DC locals - Suggestion for running the monument mall?

[secretlyevil]

I epically failed with planning this ahead of time. Anyway, I was thinking about running a couple of miles Saturday morning that would take me around the mall and was wondering if locals had any tips on a good place to start or route to take that would include the mall? I of course don’t have my lights or really any gear other than my shoes. 🤷‍♀️ You’d think my overpacking would be useful. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[campermom]

mommyatty you’ll know this

[mrshandy]

So you're driving? How early are you thinking of going?

My running club always meets at Iwo Jima in VA and then runs over Memorial Bridge which gives you a nice view of the city, but it can be a little confusing for people. Depending on what time you go, you could probably could find parking on the mall somewhere. Parking on Madison Drive or Jefferson Drive would put you squarely in the middle and then you could run towards the Lincoln and do a loop of the tidal basin. There is also parking along Ohio Drive and Hains Point which would give you easy access to the mall.

The mall is well lit and safe for the most part. I've done many an early morning run there. I wouldn't worry about light. The sun is up by 6AM so unless you're running earlier than that, you won't need it.

I've run on the mall a billion times so I'm happy to give you more advice if you give me some more details of what you're looking for. 

[mommyatty]

secretlyevil, are you staying near the Mall? I love running around the Mall. It is literally my favorite run in the world. I generally start from wherever I’m staying (unfortunately I’m no longer a local, though I go on business a lot), run to the cinder paths around Mall, do the loop, and then head toward the memorials. There will be plenty of light and plenty of people around. If I don’t go to the Monuments, I always do a cool down walk through the gardens by the Smithsonian Castle. There’s never anyone there, and it just feels like you’ve stumbled into The Secret Garden.

Here are a couple of maps. medium.com/great-runs/great-runs-in-washington-d-c-859ee826d78a. The first one is my favorite.

[secretlyevil]

mrshandy - not driving, thinking I would Lyft/Uber to a starting point. That’s some good detail.


mommyatty - thanks for the map, great to get some first hand by-in on a route.


Thanks for the input ladies!

[Wines Not Whines]

You can easily run down along the Mall and/or Tidal Basin. I think just running the length of the Mall down and back is about 2 miles. If you don’t want to run far, I’d probably get dropped off near one end (Washington Monument or Capitol Building) and run down and back. You can also Metro to the Smithsonian stop and start there. For a longer run, you can go around the Tidal Basin, which will take you past the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, and MLK Memorial.