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SLR: 10 Miles Christmas Tree Run

'Twas nine days before Christmas
And all through DC,
DC Road Runners
Romping and stomping with glee.
The weather tomorrow
will be cold yet still clear
bundle up, bring your gloves
because winter is here.
As always this weekend
is the Cemetery Wreaths
show up early, park further
take the metro please!!
We'll be off in a flash
around 8 am sharp
now let's get into it
see you all at the park:

The route we'll be running
is one a bit new
an updated version
from the past year-or-two
So come out, celebrate
all your fall marathons
with a nice jingle jog
at the Christmas Tree Run
We'll keep this one chill,
no racing now (Steve)
Nine minutes or slower
for each mile you see
This one's a celebration
a fun route that's in store
a time to relax
a chance not to do more
On strava, mapometer
P-D-F, G-P-S
however you view it
this run's just the best
We'll take off down Lynn
then straight across Key
down M Street and east
past the Nutcrackers, see
then we'll turn down Penn Ave.
past the Spanish Embassy
"We were just there!"
"Valencia supremacy!"
The first tree of the day
will be the White House south lawn
with fifty around it
one per state, with hand-drawn
ornaments and stars
it will be quite a sight
but we've got places to be,
we'll be off with quick might!
Straight across the street
to the Willard Hotel
with the gorgeous views
and that peppermint smell
After this we'll go up
On New York towards Eye
Straight past City Center
and the tree the most high
Another stop and a pic
then back down on Mass
Right to Union and inside
to Norway in a flash!
After that we'll head over
and 'round Capitol Hill
where we'll race to the big one
it'll be quite a thrill
this year's version
was cut straight from the West
of Virginia in Laurel Fork
and it's just the best
Then our newest addition
from our northern neighbors
the Canadian Embassy
cut off hundreds of acres
With gold and red hues
and a perfect arch dome
and a view of the capitol
it just feels like home
Then back down the mall
and back to the park
for just over ten miles
on our morning lark!

"But I need more miles!"
you scream and you shout
And you want some more trees?
Well I'll help you out
Head down to the wharf
via L'Enfant station
and see two more trees
(one a barrel-situation)
That'll gain you two miles
and if that's not enough
do some loops around Hains,
'ya know the classic stuff

If you don't want to run ten
or that's just way too far
hop on the metro!
Please don't take a car!
After mile seven
we'll have seen all the trees
so get on at Smithsonian
or Fed. Triangle if you please!

If you find yourself parched
on our trek 'round the city
there aren't many options
and that's such a pity
Union Station has fountains
in their big atrium
but the ones on the Mall
are turned off and I'm bummed
Why they shut off at all
is a huge mystery
so bring your own bottle
or you'll be thirsty

"A bathroom?" you ask
and the answer's the same!
Union Station for sure
then the Mall might be pain
There's also of course
a million Starbucks
but you never know there
at least not with my luck

The next club event
is the book club tomorrow!
Come out, eat some cookies,
I have a copy to borrow!
We'll talk about Meb
and his 26 Marathons
Contact Eunja or Ginny,
Our leadership paragons!
Then the next club race
is Predictions Resolutions
run by our very own Rich
who just begs you to do it
Volunteer, come help out
to work off that hangover
or start the year off right
with that course rollercoaster

Thanks to all for a fantastic,
great, helluva year
leading this group
has been blessings and cheer.
So come jog 'round DC
with all your training pals
see some trees and some lights
it's good for moral
May your holidays be joyous
and full of great fun
Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good run!

Anna

SLR: 14 Miles Festivus Run

Hello Saturday Long Runners!

Congrats to everyone who ran Rehoboth Beach, CIM, Valencia, Gar Williams, or any other races last weekend! As fall racing season ends and spring training begins, I look forward to seeing everyone back at SLR after some much needed downtime. Tomorrow’s weather looks fairly normal for the year, with temperatures in the high 30s and not much wind. Now let’s get into it:

The Route: This week we’ll be taking our yearly foray into strava art in the form of the Festivus route (strava, gps, pdf). For those who didn’t religiously watch Seinfeld: festivus is a nice alternative to Christmas with some zany traditions that I think we can all participate in tomorrow as we craft our festivus pole up 16th street:
The Airing of Grievances: News flash folks, running sucks sometimes. Did you train for 20 weeks for a marathon only to blow up at mile 8? Have some weird pain in your foot that just won’t go away no matter what you try? Thought you were a shoe-in for Boston but miss the cut off by 45 seconds? Take some time on tomorrow’s run to really let it all out before the next training cycle begins!
Feats of Strength: This one is probably self explanatory. Challenge your running partner to a strava segment dash tomorrow. Add on a little extra mileage. Or heck just get out the door and do something, as mentioned above, running is hard!
Festivus Miracles: Take a little time tomorrow to appreciate the small miracles of the world, like when you actually manage to get the festivus pole correct on your strava map or when you make that one light on 16th street you always have to wait at for a minute or when that little niggle you've been feeling for the last week kind of goes away around mile 7, even if only for a little bit. There is a lot of beauty in this world if you take a break to see it, give yourself that grace tomorrow.

Want Something Shorter? I don't think there's an actual ruling on the proportionality of festivus poles to their bases, so feel free to cut off a few miles and miss out on some lights on 16th street. Another option is to completely ignore the strava art and go for a little more scenery and run Piney Branch. You'll get 12 miles this way and also get to run through Rock Creek Park and only go one direction on 16th street.

Need a Longer Route? In order to maintain a perfect festivus pole, I recommend adding your mileage south of K Street. Consider a loop of the Mall, an out and back on the canal, or taking Memorial Bridge back for a little more feats of strength!

Thirsty? Though there are a few CVSs and Starbucks along this route, there aren't any water fountains, so please come prepared tomorrow or you'll have another thing to add to your list of grievances. Jack is also bringing post run drinks (and Ben's bringing some leftovers from last week), so give them a thank you!

Need a Bathroom? Those are also quite limited on this one. There are plenty of restaurants and coffee shops that should be open tomorrow morning in a pinch, but I'm not sure of any public restrooms along the route.

The next club race (and my personal favorite club race of the year) is the Bread Run on Sunday! Bake your favorite loaf of bread as you loaf around after SLR tomorrow and come out for a fun and rainy 10K on the canal or volunteer! The book club is next Sunday and there's still time to read 26 Marathons! Come for the fantastic discussions, stay for the delicious desserts!

Heads up: Next week's SLR is the Christmas Tree run and the laying of the wreaths at Arlington Cemetery. Parking will be limited in the Rosslyn area, so plan on taking the metro, parking a little further from the start, or showing up early to get your normal spot. Also plan on next week being an easy group run for the first six miles (we'll target 9-10 minute pace with lots of stopping for lights and trees). There will be plenty of miles afterwards to get your workouts in, but those first six miles are not the time and place.

Happy Running and Happy Festivus!

Anna