Training Log Archive: NadimIn the 28 days ending Feb 28, 2010:
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Sunday Feb 28, 2010 #
Calisthenics (General) 2:00 [3]
slept:8.0 weight:175.5lbs (sick)
45 situps. I puttered about the house with cleaning up and doing various projects. I had a lot of trouble with installing the plumbing for a bathroom sink where there's not a lot of space to work with and some non-standard pipe was used by the previous owner. I was distracted a lot during the bathroom project with the US-Canada Ice Hockey gold medal match. Very exciting! I've also managed to pickup a small head cold from Max.
Saturday Feb 27, 2010 #
Bicycling (Stationary) 45:00 [3]
slept:8.0
Most of the day was taken up visiting my parents. There were too many yummy things to eat too. I skipped dinner and eventually hopped-on my bike while watching more of the Winter Olympics.
Friday Feb 26, 2010 #
Calisthenics (General) 2:00 [3]
slept:5.0 weight:175.5lbs
45 situps. I didn't have time to workout. With it busy at work and taking Max to my parents house for a sleep-over, I was beat.
Thursday Feb 25, 2010 #
Calisthenics (General) 2:00 [3]
slept:5.0 weight:172.5lbs
45 situps. Working late wreaks-havoc with my training.
Wednesday Feb 24, 2010 #
6 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 49:39 [3] 6.27 mi (7:55 / mi)
slept:5.5 weight:174.5lbs
From the Grosvenor Metro Station, Tuckerman Ln. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Beech Ave. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., across N. Bethesda Middle School grounds, to Bradmoor Dr. to Roosevelt St. to Garfield St. to Aberdeen Rd., to Wilson Ln. to Moorland Ln. to Clarendon Rd., to Edgemoor Ln. near the Bethesda Metro Station. I started out tired on this one and finished that way too. I think my legs were tired from the run on the balls of my feet last night; I woke this morning feeling tight in my calfs. Snow continued to make the running slow on Bethesda Trolley Trail segments over I-270 and I-495. There was snow across the Bethesda Middle School property too. After that the hills toward the end kept me slow.
Tuesday Feb 23, 2010 #
11 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 38:41 5.04 mi (7:41 / mi)
slept:6.0 weight:174.5lbs
From Northfield Rd., Jefferson St. to Garfield St./Oneida Ln. to Sonoma Rd. to Hempstead Ave. Johnson Ave. to Burley Dr. to Beech Ave. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy. through North Bethesda Middle School, to Bradmoor Dr., to Bradley Rd., to Huntington Pkwy. to Garfield St./Aberdeen Pl. to Aberdeen Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Hampden Ln. to Overhill Rd. to Moorland Rd. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I'd intended a run from work but worked too late to make that work. I finally got outside after watching more of the Winter Olympics on television. Several dog walkers were out and I had to react when two of them lunged at me in the first mile. Fortunately their masters yanked them back. There were a few slow spots with snow covered trails. Having left my usual running shoes and other running gear at work for another possible run tomorrow, I ran in my less cushioned trail shoes. I guess reading Born to Run has been rubbing off on me. I ran most of the run on the balls of my feet. I was surprised that it felt fine--I figured that it'd take more building up first (I still expect that it will). I'd had known about this style being used by elites since 1980 and even achieved using it myself at times when I was in really good shape but I hadn't known about the potential for it reducing injuries.
Monday Feb 22, 2010 #
Bicycling (Stationary) 30:00 [3]
slept:5.5 weight:175lbs (rest day)
I did a quick spin indoors while watching the Winter Olympics. I was averaging a cadance of about +70rpm. It was rainy out and I'd worked late.
Sunday Feb 21, 2010 #
9 AM
Running warm up/down (Trail) 6:26 [2] 0.51 mi (12:37 / mi)
slept:7.5
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC. Driving into the park late, I rushed a warm-up from the car to the start, then went back to the car for my epunch and the back to the start--again. For the 3rd time this weekend it was not a good way to start. Fortunately, Peggy took my start time and I was able to take hers 4 minutes later.
10 AM
Orienteering race (Foot) 1:04:59 [4] *** 7.29 km (8:55 / km) +200m 7:50 / km
spiked:10/14c
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC. BOK: Sycamore Scramble Classic. My rush to the start line hadn't put me in a good frame of mind. I felt pressure to get going fast and it got me into trouble right away. On the first, short leg, I knew to look for the first control on the right, at the end of the reentrant that I'd dropped down to out of the start, but I ended on the left side of it. Going slower through green areas to #2 and #3 just heightened my sense that I wasn't doing well and needed to go faster--I was tired from the day before and lacked spring in my legs. I climbed more than needed to #4 (to the right) and converged with Peggy's more direct route there, just ahead of her. In a continuance of a well documented frequent occurrance, I proceeded to make an error going to #5 after running away from her at #4. The 1:15,000 scale had thrown me a bit; when I angled up a hill instead of taking it more directly, I had expected to cross a trail and never saw it. This convinced me that I'd made an error when in fact, I hadn't gone far or straight enough. I doubled-back as a result and took a while to relocate. From there I compounded the error staying low along the main creek instead of going more directly. I was still a bit off leaving #5 but I hit #6, #7, #8, and #9 pretty well. I was happy running down a long reentrant toward #10, expecting to see more water and a junction before the control. At a reentrant junction, I thought I was at a higher one so I went on, only catching myself when I checked my bearing. I doubled back for another minute loss. I missed the nice road route option to #11. I nearly spiked it going through the geen but even Peggy's pace on the road route was faster than my more direct and difficult to navigate way. Confusion continued when I didn't see a road intersection on the way to #12 but I hit #13 and #14 well.
