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Welcome! This is the home of the world-famous (well, maybe locally well-known) SLR.
Our start time is at 8:00 AM until next summer! Every Saturday we meet at North Meade Street Park, a small park northwest of the USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) in Rosslyn. The closest address for mapping purposes is 1300 Arlington Blvd, and street parking is available in the neighborhoods adjacent to N. Meade Street. Be mindful of parking signs, since Arlington County enforces them enthusiastically, and please do not park on Marine Memorial Circle (inside Iwo Jima), because this parking area is for memorial use only. At least one porta-john is available year-round near the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the memorial's water fountain is usually on during the summer.
We run rain or shine! In cases of extreme weather (snow, ice, thunderstorms, heat waves) we do occasionally either change our meeting time or cancel the run for safety, but the run will be held as planned unless otherwise posted via email/twitter/facebook and here on the SLR web page.
All are welcome! We're an informal group, and there are no requirements for speed, racing experience, or what distance means "long" for you, other than the suggested route that most of our group will be running each week. If you don't want to run the same distance or course as the main group, you can go out for half of your own target distance and re-trace your steps back to Iwo Jima. More specific route info and mileage options will be given in the email/post preceding each Saturday's run. SLR always features a run from our extensive Route Catalog, which gives us a wide range of options to keep things fresh for you each week. We have routes that are flat, hilly, looped, out & back, roads, sidewalks, trails, and more, reaching all around the local area of DC, VA, and MD!
For more details about Saturday Long Runs please read our Frequently Asked Questions to get a sense for what it's like to run with us, or send an email to Anna if you have any other questions that are not covered.
To receive weekly SLR updates via email, please log in and check your email subscriptions.
Schedule:
| Date | Miles | Route Map | Navigation Downloads | Post/Mid-Run Beverages |
| 4/5 | 14 | Marymount Chain Bridge | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 4/12 | 12 | Pentagon Army Navy | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 4/19 | 13 | Cathedral Clintons | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 4/26 | 18 | National Arboretum | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/3 | 12 | Potomac Overlook Loops | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/10 | 13 | Southeast DC | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/17 | 16 | Around the World in Fourteen Miles | Cue Sheet & GPS | 62 Embassies! New Route! |
| 5/24 | 14 | Ross Drive | Cue Sheet & GPS | |
| 5/31 | 15 | Long Bridge Park | Cue Sheet & GPS |
SLR: Chain Bridge Loop 10 Miles
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
It seems like this will be an ongoing trend for the summer, but the air quality issues are back once again. It would appear the fates have spared us again and SLR should have decent air quality (putting on my amateur meterologist hat, I'd approximate anywhere from 80-110 which is rounghly "safe to run outside, but take it easy" range in my book). As always be safe, missing a long run isn't worth major health impacts. Otherwise be prepared for a warm one, this is a shorter route but temperatures are still estimated to climb from around 70 to 75 from 7 to 9 AM. There are a couple very nice and dependable water fountains, but as always bring extra if you need it. Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week we're doing my all time favorite loop, the Chain Bridge Loop (strava, pdf, gpx), or as Jack and I nicknamed it, "The Hilly Loop". We'll start by going up the Rosslyn Hill and then following Military Road up four very nice climbs (that's only five hills total! You can do five hills!) before a nice run back down the C&O Canal. Need something to look forward to on the hills? There's a church on top of the second one on Military with a bunch of cell towers on top and a cute little rainbow drawing on the sidewalk on top of the third one!
Want Something Shorter? This route doesn't have a lot of great ways to shorten it, but an out and back on Military Road is never a bad run.
Need a Longer Route? This route is easily extended by going over any of the other bridges to return back to the park at North Meade Street. Taking Memorial Bridge back and going straight to the park will make it 12 miles and taking memorial bridge and going up through Rosslyn will be 13. The 14th Street Bridge makes for a convenient 14 miler if you come back up by the cemetery and 15 miles if you go through Rosslyn. For any more than that, throw in a loop of Hains for 18+.
Thirsty? The water fountain at mile 3.5 at Zachary Taylor Park has been a lifesaver on many, many summer runs. Additional water can be found at Fletcher's Cove Boathouse, just take a right off the canal and head down the steps and it's on the left. Hungry? It's finally wineberry season on the C&O Canal! These are delicious and make for a great summer snack (just be mindful of poison ivy if you go foraging for any). Thank you to Gina for pre and post run drinks this week! As an added incentive, we're offering a special opportunity! If you volunteer for post run or mid run drinks at least once between now and September 16th, you will be eligible for a chance to win free entry into the National Capital 20 Miler and 5 Miler race taking place on September 24th. Even if you are unable to participate this year, this free entry can be used for the 2024 race! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to contribute and potentially earn a compilementary race entry!
Need a Bathroom? There's a portopotty around mile 4.3 at the Nature Center and working bathrooms (with indoor plumbing!) at Fletcher's Cove! I've also had a lot of luck with construction sites in front yards, so keep an eye out.
The DC Road Runner Red Singlets are still available for purchase until 7/16, guaranteed to make you faster and more fashionable for your fall races! The next club race is the Age Handicapped Four Miler on the fourth of July! Come for the chance to break the tape in this age-graded event, stay for the unique and zany prizes that people provide every year. If you can't run this year, please consider volunteering!
