Training Log Archive: Nadim

Pine Grove, Prince William Forest, VA. I warmed-up to see if I'd be able to do the Summer Short Series training event setup by Michael Laraira. While mornings tend to be worse, I was in pain all down my left leg while just standing in the parking lot waiting--I sat down. The warm-up helped and after the restroom stop, I got going.

Pine Grove, Prince William Forest, VA. Michael Laraira had setup a 6.5K course with 2 loops to allow one to cutoff as needed. Just driving to the park at 9:45am it was already 88 F. At least the humidity wasn't high. I didn't need high humidity to make me sweat. Looking at the map for it, I got started awkwardly, thinking the start was at the restroom rather than at the picnic table we were at. The finish was at the restroom. Valerie Meyer had arranged for epunching! The box I punched to start was covered up the rope tying it in place, so I didn't read that it said Finish on it. I'd been told that there were mapped trail and unmapped trail versions of the map printed on either side of the paper. I'd forgotten about that as I got going and felt I was already starting late. I randomly opened the side with trails (The other side had a few trails too but not as many--only one symbol had been hidden). The map was also the old version from 2007. Valerie hadn't realized, and I had updated the map a lot just last fall or 2017.

My start was good. I went to #1 directly, descending the reentrant rather than attacking from the trail. I paused before seeing it ahead a ways ahead behind the fallen log of the unmapped rootstock. We were using 6-inch controls.

I walked up the hill leaving #1 and since it was thick, I walked a bit more getting to #2, spiking it dead on the nose. It was on the mapped ditch, right at the intersection with the unmapped trail (I'd added the trail to the map last fall).

I ran straight toward #3, walking up the reentrant after crossing the stream. I passed Mary Snieckus as she got too high in the vicinity of the control. I was again fortunate to have seen the control from far off.

I got to the road going toward #4, then got off crossing the saddle rather than go around the ridge. I dropped from the saddled and recognized the stream bend at the bottom. Kathleen Lennon had gone around the ridge and was now a little behind me. From there I went up the stream to the control at the ditch junction.

Going to #5, I did benefit from the trails. I initially got on the one above #4, but rather than zig-zag through all the trail bends, I cut the corners. I eventually left a large trail at a bend. I lost track of where I was a few times when crossing ridges and more trails. However I was reading enough to know when I was coming-up on a particular knoll before a trail. The area is vague but having been in the area for mapping/course setting enough times, I had a feel for it. I corrected my bearing a little and crossed the 2 trails close together. I had been reading the feature incorrectly in regards to which side of the hill it was on. In my head I tried to make an unmapped ditch fit the shape of the gully that the control was at the end of. Not finding the control at the top of the ditch, I realized the mental error and went on right to the control, spiking it.

I walked most of the way to #6 since it was hilly with a good amount of downfall. I pulled-up a little early on the mapped ditch, which was deep. I had mistaken it for the gully further on.

I went slowly to #7, but on a straight route. I'd lost track of which reentrant I was crossing but recovered with virtually no time lost.

I'd never been to the ditches at #8 that I can remember, not even for updating the map. It was green and relatively far away from Pine Grove. It was a good control location. Though reading the ditches well. I almost didn't see the bag hanging on the other side of the tree from my approach.

I went wide right toward #9 since it was green and hillier going straight. There was a lot of unmapped deadfall to get past but eventually it cleared enough to run. I got into the reentrant #9 was in, just about the time that Peggy and Tom Strat were coming out. They told me that the location was just ahead but that no one had found it. I went there and similarly didn't find it. There was a newly fallen tree. Steve Mones, who'd come to the Wheaton event the last week, was there, with Amy Louden. They were navigating together.

Leaving the area, I went wide right toward #10. Half way there, I thought recognized a reentrant feature running counter to the grain of others in the area--I'd used it for control locations more than once when setting here. However, leaving it I was not seeing what I expected. I I'd misread the reentrant and was actually reading the map for the next leg! There were a lot of ditches. Peggy was in the area. I felt I was too high so I dropped to the left, and went right to the control! I was lucky, but felt there was no time lost.

For #11, previously #6 and ending the first loop, I walked upward but drifted left. Things weren't matching-up. I had drifted left. I saw the saddled up to my right so I climbed. Peggy made-up ground on me, having gone more directly.