This wasn't such a good run for me. I really need to improve my technique and self control because I continue to have 1-2 big errors/race, the cause of which is usually rooted in running too fast. I probably had 7 minutes of time loss today and ran over 9K on this 7.3K course. At the awards places were given for cummulative times over all 3 races. I wasn't initially called-up because on the results printout my times had oddly shown-up on two different rows. It had something to do with the way my epunch was in the database for the Middle Distance race on Saturday though there was no apparent problem after that race. After the system correction, I was awarded first in M45+ but I was very fortunate that others didn't have better runs. I'll need to work much better to place in future A-meet events and even local events.
This wasn't such a good run for me. I really need to improve my technique and self control because I continue to have 1-2 big errors/race, the cause of which is usually rooted in running too fast. I probably had 7 minutes of time loss today and ran over 9K on this 7.3K course. At the awards places were given for cummulative times over all 3 races. I wasn't initially called-up because on the results printout my times had oddly shown-up on two different rows. It had something to do with the way my epunch was in the database for the Middle Distance race on Saturday though there was no apparent problem after that race. After the system correction, I was awarded first in M45+ but I was very fortunate that others didn't have better runs. I'll need to work much better to place in future A-meet events and even local events.
Saturday Feb 20, 2010 #
Event: Sycamore Scramble
8 AM
Running warm up/down (Terrain) 8:08 0.83 mi (9:48 / mi)
ahr:136 max:158 slept:5.75
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC. Warm-up following streamers from the parking area to the start.
Orienteering race (Foot) 31:16 4.27 km (7:19 / km) +105m 6:31 / km
ahr:157 max:168 spiked:8/11c
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC. BOK: Sycamore Scramble Middle Distance. After a sleepy morning and choosing to sleep more rather than eat a real breakfast, I got going a bit rushed. It was a pattern that would prove to keep-up over the weekend. At the start line after having been called-up, I had to rush back to check which of the Red courses that I was on. It followed the pattern recommended by USOF, RedY. I hadn't really looked at my compass until this point and learned then that I grabbed the one with a large bubble. Once I'd gotten going, I had to correct a few times for it pushing the needle around when I didn't hold it as flat as possible. I felt a bit tired so with the compass also being troublesome, I ran slower than I otherwise might have. I ran up to #1 but half thought it was another control--I was glad that I checked it. After crossing the road going to #2, I had some hesitation matching up the angles of reentrants with my map. The subtle 3m contrours took some getting used to. I ran better after that and soon caught Peggy who had started a few minutes before I had. I ran okay for a while, unlike many times when I pass Peggy and make errors. Approaching #7, I beat out a few runners including a Swede in M35+ (and a very friendly one at that as I found out later). I got into trouble wanting to stay ahead after getting to #8 ahead of the crowd--I had seen #9 earlier but headed off toward #10. I realized it, and fortunately, just happened to stop at an indistinct trail that lead much of the way to #9. I corrected, punching behind the Swede I'd seen earlier. I headed to the road and an intersection and got to #10 first after the Swede had overshot the intersection. I hurried heading downhill and being careful initially. When I hit a road crossing just at a bend that I'd wanted to, I became less careful, choosing instead to push and stay ahead of the footsteps that I heard coming from behind. I mistakenly ran to control #1 which was off to the side of the direct route to #11. After realizing it at control #1, I ran down but the Swede had already run by me. I never caught him. Despite my errors, I ran pretty well overall (perhaps the fastest on the course?) so I was somewhat pleased with my race.
2 PM
Orienteering (Foot) 17:45 2.49 km (7:08 / km) +60m 6:22 / km
ahr:157 max:168 slept:0.5
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC. BOK: Sycamore Scramble Sprint. After the morning race, we'd had so much time between events that we decided to get lunch and crash at the hotel. I even napped a bit, still tired from the night before. We got out and back to the park with just enough time to make it to the starting line on time. The few people I'd seen start were all heading to one of 2 visible controls on cabins. When I got started, I did pause and fumble to orient the map and get the correct bearing. I shot off to the cabin in the right direction but the code didn't match???--I immediately reacted and ran to the other control that'd I'd seen from the start and it didn't match either??? I finally realized that there were more cabins across a small road. Hitting a 3rd cabin and still not getting a control that matched, I slunked-off to the 4th :( It was a flustering way to start. I hit #2 well and didn't lose much more time until #9. By this time I knew that Chris Gross had been trailing me not too far behind. I cracked on a longer leg by running down a clear reentrant to avoid some green when I should have gone through it. When things didn't match-up, I went on bearing and it took a while before things did match again and I got distracted by another control on the way. I made 1 or 2 bearing errors after that. After finishing the disappointing race, I was telling myself that at least I didn't lose a lot of time. After downloading and getting my printout, it took a while before I realized that I had double the controls that I should have. My finish time on the results initially showed +5 hours--In my rush, I'd forgotten to clear and check before starting. I talked with the meet director and fortunately was able to get the result corrected by using my official time, even though I started a few seconds after that. Their initial correction gave me a time of 17:10 but I went back and had them fix it again to 17:45.
