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SLR: 18 Miles Rock Creek MBT

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Summer's over(???) according to Capital Weather Gang so welcome to fall, I guess! We've got a great route and some excellent weather on deck for tomorrow morning. Now let's get into it:

The Route: I know I say very often that the route we're doing is my favorite (getting people excited to run is part of the gig), but if you really made me choose Rock Creek MBT (strava, gps, pdf) takes the cake ("Wow Anna of course it's your favorite it's 18 miles"). We'll head up Rock Creek Park to Beach Drive then turn right onto Blagden Ave up a nice long hill before making our way to Gallatin Street. We'll cross the city via Gallatin (be mindful that although Gallatin is a relatively low-trafficked road we will cross some major throughways like Georgia Ave and New Hampshire Ave) then head down the Metropolitan Branch Trail to the Capitol. From here we'll complete our perfect loop of DC by running across the Mall to the Memorial Bridge and back to the park via the cemetery.

Want Something Shorter? Another favorite route of mine (and seemingly everyone else as well) is Ross Drive, which will allow you to stay with the group for the first sixish miles before continuing up Beach Drive and coming back down Ross Drive and Ridge Road for a 15 mile lollipop loop.There are also a plethora of metro stops down the MBT and along the Mall that makes bailing after 9 miles easy (just make sure to bring a shirt and a metro card)!

Need a Longer Route? If 18 isn't enough for you, returning across the 14th Street Bridge and coming up the Mount Vernon Trail to Rosslyn will add another two miles for an even 20. For even more, a loop around Hains is never too far away from the Mall if that's your vibe.

Thirsty? The Peirce Mill fountains are generally a safe bet. Pro tip: there's a nicer fountain up near the bathrooms instead of the low-flow one right next to the trail. There are plenty of coolers and fountains along the MBT as well as the Mall. We've also got mid-run and post-run drinks from Julia Tier! She'll have drinks up at the corner of the MBT and Gallatin.

Need a Bathroom? Peirce Mill around mile 5 and Union Station around mile 14 are my two go-tos along this route. There are also usually some portopotties outside of the Dew Drop Inn, which can be a gamechanger in a pinch! The Metropolitan Branch Trail has a few bathrooms along the way that are questionably available in the morning hours, but worth a shot.

The next club race is the somewhat inappropriately named and absolutely rescheduled from earlier this summer Bastille Day 5K this Sunday August 31st at 7:30 AM at Belle Haven Park. Nate could still use some volunteers if anyone is available!

Happy Running!

Anna

SLR: **METRO ROUTE** 17 Miles The Awakening

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

For those of you who only read the first sentence of this e-mail: This week's route is point to point and will require a metro card! I've got some spares with $2.50 loaded on them (the max weekend fare) so if you don't have a metro card, no need to run out and buy one tonight. I'll have them before the start and will drop a few off at mid-run drinks in case anyone decides to switch plans last minute. We're looking at some absolutely fabulous weather this weekend as part of our false fall! Though we have a mid-run drink stop on this route, please bring hydration! Now let's get into it:

The Route: Ever driven across that massive bridge between National Harbor and Alexandria and wished you could run over it instead because 495 traffic is so gosh darn slow? Miss when The Awakening used to be at the end of Hains Point so at least there was something interesting out there? Well this is the week for you with The Awakening (strava, gps, pdf) We'll travel down the Mount Vernon Trail to Alexandria and across the Wilson Bridge to National Harbor. After giving The Awakening the biggest high five, we'll head back across and to the Braddock Road Metro station to take the Blue Line back to the Rosslyn station.

Don't Have the Time for the Metro Tomorrow? An out and back on the Mount Vernon Trail is also a lovely way to start your day! Although you'll miss out on the adventure to Maryland, the Mount Vernon trail is the happiest place on earth on a cool summer morning.

Want a Longer Route? It's a perfect 24 mile out and back if you don't take the metro for anyone who needs some peak week marathon mileage! Otherwise, continuing along the Blue Line towards Rosslyn will allow you to get in some extra miles and cut down the commute. For about 18 miles, continue up Washington until it becomes Abington Street and take Slater's Lane to the Potomac Yard trail and metro stop (the newest in the DC area)! Crystal City is also a great option for anyone looking to go around 20 miles, just follow the Mount Vernon Trail up to the Crystal City connector and get off there to be plopped in front of the metro station.

Need Something Shorter? There isn't a great way to get less mileage on this route and still go into National Harbor, but turning around partially across the bridge or after getting into Maryland will allow you to cut off between 1-2 miles. Otherwise there are plenty of earlier metro stations to peel off at if you want to save your legs for the Club Picnic later that afternoon.

Thirsty? Thank you so much to Ruby Len, who will be by the Wilson Bridge with mid-run drinks this week! There's a few additional water fountains on the route, most notably along the Mount Vernon Trail near the airport, under the Wilson Bridge, and (possibly) just across the Wilson Bridge (though 50/50 that it's on).

Need a Bathroom? There are a few excellent options (and some that are, well, less excellent). Starting off with my favorite public bathrooms in the greater DC Area (and yes, this is saying a lot): there are some incredible restrooms located under the Wilson Bridge that have always been reliably clean and open. Gravelly Point also has some portopotties and there are usually additional ones across the Wilson Bridge (but seriously, use the ones under the bridge, or just go check them out and have a glimmer of hope for what public restrooms could look like).

The next club race is the Club Picnic and Cross Country Three Miler tomorrow evening! Take your new metro card from SLR and use it to ride out to Vienna and do a quick warmup jog to Nottoway Park for the festivities. This is one of the biggest club events of the year and we can't do it without a lot of volunteers!

Happy Running!

Anna