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR: **New Route** Battery Garesché 14 Miles
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
I'm still soaking in the heat and humidity of the Twin Cities (and seeing Taylor Swift tonight), so Nate Rathjen will be taking over this week for what looks to be a steamy long run. As the weather continues to warm up, I implore you to volunteer for mid-run or post run drinks. I try to make sure the routes we do have some sort of water options along the way, but having dependable drinks is key to a good long run. As a reminder, for Bunion Derby volunteer credit you need to volunteer for either two weeks of post run or one week of mid-run drinks. Thanks to Miguel Cuya for volunteering this week for post run drinks! Now let's get into it:
The Route: This week's brand new route is a Nate Rathjen original, taking you near his neighborhood in Alexandria and by Battery Garesché, an old Civil War artillary battery named for Lieutenant Colonel Julius Peter Garesche. Battery Garesché (strava, pdf, gpx) runs down Army Navy Drive to the 4 Mile run before a little lolipop in Fairlington and back up to North Meade Park.
Want Something Shorter? For an 11 or 12 mile option, the Pentagon Army Navy route is a good way to cut off a few miles while still running on Army Navy Drive. There are also metro stations at Potomac Yard, Crystal City, and Pentagon City that can make for shorter routes as well. For less than 10, I'd recommend an out and back on Army Navy down to the 4 Mile Run.
Need a Longer Route? To add two miles, take the 4 Mile Run to the Mount Vernon Trail and follow it back to the Memorial Bridge for about 16 miles. If you want even more, coming through Rosslyn instead of the Memorial Bridge will give you around 17 miles total!
Thirsty? Water fountains are limited on this route, but there is possibly one in Utah Park and by the Fairlington community center around 7.7 miles. Thanks again to Miguel C. for post run drinks!
Need a Bathroom? Bathrooms are also a bit limited on this route, but keep an eye out throughout the neighborhood, there's generally a portopotty in someone's yard. The Target at the corner of Army Navy Drive also has public restrooms and the Fairlington Community Center would likely let you use theirs in a pinch.
Want a new Singlet? Back by popular demand, the DC Road Runners Red Singlets are back on sale now! These are completely optional, but guaranteed to make you faster and more stylish than ever before. They'll ship in August, just in time for fall races! Act fast, they'll only be avaialable til 7/16, reach out to steve@dcroadrunners.org with any questions!
The next club race is the Age Handicapped Four Miler on July 4th! This is one of the most unique and fun races in our roster with over 20 separate start times as older runners start first, younger runners start last, and the first one to the line wins! Runners are also highly encouraged to donate unique items to the prize pool, past years have included 1970s baseball cards, a Simpsons Dart Board, and a New Guinean sheath. This event wouldn't be possible without our volunteers, consider helping out if you aren't planning on racing.
Happy Running!
Anna
SLR - 14 Miles - Cleveland Park Cathedral Clintons
Hello Saturday Long Runners!
Break out those Silly Bandz and Do the Harlem Shake, we're throwing it back to the early 2010s this week at SLR. That's right, our former leader Erik Price is taking over from me this week as I attempt to throw my body from Two Harbors to Duluth as fast as possible on Saturday morning. The weather looks as good as it gets in mid-June for a long run tomorrow with temps in the mid-60s to low-70s and a nice breeze. Be sure to tell all your friends on YikYak about it and remember, You Only Live Once #YOLO.ÂÂÂ Now let's get into it:
The Route: New to some, old to many, hilly to everyone, Cleveland Park Cathedral Clintons (strava, gps) is back baby! For those who don't know, anytime someone takes over to lead SLR, they get to pick the route and this one is Erik's favorite. The only slight (and unfortunate) modification from its former glory is we will no longer be running through the zoo (for a variety of reasons mostly surrounding timed passes and restrictions the zoo has placed on clubs like us trying to run through). Nevertheless this fun loop will take us up Rock Creek to Connecticut where we'll get a tour of Cleveland Park (named after former president Grover Cleveland, not the Wolfstone song) before coming back down by the Cathedral and through Dumbarton Oaks.
Want Something Shorter?An out and back to Connecticut Avenue will not only let you avoid all the hills, but will also get you 9 miles if you come back via Memorial Bridge and 8 via Key. The original Cathedral Clintons loop is also a great way to modify this and still get in 12 miles (with some hills of course). If you want all the up and none of the down, the Cleveland Park, Van Ness, and Tenleytown metro stations also give good options for coming back early.
Need a Longer Route? Adding an out and back on Rock Creek Park on the way back will get you any number of extra miles. Another option is to come back via Memorial instead of Key, which will also add between one and two miles depending on how you get onto it.
Thirsty? We'll have pre and post run drinks provided by Carolyn Y. again (and Erik said he'll throw in some extras as well)! On the route itself, however, water fountains are few and far between, so definitely bring water for this one. There is, however, a CVS at mile 8.5 that provides a good place to buy a drink if you need one!
Need a Bathroom? There aren't many public bathorooms along this route, but it's generally a safe bet that in the summer in Cleveland Park someone is going to have a portopotty in their yard for house construction. There are also a few stores along Wisconsin and Massachusettes that should have public restrooms in a pinch!
The next club race is the Hugh Jascourt 4 Miler on June 20th, named for club founder Hugh Jascourt (fun fact: Hugh Jascourt was one of the first RRCA presidents and it was under his leadership that in 1963 RRCA began sponsoring distance races for women). If you aren't able to race, please consider volunteering! The book club will also be meeting next Sunday June 25th to discuss For the Glory: The Untold Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire by Duncan Hamilton!
Happy Running!
Anna
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Upcoming Events
| Lancer 5K Sat, Apr 26th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Kenmore PTSA 5K Sat, May 10th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Hero Dogs 5K9 Sat, May 17th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Jamestown 5K Sat, May 17th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Women's Distance Festival and Run After The Women Sun, Jun 8th, 2025, @8:00am |
| Rock Creek 5K Sun, Jun 22nd, 2025, @8:00am |
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The DC Road Runners Club is a member of the Road Runners Club of America and is also affiliated with USA Track & Field. We provide a year-round schedule of running events that offer everyone a chance to participate regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability. |