Hello Saturday Long Runners!
We've got a mildly cold winter morning in our midst for tomorrow, which after the deep freeze, the ice, the snow, and everything else that January threw at us actually seems like a treat. Be prepared for a little wintery mix on the back half if you're planning to go longer, but hopefully we'll miss most of the weather and will be able to curl up on the couch for the rest of the afternoon. January felt eternal, but here's to a nicer February of SLRs (and maybe, just maybe, we won't have to run on Custis or the Capital Crescent for a whole month). Now let's get into it:
The Route: Ross Drive (strava , gps , pdf) is an aboslute favorite of the SLR board of directors (me) and of course we have to do it as soon as Rock Creek is clear. 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. As of this morning, The Mount Vernon Trail still has closures along with Hains Point, so if you're planning to do extra it's best to avoid those areas.
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 race is the Valentine's Day 10K and Relay on February 16th at Anacostia (a BRAND NEW venue for us)! Come out for some chocolates, to talk about how much you love running, and to try and win a little stuffed bear (I have no doubt Coach Big Guy will whip out a 10K PR for the chance). We're also trying out athlinks registration (with no hidden fees! Don't worry!) for this race. Let the board know how you like it. Spread the love and volunteer if you're free next weekend!
Have routes lately been feeling a little stale? Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's the fact that we've been living in a polar vortex and roads aren't cleared, but I'm in the mood to spice things up a little over the next few months and try out some new routes! We'll be debuting what is sure to be a President's Day weekend annual event: Four Lincolns and A Funeral next weekend which comes straight from our resident corgi fanatic Mark B, then in early March we'll hit up Three Stadiums and a Cemetery (otherwise known as Stadium Loop) which comes to us from yoga-instructor extraordinaaire Jerry M. If you've got ideas for an SLR route to try, shoot me an email, link me something on strava, or just vaguely give me some streets to run down and I'll figure it out! Preferred distances are 10-22 miles, but happy to provide suggestions on how to get into that range if there's a place you want to go!
Happy Running!
Anna
