The Best D.C. Run Routes for Solo Half Marathon Training
One Saturday morning (afternoon, I believe is the technical term) in college, I slinked down the stairs of our small, decrepit rental house to see my roommate stretching in the living room. I was surprised because he was supposed to be in another city, running a marathon. But — as college kids are prone to do — he had missed his alarm, from his hotel, and thus was impossibly late and unable to run it. Still, he had driven back to our city before I had even woken up. And he was preparing to run 26.2 miles that day, by himself. He even had his official bib.
The story of the Andrew Duberg Solo Marathon of 2012 was on my mind as I struggled to settle into a yoga practice in the apartment I share with my partner. It was hard though, because the designated yoga space in the 570 square foot abode was right in front of the fridge. “Down dog. Now pedal it out. Shift your weight to the front of the mat so your partner can make her breakfast. Don’t forget to breathe.”
This was the height of lockdown. Parks were closed. The gym in our building looked like The Dark Museum of Indoor Recreation. There had to be a better way.
Running was still an option. Why don’t I run… a lot (in a healthy, organized way)? And in perfect proportion to our athleticism, I decided to do what Andrew did — only half.
I got a GPS running watch, found a good training plan, then Googled for some pre-planned run routes of set distances around D.C. While there are an abundance of lists of beautiful places to run in our city, there weren’t any prescribed routes. I had to tailor these places to the distances in the training. Now, I want to share them with you.
Don’t confuse this for a feat of athleticism. The most compelling reason, in my opinion, to run a solo half marathon is the fact that it’s solo. Nobody will know you finished half an hour behind the average time for the 13 year old age group (with asthma). Plus, you have to remain six feet away from everybody. Your only spectator is you, and you got this.
The Routes
These were the most common distances in the “good training plan” hyperlinked above, which has you run 3–4 times per week, the shortest distance being 2 miles, the longest distance being 10 miles, working you up over a period of 12 weeks. If the routes do not match the distances perfectly, finish your outing using one of D.C.’s car-sharing options, public bikes, or just leisurely walking the rest of your route. I’ve included origin points from all four quadrants in the city. Explore, and if you find anything better, share on social media and tag @730dc.
2 Miles (Origin: Shaw-Howard Metro, NW)
Malcom X Park and Back
This quick, classic run is a nice little shot of energy in the morning. Equal parts urban and packed with green. You could think about how you haven’t achieved your early D.C. life goal of “living in a fancy building near the park,” or reflect on its name. Bonus points if you run the stairs.
3 Miles (Origin: Union Market, NE)
National Arboretum and Back
The Arboretum’s beauty cannot be overstated. In other words, trees rock! — and so do columns. This relatively short run leaves a lot of room for improvisation (9.5 miles of winding roadways, to be exact). Run among the trees then take a bikeshare home! (There are usually bikes at the R St entrance, but you can always walk to Trinidad or H St stations if necessary.) The Arboretum is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and allows running.
5 Miles (Origin: Anacostia Performing Arts Center, SE)
Kingman Island and Back
Five miles is a flex in the morning and a stroll on the weekends. The first route Google suggests — the dotted line — gets you to that point (and a little bit more) with a journey to Kingman Island from historic Anacostia. It’s a lovely route along that easy river’s west bank. Perfect scenery for bemoaning the fact our city’s rivers aren’t equal; or, that Kingman Island is a pile of mud dredged together before World War I was finished (additionally known to host a mean banjo). Also, the Anacostia trail network was just recognized by Rails to Trails! That’s fun!
7 Miles (Origin: Audi Field, SW)
Kennedy Center and Back Along the Potomac
This seven mile run is tourist DC at its finest. Take the 3.5 mile route (the dotted line) in. You’ll get that classic “arriving to the mall” vibe, which in the morning is as epic as you remember from your seventh grade field trip. Once you loop around the Kennedy Center, take a moment to admire the Potomac from the Center’s renovated outdoor space. Imagine a reality in which your friends would get drinks at a place then see a show at another. Then take the 3.8 mile route back along the Tidal Basin and Potomac. You’ll feel like a government official in a movie who knows too much (and thus may be drowned). Don’t feel guilty about walking the last .3 mile — you’ve just run 7 miles!
P.S. For any 8 mile runs, just keep going to Arlington National Cemetery. Although closed, it’s still beautiful from behind a fence.
10 Miles (Origin Point: Union Market, NE)
To the Tip of Hains Point and Back
Wait, there’s another island (have seen it referred to as a peninsula too) in DC? Yes, the man-made Hains Point is a little island nestled in the Potomac between VA and DC, and running to the end of it from NE is a cool 10 miles. This is where your runs are getting exhausting, which means you’re close to the big day. This route takes you through the heart of urban DC, then spits you out south of the monuments on Ohio Drive, Hains Point’s looped thoroughfare. The island is a small oasis, with intimate views of the Wharf, cute biking trails, and a public golf course that will soon undergo an historic renovation (whose site has amazing, old-timey photos like this one). Perhaps visualize your game improving. But if those aren’t the kind of birdies you’re into, be on the lookout for real birds. Your training is almost done!
The Big 13.1 (Origin: Shaw-Howard Metro, NW)
Fort Dupont Park and Back
This is the big day. The 13.1 you’ve been training to no fanfare for. And what is a better way to do it than by visiting D.C.’s largest public park? The route getting you there (the one marked 2 h 5 min) takes you through downtown DC, by Union Station, through Capitol Hill and Eastern Market, then basically launches you out over the Anacostia into SE. The vastness of this bridge makes you forget the urban landmarks you just enjoyed. Once you’re on the east side of town, the run to the park is short, but the park itself is anything but (376 acres — also, in my experience, running through the park adds a mile to this trip, bringing up to the appropriate total). The Park’s closed roads allow for you to run on the street and be completely surrounded by lush forest. It is rejuvenating. It fills you with energy as you exit and cross the river again, where the Anacostia water rolls slow at the foot of Kingman Island, a landmark you know well from your five mile run. In strong juxtaposition to what you just experienced, the power route back shows the urban wonders of Benning Road — with its exotic concepts like parking lots, open space and a Pepco plant (extend a middle finger for this). It’s a straight shot on one of our city’s most underappreciated and important roads. And before you know it, the road becomes Florida Avenue and you’re all done and free to celebrate with the most important audience there is — yourself.
Then it’s back to quarantine, crowded home yoga, and on to your next adventure. Maybe a full? Andrew Duberg did it, you can too (I am still icing my knees).
