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SLR - 10 Miles - Cemetery Loop **New Route**

Hello Saturday Long Runners!!

I hope everyone had a great week despite the hazerdous AQI levels we've been seeing the past few days. I'll be continuing to monitor the AQI throughout the day today and will send an update tonight or early tomorrow morning if anything changes. For now, however, SLR is on but please please please be careful out there and make the call that is right for you. Missing a run here and there is not the end of the world, but the negative health impacts from running in dangerous air qualities can be a major issue. Play it safe tomorrow and if you stop if you have any difficulty breathing or other symptoms. With that being said, let's get into it:

The Route: Have you ever been driving on the major streets of Arlington and looked to the side of the road to see a bike trail and thought "huh maybe I should run there sometime"? Well this route (which I shamelessly stole from Brian Danza's strava three years ago) will take you there! The Cemetery Loop (strava, pdf, gpx) circumnavigates Arlington National Cemetery, which is home to countless famous gravesites from presidents to supreme court justices to the inventor of baseball. We'll get a chance to run on the Mount Vernon, Arlington Boulevard, and Washington Boulevard trails, as well as by the Air Force Memorial. There is a significant amount of construction currently by the Air Force Memorial, but the route accounts for this and the sidewalks are mostly untouched. Use caution in that area and always yield to oncoming traffic.

Want Something Shorter? For about 7 miles, turn off the Mount Vernon Trail onto the 27 Trail and go directly to the Pentagon, then continue the route as normal for an abbreviated cemetery loop. If you want to avoid the hills, an out and back on the Mount Vernon trail is an easy way to get any number of miles in.

Need a Longer Route? The Mount Vernon Trail makes adding on additional miles easy, just add an extra out and back after getting to Crystal City. If you're feeling adventerous and need a lot more miles, taking a left instead of a right on the Arlington Boulevard trail will eventually lead you down to the W&OD near Bluemont park. This makes for a great loop returning on Custis for about 17 miles (and may make for a great actual SLR route one of these days).

Thirsty? There's a water fountain in Virginia Highlands Park on South Hayes Street in Crystal City that has saved me during many a run. Otherwise bring water, as the options on this route are minimal and that's the only sure one I know of. Thanks to Carolyn once again this week for post-run drinks! Shoot me an email if you want to volunteer!

Need a Bathroom? Virginia Highlands Park is also equipped with bathrooms near the drinking fountain! Additional ones can be found in the Target at the corner of Army Navy Drive in a pinch.

Want to Party? The Mattas are moving! Miguel Cuya and Abbey got engaged! Two good reasons for a long overdue get together. Stop by after SLR or whatever you're doing Saturday morning for a casual brunch hosted by Deborah Margraff. She'll have coffee, tea, and some baked goods, but feel free to bring anything else. It will be hosted in the Party Room at the Williamsburg Condo from 9AM to Noon after SLR (1276 Wayne St Arlington, Enter #522 in the lobby directory to be buzzed in). Family members and kids are welcome to attend. The building gym is also available for showers or to freshen up. If you have questions e-mail Deborah at deborah@dcroadrunners.org or text her at 703-628-8153.

The next club race is the Hugh Jascourt 4 Miler, named for club founder Hugh Jascourt (Washington Post Article on some of his many achievements in the running world from shortly after his death in 2005). It's a fun race every year and if you don't want to race it, please consider volunteering! The book club also meets on Sunday June 25th to discuss "For the Glory: The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire" by Duncan Hamilton, if you haven't started reading it now's your time!

Happy Running!

Anna

SLR - 15 Miles - Battery Kemble Park

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Happy June! As is tradition on the first weekend in June, the Armed Forces Cycling Classic is this Saturday morning from 7AM to 10AM, which means there are a couple of road closures to keep in mind if you're travelling from the southeast. Namely, route 110 will be closed between Crystal City and Wilson Boulevard, so plan accordingly to make it to the park at North Meade Street. The weather looks decent, with lows in the mid-60s and the smokey skies from the last few days should clear up. Now let's get into it:

The Route: This week we'll be running Battery Kemble Park (strava, milimeter, pdf, gps), a 15.7 mile route up the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT), then up one very steep hill, and through Battery Kemble, a historic Civil War defense of Washington. Battery Kemble park has had problems in the past with some off leash dogs, so be careful while on the trail in the park. Otherwise, the footing is good and there is less than a mile of actual trails if those make your ankles nervous!

Want Something Shorter? There are tons of ways to shorten this route to any number of distances while still getting to enjoy the park, canal, and CCT. 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. If you want event less, for around 12.5 miles take a left on Potomac Ave instead of a right when coming back from Battery Kemble. At the end of the street there is a small (and very steep) trail that will take you down to the bridge on the CCT (thanks Mark for showing me this trick!). 12.5 still too much? Instead of taking a right at the bottom of the park on McArthur Boulevard take a left and run straight down McArthur 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? For a longer route and more hills, do any number of loops of Battery Kemble park. Each loop will add on an extra 1.3 miles to your run and about 174 feet of climbing. If you want a slightly flatter addition, the CCT and canal run for miles and adding an extra out and back on either is a breeze.

Thirsty? There is a water fountain at mile 3.3 and 12.4 at Fletcher's Cove Boathouse. Go down the stairs towards the snack shack and the river and the fountain will be on your left. There is also a water fountain at the turnaround on the CCT at miles 5 and 10.7. Carolyn is also bringing post-run drinks this week (and for the next few)! Thanks Carolyn! We always need more volunteers in the summer, so shoot me an email if you're able to help out!

Need a Bathroom? The bathrooms at Fletchers Cove at mile 3.3 and 12.4 are not only open, but have also been recently updated (read: the men's bathroom works now)! Otherwise there is usually a portopotty in a yard or two up in the Palisades neighborhood.

SLR this week provides the perfect pre-race shakeout for the Women's Distance Festival 5K and Run After the Women! This is one of my favorite races of the year and a great way to kick off the Bunion Derby series. If you can't race, please consider volunteering. We are desperately in need of volunteers for this event to help it run smoothly. As an added bonus if you are going to the race, the Bon Air Park rose garden is in full bloom and provides the perfect warmup route! The book club is also meeting on June 25th to discuss "For the Glory: The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire".

Happy Running!

Anna