For training opportunities of many of D.C. area races, the region (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) offer ample trails and bike paths with little of those pesky automobile disruptions. Here is one to consider.
Distance: 15.75 miles
Terrain: Asphalt surface, mostly flat, but hilly at some points.
The Arlington Loop provides a perfect route for a marathon training long run as a runner would nearly circumnavigate Arlington County. The route covers the Mount Vernon, Four Mile Run, Washington and Old Dominion (W & OD), and Custis trails. This route is useful for all seasons, though there are points on the route that remain unplowed after a winter snow, and like the rest of the DC area, is unpleasantly humid in the summer.
Because this is a loop you can start at any point, and in either direction, and still cover the same distance and similar challenging hills. For reference sake, I picked running clockwise from the Roosevelt Island parking lot.
Start by running south on the Mount Vernon trail. Almost immediately, you will come across a fork on the boardwalk. Bear left. From there follow the swamp raised boardwalk onto the asphalt and proceed. You will witness breathtaking views of our nation’s capital resting peacefully along the banks of the Potomac. You can catch a glimpse of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and even a distant view of the Capitol Dome. From there continue until you reach Gravelly Point.
After passing underneath a series of bridges, you will find an opening full of soccer fields and family picnics, but with a twist: The end of a runway. The roar of a departing or arriving jet in front of the eyes is enough to thrill even non-aviation enthusiasts. From there, follow the trail to the right and then left again to continue on the Mount Vernon Trail.
After passing Gravelly point, and what seems like an eternal run past Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, you will come across a bridge with a fork on the trail. Take the one on the left the veers to the right underneath the bridge. You have just entered the Four Mile Run Trail.
The course at this point turns ugly as you pass a power grid and briefly pound a concrete surface. Continue following the trail for about two miles until you reach an intersection and find yourself in a Latino neighborhood. You will encounter a dead end, but there is no cause for alarm. Look 90 degrees to the right and you will see the trail continue.
After running on a ridge for about a mile and a half, you will enter a park, perhaps the most scenic section of the route with a canopy of ancient trees, a much welcome relief in the summer and a colorful medley in the fall. This is also the point to recharge with ample water fountains and restroom facilities. This is the W & OD trail, a converted railroad bed that stretches past Leesburg almost to the Blue Ridge Mountains. You won’t run the full length on this route, but continue on the path.
After another two miles, you will come across a Kiosk with a water fountain. Turn right on that trail. After passing a picnic park, make hard left and run underneath the highway bridge. You are now on the Custis trail, the final leg of the course.
You are now facing the toughest section of the course, but ideal for marathon training as it conditions your body to fight through the fatigue. You will travel five miles through rolling, sometimes steep, hills, as you run parallel to Interstate 66. As you approach Rosslyn, you will encounter a series of intersections. The final one will connect you back to the Mount Vernon trail.
After crossing the final intersection you will run downhill and down a ramp until you come across a familiar site: The Roosevelt Island parking lot. Congratulations! You have completed the Arlington loop and ran just short of 16 miles. Just remember where your car is parked.
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