Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Sorry for the route change, it's due to a combination of WorldPride weekend + we just did Southeast DC May 9th (time flies!) + getting us a little more shade on one of the first warmer SLRs of the year. On that note it's going to be hot and muggy tomorrow (or potentially nice and rainy, who knows!). Bring water, take it easy on the hills, and enjoy the run! Now let's get into it:
The Route: Bum bum bummmmm *insert menacing piano music here* it's Iron Triangle (strava, gps, pdf), a personal favorite of a mine and a personal horror of anyone who believes the mound in front of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing constitutes a hill. We'll head up Custis to Lorcom Lane and Military Road until we hit some more hills climbing Glebe and Williamsburg. After this we're treated to a lovely mile downhill into Falls Church before returning down Custis (yes! it's downhill coming east!). People tend to get a little lost on this route (source: me, circa 2020 crying somewhere around the East Falls Church Metro 20 miles into a 15 miler) so make sure to review the cue sheets ahead of time!
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. 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 $2.25 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! 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 don't have any volunteers for post-run drinks this week and still have some gaps the rest of the summer! Help out if you can! 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. The portopotty at the soccer fields near W&OD MM5 is also back for the season! 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 first Bunion Derby race of the year is this Sunday's Women's Distance Festival and Run After the Women 5K! Thanks to everyone who volunteered, we're good on this weekend's race but still need more throughout the rest of the summer. The next Happy Hour will be June 19th at Four Court's in Courthouse and we'll be presenting Snowball Series Prizes.
Happy Running!
Anna
