al Lewis 10 Miler (and 5 Miler for no Snowball Series credit) at Hains Point! Our famous Hains Point socks will be up for grabs once again this year. Come out and race or volunteer if you're available!!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: 14 Miles Capital Crescent OAB
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Looks like we'll avoid the cold for tomorrow in exchange for some rain (you can't get everything you want). We've reached the last SLR of 2024, come out and round off your yearly mileage with the group! Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we'll be doing a classic out and back on the Capital Crescent Trail (strava , gps, pdf), which if you read the cue sheets closely you'll notice has been part of our repertoire since back when the Capital Crescent wasn't even fully paved. If you've been paying attention to the route choices here at SLR HQ, I'm not really a big out-and-back person, but this is always my exception (because it's all uphill on the way out and mentally that makes this a loop). The recommended mileage for the week is 14, which puts our turnaround at the bridge at River Road or really just when your watch says 7 miles (whichever comes first).
Want Something Shorter? Out and backs are perfect for that! The half mile marks on the trail roughly correspond to mile marks, so for 12 miles turn at 5.5MM, 10 turn at 6.5 MM, and so on.
Need a Longer Route? Take these old train tracks up to Bethesda for any number of extra miles. Like shortening the route, for longer just go a mile marker further for every two miles you'd like to add (so 2.5MM for 18 and so on). The Big Loop is also a great option if you're looking for something over 20 and are also not a huge fan of Out and Backs!
Thirsty? There is a water fountain at Fletcher's Boathouse at mile 3.5 and another couple along the CCT depending on how far you go out, my favorite is the one right before (on the way out) the big railroad tunnel, which is a great point to regroup after the worst of the hill.
Need a Bathroom? Fletcher's is your best bet for bathrooms around mile 3.5. Otherwise there are some gas stations just off the CCT that may work out, but not a lot of other public options.
The next club race is the Predicitons and Resolutions 5K at noon! We need some more volunteers, so if your New Years resolution doesn't involve a 5K, make it involve volunteering more with the club!Â
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: 14.5 Miles Holiday Card Lane
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
It's snowing as I'm writing this, but the flurries should end soon and we're looking at a frigid day tomorrow morning (insert groans from the midwest folks saying "winter? this is summer weather!"). Regardless, bundle up and come out for a trip down Holiday Card Lane before setting off to your holiday festivities. Now let's get into it:
The Route: A new addition to our repertoire last year that no one has complained too much about yet is Holiday Card Lane (strava, gps, pdf). Which takes us down to Del Rey's famous Holiday Card Lane, a neighborhood tradition where people paint giant holiday cards and put them in their front lawns along East Luray and East Alexandria. We’ll head down to Del Rey via Commonwealth Ave. (which may look familiar if you’ve run the Turkey Trot) and then back up to North Meade Park via the Mount Vernon Trail. Head's up, this route is honestly pretty smack in the middle of 14 and 15 miles (14.6 if you follow the strava route exactly), so if you're an even-mileage fiend be prepared for either a little walk back or a couple loops around Iwo Jima.
Want Something Shorter? To see the cards, but avoid all the miles you can hop over to Potomac Ave Metro for about 9.5-10 miles. Note there are some metro closures and construction this weekend, but if you're getting off at Rosslyn you shouldn't be impacted (however if you're going into DC or further into VA, be prepared for some delays. Crystal City (11 miles) is another great option for the metro as well. Otherwise for a 12 miler, follow Pentagon Army Navy like normal (and miss the cards), or switch to a shorter out and back for even less mileage.
Need a Longer Route? Continuing down Commonwealth will take you into Alexandria, where you can hop back on the Mount Vernon trail to add on some mileage without doing an out and back. Otherwise add on along the Four Mile Run or the Mount Vernon trail for any number of extra miles!
Thirsty? It's winter, which means (according to most park service members) nobody actually needs easy access to water. According to me (and the entire scientific community) hydration is important all year, especially on long runs! Bring some water (and hope it doesn't freeze)! In a pinch I believe the fountains at Highlands Park in Crystal City are turned on all year, but that's not a gamble I'd take.
Need a Bathroom? The bathrooms at Gravelly Point aren’t the best option, but are always an option in a pinch. Otherwise Virginia Highlands Park also has bathrooms that should be open. There are a host of restaurants and rec centers in Del Rey that also may take pity on you.
The next club race is the Predicitons and Resolutions 5K at noon! Start your year off right with a race on Custis, so that every 5K for the rest of the year you can say "at least I didn't have to run on Custis" (Editor's Note: Anna has the majority of local legends on the Custis Trail and runs on it multiple times a week). Better yet, volunteer to help out! Happy Holidays and I hope everyone has a wonderful SLR wherever they are!
Happy Running!
Anna
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Upcoming Events
| Bastille Day 5K Mon, Jul 14th, 2025, @6:00pm |
| Meet of Miles/Family Night at the Track Sun, Aug 3rd, 2025, @4:30pm |
| Bluemont 5K Wed, Aug 13th, 2025, @6:00pm |
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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. |