Friday Feb 19, 2010 #
Calisthenics (General) 2:00 [3]
slept:5.5 weight:172.5lbs
Raleigh, NC. 45 situps after a long drive from Bethesda, MD. The traffic from the D.C. area Fredericksburg, VA was really slow, perhaps due to snow still being on the shoulders in a few places.
Thursday Feb 18, 2010 #
7 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 52:07 [3] 6.51 mi (8:00 / mi)
slept:4.5 weight:172.5lbs
From the Grosvenor Metro Station, Tuckerman Ln. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Beech Ave. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy. to Adelade Dr. to Wilmett Rd. to Ewing Dr. to Roosevelt St. to Jefferson St./Charlcote Rd. to Moorland Ln. to Lambeth Rd. to Park Ln. to Battery Ln. to Exeter Rd. Edgemoor Ln. near the Bethesda Metro Station. Leaving late again, I still left a lot of work to do at the office and hit the roads; or as much of them as I could find. Most of the roads continued to be better cleared but there was still some ice. I was fortunate that the sidewalk along Tuckerman Ln. had been plowed. The first part of the Bethesda Trolley Trail (over I-270) was not so bad to get through. The part over I-495 was much more snow covered and slow. What was packed snow before had softened in the recent warmer weather. I added-on through neighborhood streets close to my house but still had to go downtown to end at my parked van. I haven't used the rolling Ewing Dr. much before but that was good for running. I could have used a restroom the last two miles and though the exersion felt comfortable in my legs, I passed a fair amount of blood afterward.
11 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 10:00 [2]
Some of the glacier on our porch roof had crashed onto our walkway and more was hanging stressing the gutter. I cleared both while a rabbit waited to see what food it could find that I'd left out.
Regarding the snow in the street, I was luckier than my neighbors. Snow plows came the night before at 1am to clear ice off the middle of the road but also moved the big piles on the sides that people had dug earlier. My neighbor got an inordianate amount of these piles dumped into his front yard by a big front loader that drove right up on their lawn. In contrast, similar front loaders and dump trucks were cleaning the busy downtown Bethsda intersections at the morning rush hour thus causing long backups that were better with the snow piles the day before.
Regarding the snow in the street, I was luckier than my neighbors. Snow plows came the night before at 1am to clear ice off the middle of the road but also moved the big piles on the sides that people had dug earlier. My neighbor got an inordianate amount of these piles dumped into his front yard by a big front loader that drove right up on their lawn. In contrast, similar front loaders and dump trucks were cleaning the busy downtown Bethsda intersections at the morning rush hour thus causing long backups that were better with the snow piles the day before.
Wednesday Feb 17, 2010 #
Calisthenics (General) 2:00 [3]
slept:5.5 weight:173.5lbs
45 situps. I worked rather late and didn't have time to run on the way home from work as planned. The unpleasant part or working late in the winter these days is when they turn off the heat somewhere after 6pm.
Tuesday Feb 16, 2010 #
9 AM
Bicycling (Commute) 9:15 [2] 1.39 mi (6:39 / mi)
slept:6.25 weight:172lbs
From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station on mountain bike. I had dropped off Max by car and gone all the way home. I preferred to setup a ride in the dark back streets and on ice on the way home rather than have to deal with the messed-up rush hour traffic again when going home. Most of Old Georgetown Rd. had been good for being plowed but the last 2 blocks into downtown Bethsda had lost a lane to snow banks, creating a loonng backup that went miles out. There are similar problems all over. Even the metro trains are having delays. My legs were tired from the run yesterday.
8 PM
Bicycling (Commute) 8:05 1.35 mi (5:59 / mi)
From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.on mountain bike. There was a good headwind. I was working late and so aborted further plans to go for a short run.
Monday Feb 15, 2010 #
1 PM
Hiking (Street & Trail) 10:00 [2] 0.55 mi (18:11 / mi)
I carried Max and our sleds back almost the whole way from sledding at NIH. Walking up the hill so many times in all his winter clothes tuckered him out.
2 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 20:00 [2]
slept:7.0 weight:173lbs
After taking Max sledding, I put a replacement metal shovel to use to scrape off the ice on the road in front of our house. I just wanted to make it easier to get in and out as well as help clear our still unplowed road. The 1-3" thick ice was wet and heavy. I got sweaty.
4 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 1:20:24 [3] 10.44 mi (7:42 / mi) +33m 7:38 / mi
slept:7.0 weight:173lbs
Rock Creek Park. I had wanted to do a longer run all weekend so I built-on to Peggy's route from earlier this morning. From the Washington, D.C./Maryland border, I ran south on Beach Dr. to Broad Branch Rd. and got on the Rock Creek Trail to Tilden Rd. at the Pierce Mill parking area. From there I returned the same route past the DC/MD border, staying on Beach Dr. and crossing the foot bridge to Candy Cane Park. From there, I reversed the route back to the DC/MD border.
A light snow had just stopped when I started. Instead, there was a light drizzle which as darkness eventually came, gave way to some light fog. Starting out, my legs felt tight and slow; I was unsure about making this a 10 mile run but eventually got into a rhythm. Beach Dr. was plowed to the pavement. Though there were a few slippery parts, it had been the best running surface that I'd had used since before the first snow storm this month. After Broad Branch Rd., I had gone on trying to get to a total of 10 miles for this run. The trail had not been plowed so I ran on a snowy foot trail out and back a half mile, slowing my pace accordingly. Past Tilden Rd., it appeared that the foot trail through the snow had ended so I returned. I had intended on using several side roads in Rock Creek Park but none of these had been plowed except for ones busy with cars.