I ran straight down toward #12 and spiked it going through the mapped green. I recalled that it was old deadfall and not much of an obstacle any more. Peggy had gone around it to my right but I think I was quicker.

Leaving #12, the start of a second loop, I got going quickly but was moving in the wrong direction. I got all the way down the stream to #16, fortunately only 125m away or so. I'd heard Peggy calling me at one point but it sounded more like 'Go!' than 'You're going the wrong way'. Realizing my error at the numbered control, I corrected, crossing the creek, going around the knoll, and up the reentrants. I spiked the control though I was incorrectly thinking the reentrant would be more distinct than it appeared.

Climbing to #14 was slowish. In my head, I had the impression that I was further south and would be crossing a trail. I kept going. As I crossed a gully, I saw Peggy emerging from the other side where the control was on a ditch.

For #15, I chased Peggy back across the gully the knolls and saddles. The 2007 map in this area incorrectly showed half contours, making it appear twice as steep as it was. Finishing up, I realized I'd climbed a contour too high since I descended to the control.

For #16, I was trying to use the reentrant to take me to the stream. There was an unmapped stream near the bottom and I started to mistake this for the mapped stream. The 2 form a junction lower down, where the control was on a ditch on the other side. Peggy had gone more on bearing and was faster.

For #17, I just ran up along the stream that I'd run down along earlier when starting out this loop (with an error). It seemed that I made up only a second or 2 on Peggy.

I had a straighter line going toward #18. I made-up ground on Peggy.

I went straight leaving for #19, and I passed Peggy. Peggy seemed to go to the left behind me, so she could use the trail. I did a lot of walking up the reentrant, and near the trail crossing, I picked the correct left reentrant ahead. As I got to the trail, I saw Peggy on my left running toward me. I went on up confidently and saw the control further up.

I went almost straight going to #20. My aiming off got me to the road and then I ran along it to the control. I was worried that Peggy would catch me, so I was moving about as quickly as I was going to, being tired in the heat. The control was easy, just off the road along a depression.

Going back to the road, I ran toward #21. I got to the curve, and then went in. I thought I might aim-off and then turn left or right to the feature on the small ridges perpendicular to me. I went straight and was happy to have spiked it dead-on!

Out to the trail, I mustered a jog back, I realized the finish wasn't at the picnic table but was still confused about the start where I'd punched the finish to start. I hesitated in the field, then punched where I had started.

This was a nice training event! The woods were not so bad. Michael didn't have the benefit of having the green mapped very well. He used terrain features well and in ways previous course setters here hadn't--that was nice. I know what I'll need to do next time I update the map.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I was feeling sore and tired starting out but got moving pretty well. I'm not sure if I passed someone or got caught but I pulled a guy for several miles to Fletcher's Boathouse. He pulled for me into Georgetown. The winds seemed calm, but riding up 15th St. NW, which is somewhat against the general direction, there was a headwind.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I had to go home early to pickup Samantha, who had felt ill. As I started out, I got behind an older rider at the light on 15th St. He pulled me around the Tidal Basin until I got onto the Rock Creek Trail. That was nice since there was a headwind and I felt I wasn't rested since riding in earlier. After that there was a lot of cyclist and runner traffic on the trail, but almost all of it was going the other direction. I took my time, spinning more. It was in the low 80s F when I finished with low humidity.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. There were headwinds. I rode alone.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Edgemoor Ln., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. There were mixed winds. After Georgetown, I picked-up a trail of cyclists but as I tired after Dalecarlia. I got passed by them and cruised alone into Bethesda. There I picked-up dinner and rode home slowly--I was carrying it with one hand in a paper bag, and riding with the other.

