Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd. to Arlington Rd. via Exeter Rd. and back. I had to pickup more grass seed and do some Halloween decoration shopping in Bethesda. After getting back home, I spread out the soil that I'd gotten weeks ago but hadn't had a chance to work with. Max helped some too.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. With Max on the bus this morning I rode straight to work. I had some fast company a block out from the house; an older guy climbed right past me. I caught him later but lost him in traffic briefly. After gettting to the CCT, another younger roadie guy came busting through. It was in the low 50's but he was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I tagged along behind. He caught me up to the older guy and one or two more. Our fast line pressed on but at the flats, our roadie slowed slightly. That was all it took for the others to move past. I tried to hang back and bring him up and also to not right too fast myself. He seemed to slow more and drop back but as I struggled to catch-up to the others, he once again came busting through. We all reached Georgetown at about the same time and the roadie stopped, visibly sweaty. I continued in as I had been going across and up the Mall.

From C St. SE, Washington, D.C. (via the Mall) to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I was loaded-up with a little extra in my panniers going home--some travel guides and books for Max. It was windy getting to Georgetown but more sheltered after that. I soon passed a guy who got behind me. It felt good to give back since I had been riding behind others more lately. I felt stronger than other days this week too. I suppose misplacing my cycling computer would tell the truth but I did try to hand time--that just gets off a bit when I forget to stop or start at the couple of stops along the way. It wasn't long before I had others tailing behind me. I got a little help briefly after Dalecarlia but moved in front again for most of the way to Falls Rd. In the process I and one of the guys I caught along the way dropped the others. It was just about dark upon arriving home. I won't be able to do this much more without using my headlamp.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. It was in the mid-50s F and a bit damp in places. Unlike earlier in the week I just wore a long sleeve jersey instead of a jacket. A headwind kept me cool and slower but my legs were feeling tired anyway. I did get a pull for about 2 miles on the flats and through Georgetown. I made good time getting across the Mall.

From C St. SE, Washington, D.C. (via the Mall) to Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD, to pickup Max's trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd. With it getting dark earlier, I had good incentive to get leave work at an earlier time. However, I rushed to get out and left my bicycle computer on my desk. I hand timed and reconstructed the distance from other rides. It was nice to take it easier. I let a group of roadies go by while just keeping my same level of effort. There were long sun rays getting out of DC.

I ate too much for dinner and my calves were a bit tight so I wasn't up for a planned run. Instead, I worked on a Bethesda sprint map and began preparations for a trip.

Washington, D.C. From 14th and Independence Ave., SW, down the Mall past the Lincoln Memorial, onto the Rock Creek Trail to National Zoo Dr., up Olmstead Walk to Connecticut Ave, NW. to the Cleveland Park Metro Station. I wanted to get into Glover Archbold Park but my timing was bad; it would have been dark on my run had I taken a train to get close enough without making too long of a run. I took this run at a comfortable pace on a very comfortable day. It loosened me up as I went. I felt pretty good but had no idea of my true pace as I ran. I did slow as I climbed through the National Zoo. All the animals (the non-people ones) were inside. All I had left to look at were the animal gravestones, witches getting married and multiple skeletons shown playing billiards, painting, and basically hanging out in many ways--at least the zoo has a sense of humor! As I approached Cleveland Park, I thought I saw someone ahead dressing-up in a cloak of sort and thought that was cheery too but it was just a woman in a hijab.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. With Max on the bus this morning (after our long ride back home last night), I rode straight to work. I was feeling like taking a nice easy ride after the racing yesterday but I got moving fast early when a guy probably 10 years older than me went past. I caught him again but with some traffic I got behind and lost contact. At River Rd. a younger guy passed and pushed ahead quickly. I cruised behind him, catching others as we went including the older man. A train of 4-5 of us were tearing along at 23 and 24mph down the grade. Our group wasn't very organized and when the younger leader tired, we all passed and he lost contact on the flats. I dropped pace to bring him up but he seemed spent. I moved up, and made some gains on the others but then got passed by the original leader. It was a crazy ride with everyone breaking in different directions at Georgetown. There was foot, bicycle, and auto traffic in DC which made the ride less enjoyable while crossing the Mall.

From C St. SE, Washington, D.C. (via the Mall) to Northfield Rd, Bethesda, MD. I once again got mixed-up with other faster riders. Converging at the Lincoln Memorial, I got with one guy to Georgetown, got ahead of him in the traffic, then tailed him and another 2 guys out of Georgetown doing +20mph on the flats. With a shift in riders and an accelerating pace, I let 2 go and one dropped off behind me. Eventually as one of the 2 slowed, I caught and passed him but I got to moving more slowly the last 4 miles. The recent running and riding kept me less than energetic. I got home at dusk but it would have been dark had I had to pickup Max's trail-a-bike.

Moreau Lake State Park, NY. Walk/jog to the start of the US Classic Orienteering Championships. It was rather steep getting to the top. In the DC/MD/VA area, terraing like this escarpment would have been switch-backed all the way. I rushed a bit to make sure that I'd not be rushed at the start like the day before.

US Classic Championships at Moreau Lake State Park, NY. More later...

Day 2 Red X - Splits