The park was very beautiful, still with heavy snow covering everything up but the creek. Even the picnic tables looked like they could have been boulders with the side accumulation just about reaching the table top. I saw a few other hearty runners, XC skiers and a hungry herd of deer. I probably would have enjoyed the XC skiing too but I believe the run would do me more good. I had more left knee pain and again used the ball of my foot more to land on to make that feel better. The last mile that I added on was in the dark and open to car traffic. With ice walls along the sides, I had to dodge cars on what otherwise had been a rather quiet peacful run. It was 33 F as I finished and parts of my wet legs were starting to get cold at the end.
A light snow had just stopped when I started. Instead, there was a light drizzle which as darkness eventually came, gave way to some light fog. Starting out, my legs felt tight and slow; I was unsure about making this a 10 mile run but eventually got into a rhythm. Beach Dr. was plowed to the pavement. Though there were a few slippery parts, it had been the best running surface that I'd had used since before the first snow storm this month. After Broad Branch Rd., I had gone on trying to get to a total of 10 miles for this run. The trail had not been plowed so I ran on a snowy foot trail out and back a half mile, slowing my pace accordingly. Past Tilden Rd., it appeared that the foot trail through the snow had ended so I returned. I had intended on using several side roads in Rock Creek Park but none of these had been plowed except for ones busy with cars.
The park was very beautiful, still with heavy snow covering everything up but the creek. Even the picnic tables looked like they could have been boulders with the side accumulation just about reaching the table top. I saw a few other hearty runners, XC skiers and a hungry herd of deer. I probably would have enjoyed the XC skiing too but I believe the run would do me more good. I had more left knee pain and again used the ball of my foot more to land on to make that feel better. The last mile that I added on was in the dark and open to car traffic. With ice walls along the sides, I had to dodge cars on what otherwise had been a rather quiet peacful run. It was 33 F as I finished and parts of my wet legs were starting to get cold at the end.
Sunday Feb 14, 2010 #
11 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 40:06 [3] 5.17 mi (7:45 / mi)
slept:7.5 weight:174.5lbs
From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd. to Fairglen Ln. to Fairfax Rd. to Bradley Rd. to Wisconsin Blvd. to Chase Ave. to Kentucky Ave. to Rosedale Ave./Battery Ln. to Park Ln. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I set off on another late night rambling run with the idea of checking out our old neighborhood and our friend's house. Our friends told me of some flooding problems related to the recent storms and addition construction. I couldn't see any of it in the dark and most of the time, my eyes were watching where my next foot was going to go. There was a good mix of packed snow, black ice and dry pavement. To prevent falling, I really slowed on turns and especially on Fairglen Ln. which was covered in black ice. My left knee hurt at times. I found that landing more on the ball of my foot instead of heel-toe made it feel better and improved my speed. It's nice to have a lot of neighborhood streets to run through at night in the winter. I used to do that a lot when I did double workouts in college my years.
Saturday Feb 13, 2010 #
5 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 10:00 [2]
slept:7.0 weight:173lbs
I shoveled a path across our backyard deck and to our shed so that I could search for some tools needed for a bathroom project. I also calved some of the glaciers that are moving slowly across our front porch roof and cleaned that up.
11 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 31:45 [3] 3.87 mi (8:12 / mi)
From Northfield Rd., Jefferson St. to Garfield St./Oneida Ln. to Sonoma Rd. to Hempstead Ave. Johnson Ave. to Burley Dr. to Beech Ave. to North Bethesda Middle School, to Bradmoor Dr. to Folkstone Rd. to Irvington Ave. to Huntington Pkwy. to Garfield St./Aberdeen Pl. to Aberdeen Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Hampden Ln. to Overhill Rd. to Moorland Rd. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I had been feeling like a slug though I was busy much of the day. Seeing more of the Olympics and getting adequate sleep was again motivating enough to get out late. I set out to kind of compare my run on snowshoes with a run in running shoes. Conditions were better this night but not by much; it was still slippery and snowy in a lot of places. It was about 28 F with some wind. I could see the footprints of another runner who went before me on part of the route. I also did more sinking into the deeper drifts at N. Bethesda Middle School but more of that had been packed down than before. The snow continues to make things look enough different that I one turn differently from my other snowshoe run.
Friday Feb 12, 2010 #
12 PM
Bicycling (Commute) 12:30 [2] 1.5 mi (8:20 / mi)
slept:5.0 weight:175lbs
From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. I rode my mountain bike through the snow and ice again. There were several soft spots which were slow. I was detoured by various trucks including moving vans and snow plows too. Since Max's day care was closed I got to go to work after Peggy returned midday.
I was lucky with the trains going downtown. The earlier derailment was cleared and the closed stations reopened just before I went through. I heard informally that a front wheel had somehow fallen off the train that derailed. Earlier in the week they had a train snag a hanging cable close the the Smithsonian Station that I go to and that caused a fire. I sure am glad to ride by bicycle in all the way to work some days but that would have been rather impractical today with all the snow everywhere. It'd be great if the tri-government metro governing council could fund the system properly even if it means rate increases. The accident rate over the last 12 months is amazing and the injuries account for over 40% of the total across the whole country.
