What are the different categories of trails?
Out and Backs: These trails start and finish in different locations, which means that they are meant to be run “out” then “back”. In other words, you start at either terminal of the trail, run on it for however much you’d like, then turn around and go back the way you came. Or don’t, if you’re okay with ending far from where you started.
Benefits of Out and Backs:
- You get to decide exactly how long you want to run for
- Less of a chance of getting lost because you can always just retrace your steps
Loops: These trails start and finish in the same location. Pretty self-explanatory.
Benefits of Loops:
- No repetitive scenery
- You can start your run anywhere along the loop
Workout Spots: These aren’t so much “trails” per se, but more locations that are good for cranking out your tempo or interval workouts. All the workout spots have a special quality about them that earns them a spot in this category.
Downtown: Trails that exist exclusively in downtown DC. I gave these trails its own category for a few reasons. Firstly, these trails are more geared to sightseeing. Secondly, these trails are often much shorter (<4 miles) than average, since downtown DC isn’t very big to begin with. If you’re in shape, I can almost guarantee you will get through these routes faster than a car could.
Do I have to follow the routes exactly?
Not at all. Feel free to stray from the beaten path and create trails of your own. The purpose of these routes is to show you some cool places to run in DC, so if you discover your own cool places to run, I’m doing my job.
Something’s outdated/there’s a mistake/etc.
Please use the “Contact Me” form to get in touch.
Why do so many runs begin at sidwell friends school?
I am/was a senior at Sidwell Friends School, which means that most of my DC runs started on campus. If starting a run at Sidwell is inconvenient, you can simply start at whatever position on the trail is closest to your desired starting location.
Are these trails safe?
Usually. Road routes are going to be safe 99% of the time since there are always people on DC roads. The trails in forest regions are also pretty safe- during the daytime, there are almost always runners/walkers/dogs on these trails so it doesn’t feel deserted. However, in the spring/summer the leaves all come out, which can hinder your visibility around corners. If any part of any trail is particularly unsafe, I mention it in the post. If you feel unsafe, run with a friend!
Why are some route lengths approximated?
I track my routes with a Garmin Forerunner 220. Every few seconds, it pings satellites to update my location so the end result is a route composed of lots of little straight lines rather than a continuous curve. On a trail where the pathway is not clear to the satellite and there are lots of twists and turns, the GPS will consistently say that the path is shorter than it actually is. As a result, for routes that involve dirt trails, I have to approximate how much longer the actual route is.
The route is called “XYZ”, but in the guide you say i should “now take XYZ”. I’m confused, isn’t the entire route XYZ by definition?
In case the vagueness of the question made you even more confused, let me explain. There are various trails in DC that have specific names. To name a few, Glover Archbold, Battery Kemble, Rock Creek, Melvin Hazen, Dumbarton.
However, the trails that I am writing guides for are more like routes comprised of one or more “official” trails I listed above. When I write a guide for a trail and title it, I will often name it after the most important trail used in my route. For example, a trail that is run mostly on Glover Archbold would be titled “Glover Archbold”, even if it includes other trails since Glover is the main one.
As another example, Dumbarton Loop is comprised of Rock Creek, Glover Archbold, and Dumbarton. I named it Dumbarton in this case because that is the “main player” in this route.
Did you discover all these trails yourself?
A few, but no for the majority of them. Having run cross-country and track for 4 years at Sidwell Friends High School, the majority of these trails (and their names) were passed down to me from the upperclassmen. As a result, many of these trails are frequented by Sidwell runners. My main goal was not to discover my own trails but to document, record, and compile the trails that my team and I have run for years for the benefit of other people.
what does “dmv” in “dmvtrails” stand for?
DC, Maryland, Virginia. Not “Department of Motor Vehicles”.
Then why don’t any runs go through Virginia?
Because Virginia is the worst state. DMV just rolls off the tongue better than DM.