Hello Saturday Long Runners!
It is once again Nate, your faithful ersatz SLR leader, as Anna is out in California to run Big Sur this week. Send her good vibes! The weather will be cloudy and in the mid-60s, which is warmer than it has been...keep that in mind!
Where Are We Going This Time? It's another SLR tradition as this week is our visit to the National Arboretum (strava, gps, pdf)! For those who haven't been, the National Arboretum has one of the best collections of azaleas in the area and is definitely worth the trip. We'll head across the Mall and up via Maryland Avenue and Bladensburg Avenue to get to the Arboretum, where it's a big of a choose your own adventure once you're inside. Head right and follow signs for the azaleas (you should be able to see the color on the hillside) for the shortest route, which is around 15 miles.
Want Less? If 15 miles is too long for you this weekend because you just ran a marathon on Monday, there's a few options for a shorter route that will still get you some time in the gardens. For 10, hop on the metro at the Capitol South when you get back to the Capitol for a ride back to Rosslyn. If you'd like a little bit longer, the Smithsonian station is at 12!
Want More? Get some great hill training in with more loops of the Arboretum. The route map we use is an 18 miler that inclues another few loops, but it's hard to get too lost and easy to find some cool plants. Head up to the Asian gardens, which should also be blooming at this time of the year or stop by the Capitol Columns!
Parched? Always got the water fountains on the mall. There's a water fountain immediately inside the Arboretum inside the same building as the bathrooms -- take a right when you enter. We're getting to the season where we need drink volunteers, help out the club and knock out your Bunion Derby volunteer credit!
Swimming Eyeballs? The Arboretum has a great restroom! The Washington Monument has, of course, the "well, it exists" one.
No major club events in the next month, but the Bunion Derby is quickly approaching and signups are open for many of the races!
Happy Running!
Nate