I had time to run but when it came down to it, I decided that it wasn't wise. I'm feeling radiculopathy down my left leg. That makes it feel like I'll pull something extending my leg forward when running.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I had a tailwind and rode by myself. It was humid; a little of the trail was still damp from an earlier rain. I was carrying my laptop and felt tired.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I carried my laptop. It was good to have a tailwind. I pulled another guy for a few miles.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. A forecasted tailwind was as predicted. Though a guy passed me on a hill before I'd even gotten to Huntington Pkwy. I loosened up and with the wind at my back I got moving on the downhills. I slowed a little on the flats after Fletcher's Boathouse, then with a mile to go into Georgetown, a trio of riders, making a lot of excited noise, passed me an others. I kept a strong pace up to about the Jefferson Memorial. I was most happy that my back held up through the ride. I had some aches later but was okay. It''ll be a while before I know if it's still degenerating or settling-in.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I knew I'd have a headwind going home so I set out. At first, I hardly felt it. I rounded the Jefferson Memorial pretty quickly getting around the cars and other riders. I intentionally let up on Ohio Drive where I expected the wind to be the worst. It wasn't so bad. The trail was busy getting to Georgetown, prompting some stops and slow-downs to pass or get through tunnels. I caught some people in and outside of Georgetown and pretty soon was leading at least 2 other riders. I faded going up to the MacArthur Blvd. tunnel. A young woman whom I'd passed took over. I stayed in her draft until Dorset Ave. where she broke-off. It was nice chatting with some other cyclists at a long light at Bradley Blvd.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. I ran out to place a control for the Summer Short Series training event this weekend. I'd forgotten to place it yesterday. I wasn't watching the map closely enough so at a trail bend, I found what looked like a trail that I planned to take but it was closed off. I took it but soon realized, I left the main trail at the wrong place and I was on the beginnings of a ditch. I corrected and got to the control that I needed without further incident, then I ran back on trails.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. After lunch with Peggy, Samantha, Gary Smith Karla Hulett, and Francis Hogle, I went back to the park to pickup controls and streamers. It was very humid though not too hot. I sweat a lot. I was able to jog through most of the legs. I was worried about that with my back but it held up pretty well. My right leg was feeling tired or sore. I didn't have the extension problems (due to lower back issues) with me left leg that have been bothering me the last several days. Right as I was finishing-up, I got passed on a paved trail by what I would guess were 1 of 2 hispanic soccer players.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. With the rain finally stopping, I went out to setup controls for a Summer Short Series (SSS) event. There wasn't one on the calendar for this weekend so I threw it together to fill the void. That meant relying on memory of the terrain. I'd done a good bit of re-mapping over the winter so I felt confident about the controls I had picked. I hadn't realized how much undergrowth was going to get spawned from the rains we've been having. There were ferns just about everywhere; certainly in placed I'd never seen them previously. The usual set of undergrowth was there too and it too had been heavier than I expected. It was hard to do any running in the forest, when not on trails. I also did some adjusting of the map. In a few places I had to adjust the rootstocks. Once to the NE end, I returned, setting out streamers in Brookside Gardens. I'd remapped this area last winter too. The gardens were nice to be in after the thickish forest.

Though the rains had stopped, I decided to try to be wise and to not try to ride in to work. Sometimes, continuing to try to exercise has helped loosen it up. I drove to the metro station and walked around more slowly than usual. With some sunnier weather at lunch, my back improved but I still walked slowly with me left leg feeling weaker than my right. My earlier back troubles had been on the right side and had made my right leg weaker than my left.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. There were a bunch of people on the trail spread out. Often they were going the other direction and making it difficult to pass. There were some close calls since people are moving at different speeds and drifting from side to side on the trails, and there are some blind spots. I'd just passed one guy in a construction detour when around the corner a gaggle of cyclist were all stopped by a truck trying to park or turn around. In a few places some pedestrians jumped out. The winds were calm and there was a little coolness when starting out since it had rained the previous evening. I didn't restart my watch after the construction truck blocked the trail but realized it about a minute later (judging from the distance). My time is therefore estimated.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I started in light rain. The air was very humid too. I rode out of it before reaching Georgetown. I passed a few guys including one who caught me as I slowed on the hill to Dalecarlia. He took over leading and I hung on until Wilson Ln., where we split. I actually got ahead on a parallel street.