I was lucky with the trains going downtown. The earlier derailment was cleared and the closed stations reopened just before I went through. I heard informally that a front wheel had somehow fallen off the train that derailed. Earlier in the week they had a train snag a hanging cable close the the Smithsonian Station that I go to and that caused a fire. I sure am glad to ride by bicycle in all the way to work some days but that would have been rather impractical today with all the snow everywhere. It'd be great if the tri-government metro governing council could fund the system properly even if it means rate increases. The accident rate over the last 12 months is amazing and the injuries account for over 40% of the total across the whole country.
7 PM
Bicycling (Commute) 9:13 1.4 mi (6:35 / mi)
From the Bethesda Metro Station to home. It was dark when I emerged from the station. Trains were running only every 10 minutes and slow at that. The ride home was nice and easier than it was when I rode the other direction.
Thursday Feb 11, 2010 #
5 PM
Bicycling (Commute) 17:24 2.46 mi (7:04 / mi)
ahr:86 max:131 slept:6.75 weight:172lbs (rest day)
At Northfield, I was just about to head out to stores when I heard David Onkst yelling a hello from down the street. We talked a bit. He was dressed lightly but seemed to be having a good run. After getting a look at my snowshoes, David and I started out together but split quickly in different directions. As he turned homeward, I rode into downtown Bethesda on my mountain bike for a trip to the grocery store and to pickup some dinner. The side streets were mostly good but I'd occasionally hit some soft spots that would suck my tire away. I came back as it was getting dark and switched on my headlamp. There was a strong headwind coming back on Old Georgetown Rd. It's slightly uphilll so carrying my load riding too, I felt tired. I turned off to get away from cars since I didn't have a rear flasher.
Wednesday Feb 10, 2010 #
11 PM
Snowshoeing (Street & Trail) 51:32 3.97 mi (12:59 / mi)
ahr:140 max:177 rhr:53 slept:7.25 weight:172.5lbs
From Northfield Rd., Jefferson St. to Garfield St./Oneida Ln. to Sonoma Rd. to Hempstead Ave. Johnson Ave. to Burley Dr. to Beech Ave. to North Bethesda Middle School, to Bradmoor Dr. to Folkstone Rd. to Hartsdale Ave. to Hempstead Ave. to Roosevelt Ave. to Garfield St./Aberdeen Pl. to Aberdeen Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Hampden Ln. to Overhill Rd. to Moorland Rd. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I'd worked on indoor projects long neglected all day. Whenever I'd stuck my head out to watch Peggy shovel snow, to feed the birds and rabbits, or knock-off ice from the house via the windows, the cold wet windy snow storm blasts encouraged me to stay in. I'd considered skiing but with deep drifting snow I figured that wouldn't be so good. I was just about resigned to ride a stationary bike and watch a movie but reading some AP logs reminded of snowshoeing. I hadn't seen the snowshoes Peggy and I own since moving last and I hadn't used them since just after Peggy got them for me (2/8/2003). I found them and got dressed and went out quickly because it was late.
I ran headed downhill initially to avoid deep snows in Greenwich Park and to make it easier to get used to the snowshoes. It was a bit awkward but not as bad as I thought it would be. I got slowed getting under some trees that had collapsed across the Jefferson St. trail. I hit a few plowed roads which I was rather surprised to see. As I headed uphill I surprised one guy out late shoveling his driveway. He remarked how difficult the snowshoeing looked. Being out of breath, I had to agree but by then I'd also started to get the hang of shuffling along. I had to use more power and a higher than regular running knee lift. Sometimes I could stretch my stride and get more speed. On partly plowed roads, I needed to move about to find deeper snow. At the end of Beech Rd., I ran into the middle school property and found deep drifting snow that slowed me to a post-holeing walk for 270m--even with snow shoes, the snow couldn't support my weight. I hadn't had to do that in decades since an early spring crossing of the continental divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. By the time I got to Heampstead Rd. again, I was moving well and added on across Huntington Pkwy. It was a fun and sweaty physical activity on what otherwise might have been a discouraging weather day.
My GPS didn't track because my rushing to get going. I tried to start it indoors and when it couldn't find enough satellites I didn't realize that answering "No" to the prompt about being indoors meant that it wouldn't later be able to find satellites. I noticed the lack of distance tracking at about the first mile and paused but sweating in the windy dark with gloves on I figured I could measure the distance later. My heart rate average was lower than I would have guessed, perhaps due to pauses or perhaps due to lack of experience/knowing how to enlist enough muscle groups effectively. Snow sports take a coordination and balance that I'm not very proficient at.
I ran headed downhill initially to avoid deep snows in Greenwich Park and to make it easier to get used to the snowshoes. It was a bit awkward but not as bad as I thought it would be. I got slowed getting under some trees that had collapsed across the Jefferson St. trail. I hit a few plowed roads which I was rather surprised to see. As I headed uphill I surprised one guy out late shoveling his driveway. He remarked how difficult the snowshoeing looked. Being out of breath, I had to agree but by then I'd also started to get the hang of shuffling along. I had to use more power and a higher than regular running knee lift. Sometimes I could stretch my stride and get more speed. On partly plowed roads, I needed to move about to find deeper snow. At the end of Beech Rd., I ran into the middle school property and found deep drifting snow that slowed me to a post-holeing walk for 270m--even with snow shoes, the snow couldn't support my weight. I hadn't had to do that in decades since an early spring crossing of the continental divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. By the time I got to Heampstead Rd. again, I was moving well and added on across Huntington Pkwy. It was a fun and sweaty physical activity on what otherwise might have been a discouraging weather day.
