Hello Saturday Long Runners!
I've checked the weather for tomorrow about 50 times in the last three days expecting it to change, but *furiously knocks on wood* it hasn't and it looks like we're actually going to get a break from the heat and humidity! 62 and 68% humidity? Sign me up! Even though the weather may be a bit cooler, hydration and fueling are essential (especially on the hills), so be sure to bring water and snacks! Now let's get into it:
The Route: What's that? You want more hills?? Well you're in luck because this week we're running none other than the Iron Triangle (strava, gps, pdf)! This route is an all-time SLR legend for its 1200ish feet of elevation gain over the course of 15 miles that will take us up Military Road, down to Falls Church, and then back to Rosslyn along the W&OD and Custis Trails. When we turn onto Old Glebe Road, we'll also pass Fort Ethan Allen Park, a Civil War-era earthwork fort built by the Union Army to defend the Chain Bridge!
Want Something Shorter? For a few less hills and a few less miles, the Chain Bridge Loop 10 miler is one of my all-time favorite loops (seriously, I run it pretty much once a week and it's lovely). It'll allow you to be with the group for almost five miles before heading back in a much flatter way than how you came out. There are also excellent metro stops at mile 9 (East Falls Church) and 12 (Ballston-MU) where for a mere $2 you can be back to Rosslyn in a jiffy!
Need a Longer Route? The W&OD is a fabulous trail to add anywhere from 1 to 80 miles to your weekend long run! The recent construction in the Falls Church area of the trail was completed a few months ago and the expansion looks great! Running east on the W&OD can also lend itself to what I've dubbed the Iron Arlington Triangle if anyone needs 20 this weekend and wants a challenge!
Thirsty? We not only have post run drinks this week given by the excellent Jon Zeidler, but also mid-run drinks from "Bonnie's Boyfriend" himself John Peruski! He'll at mile 9 around 18th street and Tuckahoe where we get on the W&OD to make sure no one cuts the course and turns off early! Other water fountains can be found at mile 3.5 in Zachary Taylor Park just off Military, at Fort Ethan Allen Park around mile 5, the Custis and W&OD interchange at mile 10, and along Custis at mile 12.
Need A Bathroom? Ethan Allen Park also has bathrooms around mile 5 and there are some others if you keep going down the W&OD after Custis for an extra mile and some indoor plumbing. Otherwise there is always a house or two along this route that has some contruction going on and a portopotty in the yard, so keep your eyes peeled!
The final club race of the Bunion Derby series is the Cross Country 3 Miler tomorrow afternoon at 5:40! SLR should be an excellent warmup for the race, but if you just want to go for the post race District Taco that's also an option on the registration page! The club picnic is a wonderful way to kiss summer goodbye before fall racing ramps up, and I hope to see everyone there! The next book club meeting is September 10th at 4 PM and we're reading one of my all time favorites: Choosing To Run by Des Linden. No spoilers, but I hear she did pretty well at Boston in 2018 and we can all learn something from the grit and tenacity she displayed there!
Happy Running!
Anna
