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SLR: 14 Miles Long Bridge

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Anna is currently in Boston and going to crush it on Monday, so here's Nate Rathjen, your faithful ersatz SLR leader (if you don't know me, strava and instagram) writing to you this week -- it's been hot, but sounds like we'll get a nice breeze and cooler temperatures for Saturday morning, let's get at it!

The Route: Let's go trainspotting, it's Long Bridge Park (strava, gps, pdf) week! As your resident Del Ray-vian (is that the right demonym? I've decided it is!) I'm excited for SLR to finally come back to my neck of the woods. This is a nice, chill hot dog of a route where we start heading through the Pentagon and Crystal City, then through Potomac Yard and briefly into Old Town Alexandria before turning around up the familiar Mount Vernon Trail. You'll also pass the site of the very-ill-fated Glenn Dome, so feel free to stop and thank Senator Lucas (and laugh at our schlub of a governor) for saving us all from that nonsense!

Want Something Shorter? Bring your SmarTrip card (Randy would be proud of you!) and this is easy to turn into a point-to-point, as you'll pass Potomac Yard metro at 6-1/2 miles. Continue on the Potomac Yard Trail (the marked trail on the left side of Potomac Avenue) instead of turning on to route 1 and you will reach Braddock Road metro at 8 miles, or continue following the trail across Braddock to head for King Street at 8-2/3 miles. Or, you can use the Crystal City "escape hatch" back to the Mount Vernon Trail (at 18th and Crystal) to make it a 9-mile loop.

Need a Longer Route? Just as many opportunities -- turn right on the Mount Vernon Trail toward Old Town for an out-and-back for as long as you want, or detour over the 14th Street Bridge on your way back and catch what's left of the blossoms! For a longer loop (about 18 miles) in Alexandria, I would continue on the aforementioned Potomac Yard Trail to its end outside King Street metro, then left on Cameron Street and left on Union to connect back up with the Mount Vernon Trail.

Thirsty? There are a set of water fountains outside the entrance to the Long Bridge Park gym (about 4 miles). After that, not much...I have two IRL friends running for Alexandria council and I have expressed my displeasure at the fact that this city apparently doesn't believe in water fountains! One of the things Arlington does better. One of the few sets in the entire city happens to be at 7 miles on the left (northbound) side of Potomac Ave just before your turn onto Route 1 (after the large brick building that seems like it belongs on a farm), then there is one more at 10-3/4 miles after you turn onto the Mount Vernon Trail!

Need a Bathroom?The Long Bridge Park soccer fields have restrooms on the other side from the path...it seems Arlington has removed the hilariously large "Restrooms Here" signs, but they are in the low-set grey buildings you can see. After that, unfortunately the Potomac Yard Park port-a-pots have been removed, so all you've got are the Gravelly Point ones that are...there! In a pinch I'd detour into the world-famous (ok, regionally-famous) Potomac Yard shopping center, as Giant, Target and Dunkin' will definitely be open this early, as will the Crystal City Starbucks.

Happy running, and have a blast!

Nate

SLR: 15 Miles Iron Triangle

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Good luck to everyone racing Cherry Blossom (or the Coast Guard Marathon, or any other races you may have) this weekend! Interested in a shakeout instead of some hills for SLR? We've got you covered! It'll be a chilly one tomorrow, but no rain in the forecast and we may even get some sun! Now let's get into it:

The Route: Get ready for some hills, it's Iron Triangle (strava, gps, pdf) week! This is an all time favorite SLR route and one of the best ways to get fit without even needing a workout. We'll head up Custis and onto Lorcom Lane where we'll make our way up Nelly Custis and Military until Old Glebe Road. From here we'll turn left on Old Glebe and then another left on Glebe (they really need to name these streets better) where we'll climb to the top of the hill and take a right at the traffic light at Williamsburg. After a couple more hills, we'll take a slight left on Sycamore and be treated to a wonderfully long downhill to the W&OD, where we'll follow custis back to the park for a 15 mile lollipop loop.

Want a Shakeout Instead? We've got your covered. We'll stick with the larger group until Custis, but instead of being tortured by the Rosslyn Hill, we'll head down past Roosevelt Island until the Memorial Bridge, where we'll follow the 110 Trail back to the cemetery for a nice 3.5-ish mile loop. Come talk race strategy, weather, and the fact they're actually opening the metro for once!

Want Something Shorter? But longer than a shakeout? For a few less hills and a few less miles, the Chain Bridge 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 you can be back to Rosslyn in a jiffy!

Need a Longer Route? An out and back on the W&OD is a great way to add some mileage on one of the best trails in the area. Heading west will take you into Falls Church, while going east will lead to Shirlington!

Thirsty? We've got mid-run drinks this week courtesy of Brian! He'll be leaving a cooler and trash bag at the top of Harrison and Williamsburg. Keep an eye out and remember to throw away all trash (Brian will be joining mid-run and coming back to clean up after, we're trying something new folks!). We've also got post-run drinks courtesy of former-SLR-leader-current-ultra-marathoner Erik, who also asks folks to clean up if they're the last group at the park. 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!

If you're not running Cherry Blossom tomorrow, be sure to come to the DCRR (and seemingly every other club in the area) cheer zone at the corner of Ohio Drive and East Basin Drive. If you are running, be prepared for a scream tunnel for the ages to get you up that last little hill before the finish!

Happy Running!

Anna