My GPS didn't track because my rushing to get going. I tried to start it indoors and when it couldn't find enough satellites I didn't realize that answering "No" to the prompt about being indoors meant that it wouldn't later be able to find satellites. I noticed the lack of distance tracking at about the first mile and paused but sweating in the windy dark with gloves on I figured I could measure the distance later. My heart rate average was lower than I would have guessed, perhaps due to pauses or perhaps due to lack of experience/knowing how to enlist enough muscle groups effectively. Snow sports take a coordination and balance that I'm not very proficient at.
Other (Snow Shoveling) 42:45 0.0 mi
ahr:101 max:117
My warm-down right after snowshoeing was to finish the work Peggy had done during the snowstorm. About 2 more inches had come down after her effort. I also cleared the driveway of deep snow out into the road where a few vehicles had passed and where the plow will eventually get to. I did a lot hip action catapulting with the shovel to get the snow over the piles and to places 15-20 ft over, where it wouldn't fall back. The cool wind gusts felt good despite the low 20 F temperatures. Once in bed, I started having painful leg cramps that took a long time to go away.
Tuesday Feb 9, 2010 #
2 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 30:00 [3]
slept:8.0 weight:172.5lbs
I was going to head out and get some lunch but with an older couple across the street struggling to free their car, I decided to give them a hand first. I tried to move quickly throwing the snow far and wide. I got sweaty.
3 PM
Bicycling (Commute) 20:14 [3] 3.2 mi (6:19 / mi)
I went out to get some lunch for Max and myself while Max waited at home. Peggy had already eaten and Max had a Mac attack (not a Big one) on his mind. From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Park Ln., to Battery Ln. to Wilson Ln. to Arlington Dr. to Mooreland Ln. to Woodmont Ave. to Montgomery Ave. to Pearl St. to E. West Hwy. to Wisconsin Ave. to Commerce. Ln. to Old Georgetown Rd. to Battery Ln. to Park Ln. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. That rambling route was basically into downtown Bethesda on side streets, and some main streets with a few detours added to avoid traffic messes. The traffic on Wisconsin Ave. and E. West Hwy. was much worse than I expected. I guess part of it was due to lanes disappearing under snow piles but some of it must have been the way people were driving too. While the side streets took some cycling skill on a mix of pavement, soft snow, slush and often hidden blocks of wet ice, the main streets were easy to drive on. Once free of traffic, I had to slow down sometimes for cars that were creeping on basically wet pavement. I kept pace with a metro bus for half a mile coming back on Old Georgetown Rd.
Though I got a little wet, the riding on the mixed snow and ice and pavement was fun! It helped that I had on my Goretex boots. I'd wanted to get my mountain bike out many times since last summer and the timing kept not working out because I usually am hauling Max in his trailer or on his trail-a-bike, neither of which can hitch to my old full suspension Kline.
Though I got a little wet, the riding on the mixed snow and ice and pavement was fun! It helped that I had on my Goretex boots. I'd wanted to get my mountain bike out many times since last summer and the timing kept not working out because I usually am hauling Max in his trailer or on his trail-a-bike, neither of which can hitch to my old full suspension Kline.
5 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 1:20:00 [2]
After lunch I headed to the shed in the backyard to get a flat metal shovel in preparation for the upcoming storm. I figured that ice was likely in the near future. It seems my good one got mixed-up in our rennovators tools and is gone but I found a smaller one that should work in a pinch. On the way to the backyard, I knocked off some large icicles from the side of the house and also got to worrying about the weight on our large wooden deck. A few brave soles in sight of our house had climbed out on their roofs to slip and slide and knock off snow. I wasn't that crazy or worried but figured I could lighten the weight on the deck significantly. Max eventually came out and helped too (to solve boredome?). I didn't encourage it but he worked pretty hard anyway. He also enjoyed thowing the snow over the side of the deck and later at me.
7 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 42:17 4.53 mi (9:20 / mi)
ahr:137 max:150 rhr:57
From Northfield Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd. via Greenwich Park, to Sonoma Rd. to Seneca Ln. to Sonoma Rd. to Heampstead Rd. to Johnson Ave. to Burley Dr./Beech Ave. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy. to Bradmoore Dr. via N. Bethesda Middle School, to McKinley St. to Jefferson St. to Northfield Rd. I had intended on getting a run in before the new snow started but there was already a new half-inch on the ground as I got out. I knew part of the Old Georgetown Rd. sidewalk to have been cleared and ventured through snowy foot trails in Greenwich Park to get there. I detoured down Sonoma Rd. and mistakenly on Seneca Ln., to get around uncleared spots. The initial streets that I got on were not easy to run over. They were rutted with loose and packed snow as well as a bit of ice. Bull Run Pkwy. was better but the Middle School was slow again. My pacing was hard to figure but as the roads got better, I felt good enough to run harder. I finished with some more snowy trails and over an inch of new snow on the ground. The slipping and sliding forwards and sideways aggrivated my left knee but not very bad--it's been generating renwed pain on some runs ever since my rambling run around College Park a couple of weeks back.
