Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Well, originally this was going to be the week that we move from 8 to 7, but it’s so dang nice out we don’t really need to. That being said, plan for next weekend to shift SLR’s start time from 8 to 7. Tomorrow I’ll see everyone at 8 at North Meade Park! Now let’s get into it:
The Route: Ross Drive (strava, gps,pdf) is an absolute favorite of the SLR board of directors (me) and many other club members (you, probably). We'll head up Rock Creek through the Zoo Loop (which yes, some of you will avoid, but I will see it on strava and I will be disappointed), then up Beach Drive before heading back down via Ross Drive and Ridge Road. As a reminder, Beach Drive is closed to vehicle traffic but Ross Drive and Ridge Road are not, keep an eye out for cars (though I usually only see one or two a run, and they know who really owns those roads).
Want Something Shorter? An out and back through Rock Creek Park is the easiest way to cut mileage off. If you're looking for a different route back, you can also come down to the waterfront instead of the trail when leaving Rock Creek Park (though that does add a little bit of mileage, so keep that in mind).
Need a Longer Route? My favorite option for adding mileage is something I like to call "A Ross Drive so Nice You Run it Twice" aka run a second loop of Beach-Ross-Ridge for a little over 3 miles extra.
Thirsty? There aren't a ton of options for water, so be sure to bring some if you need it. The only really reliable stop is at Peirce Mill (yup, it's spelled like that) in Rock Creek around miles 5.3 and 9, but I haven't run there recently enough to know whether it's on for the winter or not (it has, however, been on in the past).
Need a Bathroom? Peirce Mill (my copy editor (also me) complains about this every time) is also your best bet for those as well at miles 5.3 and 9! There aren't a lot of other options, so keep that in mind for tomorrow!
The next club event is our annual Mile Time Trials night at Wednesday Track, perfectly coinciding with Global Running Day. No registration required, just show up to W&L High School in Arlington on Wednesday June 4th at 7 PM. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience or pace. We’ll have pacers and heats to accommodate a variety of speeds!
Happy Running!
Anna
