Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Looks like tomorrow might be a little rainy (read: it's probably going to rain from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed). Please be careful both during SLR tomorrow and especially getting to and from North Meade Park! If you see high water or flooding at any time, follow the "Turn Around Don't Drown" rule and remember that flood water (especially moving water) is extremely dangerous both on and off the run. I don't think we'll hit any of that tomorrow, as most of the route is in areas that rarely flood and we are running earlier in the storm, but be mindful espeically throughout Rock Creek Park. In other random "it's going to be wet" reminders: bring a ball cap and remember that not every long run has to be a super fast stellar workout, sometimes it's important to test yourself in difficult conditions just in case it happens on race day (*long stare at the window to flashbacks of Marine Corps 2019*). Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we're running Rock Creek MBT (strava, gps, pdf) which not only happens to be objectively the best long run in the entire DC area, but also my favorite SLR route! Carl created it earlier this year and though we haven't run it too often as a club it's a fairly straightforward route (despite the many turns on the cue sheet). We'll go along the Georgetown Waterfront, up Rock Creek Park, then up a fairly large hill along Blagden Ave (the only one tomorrow!!!) before getting on Gallatin to take us across the city to the Metropolitan Branch Trail where we'll follow the metro down to the Capitol then to the Mall and back to North Meade Park. The MBT is a fabulous bike path in the city and they not only (finally!!) recently added protected bike lanes along 8th Street NW, but they also have recently repainted the murals near Alethia Tanner Park! As we are running through the city and especially because it's going to be rainy, please remember to look for cars at intersections and never assume someone will see you or stop!
Want Something Shorter? There are numerous ways to hop on the metro and shorten this route depending on how many miles you want. For 10, hop on at Fort Totten, for 11 stop at Brookland-CUA, for 12 Rhode Island Ave is your go-to, for 13 jump on at NoMa - Gaulladet U, if you want 14 Union Station is your friend, for 14.5 take a slight detour to Capitol South, and for 15.5 grab a train at Smithsonian (note if you're getting on the Red Line you will need to transfer at Metro Center)! There aren't a ton of other nice ways to shorten this one (but did I mention it's my favorite route and you should run all of it), though an out and back in the rain in Rock Creek Park is always a great way to kick off a weekend!
Need a Longer Route?Coming up through Rosslyn instead of by the cemetery will add an extra mile to get you to 19. It's also possible to get another extra mile by going down 15th street to the 14th Street Bridge and coming up the Mount Vernon Trail. For more than 20 miles, tack on a loop around Hains Point (or an out and back south along the MVT) to get those extra few!
Thirsty? Thanks to Sean Hicks for pre/post run drinks and Priscilla Sandoli for mid-run drinks! She'll be at the Bridges Public Charter School at the corner of Gallatin Street and the MBT! If you need more water than that, just lean your head back and let mother nature do the rest! In all seriousness there are some good water fountains along this route at mile 6 at Peirce Mill, mile 12 near the Rhode Island Ave metro, and along the Mall from miles 14.5-16 there are plenty to choose from (whether or not they're functional is a different story). Additional water jugs may still be out on the MBT that are great filling stations for bottles left by one of the local ANC members!
Need a Bathroom? There are some great ones at Peirce Mill and some (well) less great ones on the Mall at the Washington Monument. Union Station also has some great options, however they're a bit far from the entrance though they are useful in a pinch!
The next club race is the National Capital 20 Miler and Janet Braunstein 5 Miler this Sunday at Carderock. We still need volunteers for the event so please consider helping out if you're available! We also need some more volunteers for SLR drinks in October if anyone is available! This will count towards Snowball Series Volunteer credit!!
Happy Running!
Anna
