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Suggestions for routes in DC (Read 597 times)


Think Whirled Peas

    HELP! I'm going to be in DC for three days due to work, and would love some help on where to run. Safe routes in the downtown area from 3 - 6 mile range would be wonderful. I was out there two years ago, but weighed over 300 lbs, and couldn't run a mile w/a gun to my head. Needless to say, I wasn't really paying much attention to the area w.r.t. running routes. My hotel is on 14 Street, just north of H Street. Any assistance would be appreciated! Thanks!

    Just because running is simple does not mean it is easy.

     

    Relentless. Forward. Motion. <repeat>

    Coach Jeanne


    Speculum Wrangler

      I'm envious - downtown DC is one of my favorite places to run! I stayed near 9th and H street last April, just when the cherry blossoms hit full bloom. Each morning, I ran south on 9th to the Mall. Then I just did loops of the Mall, with detours to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms one day, around the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument the next, to the Capitol on the last day. If you were in the market for a long run (10+ miles), I'd send you to the Kennedy Center (NW of the Lincoln), where you can pick up the Rock Creek Parkway trail. I always carried my cell phone, a bottle of water, a few bucks and an ID - and told my husband where I was going to be and when I expected to be back. Honestly though, I've never felt unsafe during the day in the "tourist areas" of the city. From your hotel, it looks like ~3m to the Lincoln and back. If you go from the Lincoln to the Capitol and back to your hotel, you'll be close to 6m. Refer to www.runningmap.com. Enjoy - and be sure to post your run so I can relive the memories!!

      Jeanne

        Q, You will enjoy running in DC. Run the mall (lots of runners there). The loop from the Capitol to Lincoln Memorial and back is awesome. Just be careful crossing streets. I once came close to getting squashed there (my fault). Enjoy! Ken
          I lived in DC for a couple of years. Loved running there. Try any of these: http://www.runningahead.com/logs/1e07b1b218ff4a69a6d6bd54f243fea2/courses/d55f819e3b3d41e1a68c22da2005e993 http://www.runningahead.com/logs/1e07b1b218ff4a69a6d6bd54f243fea2/courses/ea6e84a482b5497f99fa7852907bcb26 http://www.runningahead.com/logs/1e07b1b218ff4a69a6d6bd54f243fea2/courses/944df10b04cc49928ab27b2fbaf5eeb2 http://www.runningahead.com/logs/1e07b1b218ff4a69a6d6bd54f243fea2/courses/57e34b30dcf54c7c9db31ff876c50a2a http://www.runningahead.com/logs/1e07b1b218ff4a69a6d6bd54f243fea2/courses/1671aeddc99842b2b218fd3217de7c05

          "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" - Steven Wright


          Member Since 2008

            Run the Mall!!! Where can't you run there?
              I lived in DC for a couple of years. Loved running there. Try any of these:
              http://runningahead.com/maps/d55f819e3b3d41e1a68c22da2005e993 http://runningahead.com/maps/ea6e84a482b5497f99fa7852907bcb26 http://runningahead.com/maps/944df10b04cc49928ab27b2fbaf5eeb2 <-- highly="" recommended!=""></-->http://runningahead.com/maps/57e34b30dcf54c7c9db31ff876c50a2a http://runningahead.com/maps/1671aeddc99842b2b218fd3217de7c05 fixed (so it points to public route) and linkified. Thanks for posting these, I'm excited to try them out. I'm a Eugene, OR kid transplanted to DC, so I appreciate your name and picture.

              sean


              Member Since 2008

                Let's see, Eugene or DC, WWPD? (what would pre do)
                Trent


                Good Bad & The Monkey

                  Run the Mall. Run Rock Creek Park.
                    I was there in October and ran the full Mall. It was a great run.
                    "If I control myself, I control my destiny."
                      You'll never go wrong on the Mall. Actually, just go anywhere in NW DC and you'll be safe and well entertained by the sights.

                      "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" - Steven Wright

                        And... if you want to enjoy a cold one (or two) post run, check out Regional Food and Drink (RF&D) on (I believe) 7th Street. Here's their website: http://www.lovethebeer.com Variety is the word!

                        "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" - Steven Wright


                        Think Whirled Peas

                          Thanks everyone for the suggestions!!! Sorry it took me a while to get back, but it was a hectic week. I decided to run the mall and was really glad I did! It was a really nice, and peaceful run, although I did get turned around a couple of times! I was in DC for the first time about 2 years ago, back when I weighed over 300 lbs, and I remember thinking how nice it would be to see everything in the mall area, but I couldn't walk any further. I missed a great deal back then b/c of my size. It was really special to be able to not only walk the mall, but to actually run the whole thing too! The weather was warmer than what I've been running in here in Michigan, so that was a nice switch. I was only able to get one outdoor run while in DC though, as time restrictions left me w/dreadmill runs the other two days. It looks like I'll be getting back out there in the spring so I'll give a couple of the other suggested routes a try.

                          Just because running is simple does not mean it is easy.

                           

                          Relentless. Forward. Motion. <repeat>

                          Coach Jeanne


                          Speculum Wrangler

                            I'm glad you enjoyed your mall run (how could you not?). When you go back in the spring, be sure to head west toward the Lincoln so you can see the cherry blossoms blooming at the Tidal Basin!

                            Jeanne