Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Full disclosure: I've had a long week! Meant to switch SLR to 8 AM but missed the usual e-mail window mid-week and completely forgot. This week's run will be at 7 AM, however starting next week (10/7) we will meet at 8AM for the remainder of the winter. Luckily the weather tomorrow looks gorgeous and Nate Rathjen will be kicking it off while I'm up in New York racing Wineglass (send good vibes)! Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we'll be doing a DCRR-once-a-year classic: Mock MCM (strava, cue sheet, gps). This is the perfect opportunity to test out your fitness on 16/26ths of the Marine Corps Marathon course while getting a nice tour of DC. We'll head in through Georgetown, down Rock Creek to Hains Point and make a loop, back over to Lincoln via the Tidal Basin, then around the Mall and Washington Monument before returning over the 14th Street Bridge. For those following along at home that means we'll miss the dreaded Rosslyn hill, an out and back in Rock Creek Park, and some twists and turns in Crystal City from the true course. There is a large festival on the Mall this weekend, but I don't think it will impact this route (which has us staying on Madison/Jefferson and not running on the Mall.
Want Something Shorter? Luckily, the MCM organizers have made a lot of great opportunities to cut serious mileage off this route (just don't try it on race day ;). Cutting off Hains Point will save you a little over 3 miles for around 12, Skipping the out and back to the Capitol will also give you around 2.5 less miles, and cutting off that (in my opinion, rather annoying) out and back to Lincoln will cut off a little less than 2! Luckily any twists and turns you're confused by today will be well marked come race day, so don't worry too much if you find yourself taking a slightly different path than the cue sheet says.
Need a Longer Route? Hains Point gives a lovely option for adding on mileage in multiples of 3! Running south along the Mount Vernon trail after crossing the 14th street bridge is another excellent way to get a few more miles and a bit of a taste of the latter stages of the marathon. For 26.2 miles tomorrow, see the course map above (but maybe avoid the part where you run on 395)!
Thirsty?As far as I'm aware the water fountains on the Mall haven't been turned off quite yet, but I'm assuming with the impending governent shutdown that their days are numbered (why they aren't considered essential is beyond me, but I digress). There are fountains on a fairly regular basis from mlies 3 to 13, just keep an eye out! Thanks once again to Ken Strazzeri for post run drinks as well!
Need a Bathroom? There are a few decent options to choose from! My personal favorites are outside the Jefferson Memorial around miles 4 and 13 (fun fact: I once talked to the guy who opens them who said "Yeah it's stupid we ever even lock them, so I open them whenever I get in instead of 8 AM when they want me to", a true hero). Additional bathrooms can be found at the Washington Monment when we pass it around miles 9.5 and 12, though these ones aren't nearly as nice. Hains Point also generally has some options, but which ones are unlocked depends on the day (though I generally have luck with the ones by the picnic area and playground at the end of the point).
We still need people for SLR drinks throughout October, starting next weekend. Please help out if you're able to! As a reminder the club will reimburse any purchases made towards drinks!
Happy Running!
Anna