Monday Feb 8, 2010 #
1 PM
Hiking (Street & Trail) 40:00 [1] 1.3 mi (30:46 / mi)
From Northfield Rd., I towed Max in his snow sled through the streets up to Mooreland Rd. to McKinley St.. From there we walked to the NIH permiter again. Unlike yesterday, we were able to hook-up with Max's friend Miles. The two of them sledded for almost 2 hours and afterward we hiked back. I took a few runs myself but most of the time I chatted with Bart, Miles's father.
4 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 1:30:00 [2]
I got tired of waiting for the snow plows and with Peggy telling me that there was more deep snow expected for Tuesday night, I decided to clear a way to get the cars out into a track in the road. After finishing that, I was about to go in when a neighbor up the street tried getting her van out. It got stuck in a rut. I spent the next hour in cycles of getting the van unstuck with shovels and watching it get stuck again. We got a litte further down the street each time and finally, I was able to drive it to the bottom where a tow truck was stuck and blocking the way. Not long after that a snow plow finally came in behind us. I left the traffic jam promising to check back and then went back home to clear our driveway of the new plowed snow. I also helped our neighbor dig out a space for his car; he'd been away on travel and with the car gone and lights out, I didn't even know his wife and baby had still been next door. After that I found out that the car at the bottom of the hill was able to get past the tow truck.
10 PM
Bicycling (Stationary) 30:00 [3]
ahr:118 slept:7.0 weight:173.5lbs
The streets around here are getting clear enough of snow to contemplate running again but I was feeling a little tired and cold. I also didn't want to have to walk half a mile with skis to NIH where there was plenty enough snow to used them so I decided to stay inside. After leaving Peggy on the couch at half-time I watched most of the rest of the KU basketball game while spinning in the other room and I felt a bit like I imagine Mike Eglinski might. I was spinning around 70 rpm.
Sunday Feb 7, 2010 #
12 PM
Hiking (Street & Trail) 50:00 [1] 1.3 mi (38:28 / mi)
slept:8.0 weight:173lbs
From Northfield Rd., I towed Max in his snow sled through the streets up to Mooreland Rd. to McKinley St. We'd stopped a Max's friend Miles house to see if we could get him out to sled too however he was already engaged in a play date with another friend. McKinley St. had been plowed on the east side of Old Georgetown Rd. so we walked to NIH. There Max and I went up and down what is affectionately called Mt. McKinley; a small but fun hill that's bigger than any Max had ever been on. Max had no fear as usual and wanted to go straight to a snow ramp. We built up to it going together around it initially, then around it taking turns. However the first time I went over the ramp it was due to the lack of steering on our plastic sled. Hiking up the hill in the deep snow is work and my legs felt it. Max had more runs than I did. We hiked most of the way back after Max was showing signs of being tired. I pulled Max the last few blocks where there was still snow in the streets and trails. Max kept eating the snow as if he couldn't stop himself despite being told it he shouldn't.
10 PM
XC Skiing (Classic) 1:26:40 4.18 mi (20:44 / mi)
ahr:112 max:127
From Northfield Rd., I initially went down to Garfield St. but soon ran into streets which had been plowed too much. I doubled back and climbed on Glenwood Rd. feeling like I was doing pretty well going uphill, in-between tire tracks. At Old Georgetown Rd., I had to remove my skiis several times to cross it and side streets before I could make it to the Bethesda Trolley Trail. Once on the NIH permiteter, I used some existing foot/ski paths and made others of my own. Despite the deep snow, the tracks I made myself were straighter and felt nicer than the ones that other people made and still others had hiked over. I got as far as Rockville Pike before looping back. I made a 0.3 mile loop mostly of my own new track and circled it 3 times. Each time I got faster and was under 6 minutes by the time I felt it best to head home. I had to walk 2 blocks on the plowed portions of Maple Ridge Rd. before I could finish up on Park Ln., Custer St. and Northfield. Rd. I found it fun to ski in the dark and I make some more new track tomorrow.
Saturday Feb 6, 2010 #
12 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 2:44:08 [2] 1.62 mi (1:41:19 / mi)
ahr:89 max:116 slept:7.0 weight:172.5lbs
I slept in and relaxed in the morning while heavy snows were falling. Peggy took the first shift getting +2 hours of work done before I got out. Just for fun, I hooked-up my heart-rate monitor and GPS. There was a lot of back and forth walking but I wouldn't have guessed that it'd add up to this much. I had to walk with a shovel full of snow in hand in areas that there wasn't much room to just throw it such as between the cars on our driveway. Max was out with me for about an hour and he used his little shovel a lot. I think he was motivated by the plan to build snow forts and have a snowball fight which we did. I also knocked some snow off the porch roof. It fell with a heavy thud each time I did it and I hope it helped protect our gutters. As I was shoveling, more kept on falling but I made good progress clearing our driveway and walkway before our neighbors could in about 2 hours minutes. I was about to go in when a guy whom I'd seen earlier walking by on the street with a birthday cake in hand, made his 3rd trip. It was his 3 year old daughter's birthday so he had made it out to get the cake and suppplies only to get stuck about 2 blocks from his house. I walked up the street and helped him dig out along with another neighbor and some friends who had showed up soon after. Once we got the SUV onto the pavement it was able to keep moving down the hill to his house. After that, I helped the neighbor across the street dig out what was left of his driveway. My guess is that about 18 inches of snow had accumulated and though it was falling lightly when I was done, it was still accumulating.
