will be there 8/30-9/3, need to get a couple 1:00 runs in. Not sure of the neighborhood names, we are at L and 10th downtown, looks like near Mt .Vernon and the DC Convention center. Run down to the mall which looks to be about 9 blocks away? Any other cool/interesting options not to miss? Or is it just running in a city?
Rock Creek Park and Beach Drive are pretty nice on the weekends, with restrooms and water fountains
There are also a lot of running routes around the National Mall, although it’s usually packed with tourists.
Another good option is to run toward Georgetown. It’ll take you along the Potomac and past the Kennedy Center. In Georgetown, you can take the C&O canal towpath. The towpath is packed dirt. It’s nice to run on.
You can also run toward the Lincoln Memorial and cross the memorial bridge toward Arlington Cemetery and Iwo Jima.
Another good option is to run toward Georgetown. It’ll take you along the Potomac and past the Kennedy Center. In Georgetown, you can take the C&O canal towpath. The towpath is packed dirt. It’s nice to run on.
You can also run toward the Lincoln Memorial and cross the memorial bridge toward Arlington Cemetery and Iwo Jima.
Are these runnable from where I am (Mt. Vernon), or do i need transport there?
From 10th and L it’s a short run down to the Mall. From there you can go either direction for a big loop around the perimeter of the Mall with the Lincoln Memorial on one end and the Capital on the other. That should be close to an hour. If you want to add distance, you can add the Tidal Basin loop from the mall out around the Jefferson Memorial. Or you can pass the Capital and loop up around the Library of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court Building. Or as one person mentioned above, you can keep going past the Lincoln Memorial and head across the bridge to Arlington Cemetery.
It’s very easy to build one hour+ runs through the monuments in the Mall. However, you really need to go early because by mid morning the tourists and traffic sort of ruin the experience. Plus you never know who you’ll see. In the late 90’s I ran past President Clinton and his secret service team. I’m pretty sure he could feel my pain.
Have fun.
Check out these rail trails: http://bikewashington.org/trails/dc-index.htm
Also, check out the Haines Point and West Potomac Park area.
Mt Vernon and 10th/L DC are two different places. From 10th and L, you do the run. You can run to Gtown/Kennedy Center and back from 10th and L within an hour. The towpath goes on for 100 miles, so maybe you can hit a tiny portion of it 
Arlington Cemetery and Iwo Jima can be done within an hour. Of course, this depends on your speed. If you are a 13 minute miler, maybe not. If you are a 7-8 minute miler, doable.
Mt. Vernon, I’m not sure what you mean by that. There is the Mt. Vernon trail and then there is the Mt. Vernon where George Washington’s house is. The later is about 20 miles away
Another good option is to run toward Georgetown. It’ll take you along the Potomac and past the Kennedy Center. In Georgetown, you can take the C&O canal towpath. The towpath is packed dirt. It’s nice to run on.
You can also run toward the Lincoln Memorial and cross the memorial bridge toward Arlington Cemetery and Iwo Jima.
Are these runnable from where I am (Mt. Vernon), or do i need transport there?
He’s talking about Mount Vernon Square, which is a Metro stop and right around M and 7th. …
You’re best off going to the Mall and picking a route. Hains Point is pretty easy to get to from the Mall and a haven for runners. It’s flat, but no traffic to stop you. The whole Tidal basin area is good for tourist running, and never that far from their hotels.
Check out the Capitol Crescent Trail. I run it all the time both from the Georgetown end and the Bethesda end. You can run to the start of it from pretty much anywhere.
will be there 8/30-9/3, need to get a couple 1:00 runs in. Not sure of the neighborhood names, we are at L and 10th downtown, looks like near Mt .Vernon and the DC Convention center. Run down to the mall which looks to be about 9 blocks away? Any other cool/interesting options not to miss? Or is it just running in a city?
Make it fun. Get up early (before the tourists), run the Mall, take selfies of yourself in front of different monuments. To someone else’s point, the Mall gets pretty busy but still doable.
You can also run toward the Lincoln Memorial and cross the memorial bridge toward Arlington Cemetery and Iwo Jima.
We just got back from family vacation there definitely run the mall early, I saw the korean war memorial as the sun was coming up, it was awesome, then do the run mentioned above…lots of runners out atmall times of the day
.
You can also run toward the Lincoln Memorial and cross the memorial bridge toward Arlington Cemetery and Iwo Jima.
We just got back from family vacation there definitely run the mall early, I saw the korean war memorial as the sun was coming up, it was awesome, then do the run mentioned above…lots of runners out atmall times of the day
And don’t worry about the “watch” or your splits. :-).
Thanks all, great ideas. Gonna run the mall early and get over to Arlington. Really looking forward to it
I run the mall early … like 6:00 AM early. It’s full of runners in the morning. You won’t be alone.
Run down 7th Street towards the mall. Make a right when you get to the mall. Head toward the Lincoln Memorial. You will hit the WW II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and Korean War Memorial all in the same direction. Just look it up on the tourist map before your go out so that you know where they are relative to one another.
Now that I have your attention :). Any lap pools relatively close to that area either with open swim or drop in masters opportunities?
I would walk the few blocks down to the Chinatown metro stop, and take the Red Line to Tenleytown. Wilson Aquatic center is right there - gorgeous 50M pool. You’ll pay $7 to get in, I believe. And you’ll need your driver’s license.
Now that I have your attention :). Any lap pools relatively close to that area either with open swim or drop in masters opportunities?
East Potomac Park has a 50m outdoor pool, and plenty of free parking.
Anytime you’re going to a new city, just open it up on google and click on bicycling view. A better question is where can’t you run in DC.
The mall is great, rock creek trails go on for a lot longer than 1:00, you can hit some of Custis trails or Teddy Roosevelt Island. I don’t know about the Arlington Cemetary advice though, most people agree it’s kind of disrespectful to run through it. You can easily just run and follow the masses.
Anytime you’re going to a new city, just open it up on google and click on bicycling view. A better question is where can’t you run in DC.
The mall is great, rock creek trails go on for a lot longer than 1:00, you can hit some of Custis trails or Teddy Roosevelt Island.** I don’t know about the Arlington Cemetary advice though, most people agree it’s kind of disrespectful to run through it. You can easily just run and follow the masses**.
Thanks for that, I don’t want to be disrespectful. Nice to have the local info
I would avoid Arlington Cemetery as it’s a no-go for cyclists and very frowned upon for runners last I heard. It might even be prohibited now as it’s been a while since I looked into it.