5 PM
XC Skiing (Classic) 30:02 1.52 mi (19:46 / mi)
ahr:120 max:131
From Northfield Rd. to Mooreland Ln. to McKinley St. to Old Georgetown Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail (along NIH), to Maple Ridge Rd. to Park Ln. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I got out for a short ski before dinner. The conditions were pretty good mostly. I was on streets that hadn't been plowed much of the time but since cars had been over them, I usually skied in between the tires where the car bodies had compressed the snow already. I could ski across Old Georgetown Rd. but the regular auto traffic there along with salt crystals had made that not so fun. The trail along NIH had been skied so it wasn't bad for me but people had also walked on the tracks. There were several people sledding in the twilight near the bottom of McKinley and Roosevelt streets. This outing felt pretty good even though I was moving rather slow.
6 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 14:00 [2]
The snow had stopped. There was only about an inch to clear off since earlier in the day.
Friday Feb 5, 2010 #
5 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 46:04 [3] 5.61 mi (8:13 / mi)
slept:5.5 weight:171.5lbs
From Northfield Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd. via Greenwich Park, to Lone Oak Dr. to Fernwood Rd. to Greentree Rd. to Ridge Rd., walkway to McKinley St. to Garfield St. to Roosevelt St. to Jefferson St. to Northfield Dr. Home early due to snowfall, I got out and enjoyed it. As it was, I was about the last one at work except for the security and janitorial crews. I didn't intend to run much more than half an hour but snow makes me wander. After a mile, even though I could tell my time was rather slow, I felt good enough to think about doing a 5 mile loop which would have returned my via the Bethesda Trolley Trail. I started to do that but at the last second I turned another direction to cover new ground. I would have rather been on quieter streets for longer but there was already 2" of new snow on top of whatever was left from the last storm and I had to use some busier streets to get across the beltway. Where I ran there was often a thin layer of slippery stuff. Going up Greentree Rd. I could tell that it was the salt crystals that were giving me traction. I always enjoy running in falling snow and this was no exception.
6 PM
Other (Snow Shoveling) 20:00 [2]
As I cooled down, I decided to knock-off some overhanging snow from the roof of our front porch. That set me in motion to start shoveling what fell and it became my warm-down to clear the walkway and driveway. It's 2" of stuff that we wont' have to clear tomorrow.
Thursday Feb 4, 2010 #
7 PM
Running (Street & Trail Commute) 47:39 [3] 6.03 mi (7:54 / mi)
slept:6.0 weight:173lbs
From the Grosvenor Metro Station, to Strathmore Hall, to Strathmore Ave. via the paved trail, to Stillwater Ave. to Orleans Way, to Rokeby Ave. to White Flint Mall, to Edson Ln. to The Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Edgemore Ln. This was a somewhat hilly route over the first half. I was already feeling a bit tired so running on the ice and hard snow pack on the Bethesda Trolley Trail went slower than expected. My pace overall varied with the hills and ice cover but I couldn't tell how much. I had my GPS watch so as I happened to look at my time right at 5.0 miles, I was surprised to see it at over 40 minutes. The temperatures were in the 30's F. With snow expected through Saturday, it looks like opportunities to run will be even more limited.
Wednesday Feb 3, 2010 #
Running (Street & Trail) 34:53 [3] 4.54 mi (7:41 / mi)
slept:4.75 weight:174.5lbs
From Northfield Rd., Charlcote Rd. to Hampden Ln. to Wilson Ln. to Honeywell Ln. to Cornish Rd. to Glenbrook Rd. to Bradley Blvd. to Kennedy Dr. to Dorset Ave. to the Capital Crescent Trail, to Bethesda Ave., to Exeter Rd. to Battery Ln. to Park Ln. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. It took some willpower to get out running at 10:30pm but I'd worked late again. It was my best opportunity. Though the temperatures were in the mid 30s F, there were patches of black ice on the roads. I mainly stuck to the roads to avoid uncleared snow but I did use the Capital Crescent Trail for almost a mile and virtually all of that was covered with hard pack or ice. I didn't feel like I was running very fast and wasn't.
Tuesday Feb 2, 2010 #
12 PM
Running (Street & Trail) 42:05 [3] 5.45 mi (7:43 / mi)
slept:6.0 weight:174lbs
Washington, D.C. I met John Pifer for an enjoyable run again at lunchtime today. Our plan to run almost got scuttled due to my meeting schedule. I ran over across The Mall past the Washington Monument and hooked-up with him at 17th and Constitution Ave. We made our way over to the Lincoln Memorial, over Memorial Bridge, down the Mt. Vernon Trail to the 14th Street Bridge, over a short way on Ohio Dr. toward Hanes Point, across on Buckeye Dr. to Ohio Dr. again, along E. Basin Dr. to Main Ave. to Maryland Ave. via the Portals complex, to 12th St. SW, to C. St. SW. John and I ran a steady pace with some of the pavement plowed and some of it covered. The snow kept our feet dancing but wasn't so difficult. The cool air and sunshine felt good. I sometimes felt good running though some muscles were sore from the XC skiing over the weekend. I at least felt virtuous from having finally gotten out for a run. More new snow is falling as I write this.
Monday Feb 1, 2010 #
Bicycling (Stationary) 35:00 [3]
slept:6.0 weight:174lbs
Working late at lunchtime and the end of the day along with soggy icy streets at night left cycling as the better option. I spun pretty well, probably averaging a cadence of around 75 while watching a movie.