Once home in the more comfortable A/C, I put things away. My lower back on the left side started hurting without any clear cause. I took a shower and it kept hurting when standing, sitting, and laying on the couch. Bending to my toes and extending my left leg to walk normally hurt a bit. I avoided walking and sitting the rest of the evening and that did make it feel a little better.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. It was warm and humid. I eased into the ride and as I got going downhill, I was moving pretty well. I fortunately caught a green traffic light to keep it going. The hotter air is slightly less dense but I was wondering if there was a tailwind to making the ride less of an effort. I guess I'm finally getting stronger. It turned out there was no wind. I rode alone the whole way but passed a bunch of people including my neighbor again; this time at the Kennedy Center waterfront.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I rode easier after getting about half-way there. It was in the upper 80s F and humid.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. After getting both kids to the first summer camp of the summer (Max is to be gone sailing for week on the Chesapeake Bay, and Samantha is back in swimming camp), I got on my bike. I took it easy starting off. It was in the low 70s F, but climbing fast. I picked-up speed, feeling a bit like I had a tailwind. Perhaps I was feeling the effect of a longer road ride than I've done in a long time. I rode alone passing all but one, who passed me. After getting through Georgetown, it was evident that the winds were coming at me, not behind me. I made good time considering that.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Starting out of the building I was a bit slow, seeing a red traffic light. However getting off 15th St., around the Jefferson Memorial, and down Ohio Dr. I had both a good tailwind and a tour bus that I could accelerate with and keep up with most of the way to the Lincoln Memorial. I kept the effort up getting through and out of Georgetown. There were a few spots with some headwinds leading up to Fletcher's Boathouse and Washington Palisades. It was hot, 90 F starting out. I did pretty well and passed my neighbor at Falls Rd. I weight-out at 199.

Fort Valley, VA. Peggy and I went out and back on Rte. 678, up the valley from very near the bottom. We did a small loop through the Elizabeth Furnace Campground to check it out for future expeditions, then went on. We went half way up the valley to Plauger Rd., which is in between Deitrick, and Seven Fountains. None of the names were very evident from what we saw. Initially there was just the Jefferson National Forest on both sides of the road. Next came farms and occasional houses often separated by trees. There are few ways in and out of the valley. We had some light but stead auto traffic. It was more than I could recall from riding here about 30 years ago (then on a multi-day cycle camping trip). Our ride back was into a little wind but it was fairly easy. There were ups and downs but as we got closer to the end, it was more steadily downhill and cool. We saw some pretty areas--trees, Passage Creek, farms, churches, some side valleys and once in a while a nice pond. The last time I'd been here was around 1998, when I mountain biked a loop up to Signal Knob (that was very, very rock on some stretches).

It was a nice continuation of our Anniversary however it was Father's Day too. We picked-up Samantha (who'd done well sleeping over with my mom), and met Max at home. Max survived his night apparently very peacefully, and was good about mowing the lawn and taking care of the cats later. I got a wallet and a snoring device and some appreciation!

Shenandoah National Park, VA. My mother agreed to have Samantha sleep over; my sister Rubina helped. Max had his first night home alone ever. Peggy and I got out to Shenandoah National Park without a map (I have plenty of maps of the park, but we weren't sure where we'd end up so I didn't bring them) or a plan. After a stop at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center which was closed, we settled on hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Mount Marshall area--Peggy noticed that there was to be a ranger led hike there the next day. The area is about 15 miles south of the north end of the park; above the Big Devil's Staircase (we'd hiked the Little Devil's Staircase further west on a previous anniversary). The brief descriptions we found indicated great views of the Shenandoah Valley. Having hiked through the green tunnel trails of the park many times, I knew that most of the viewpoints off the Skyline Drive take time and significant climbing to get to. I didn't recall hiking here earlier. It turned pretty nice! The hike was gentle with a little climb and several views not far in. That was perfect since we were pushing the daylight. We headed south first to a few viewpoints overlooking the Gooney Manor valley where Browntown is. The park kind of wraps around this secluded area. We saw the sun getting low over it. Turning around, we crossed the Skyline Drive and went past our car again, to go along the same ridge, but higher up. The views on rocky crags were mostly in the same direction westward. I did feel my legs being tired from the riding earlier in the week.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. I had a pretty nice tailwind.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. It was fairly hot. I had some headwinds getting to Georgetown and a half mile past that. It was better for a while after that but the home stretch had headwinds again. Though I'd left work late, I was trying to get back for an Eid celebration with my mom, sister, uncles and cousins. It turned out to be a pretty good evening.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. There was a tailwind most of the way. I rode alone though a pair passed me in Georgetown that I caught back up with before everyone scattered. I was definitely feeling tired. My time is estimated since my watch timing got messed-up at a traffic light.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Trailers from filming the next Wonder Woman movie were at the back of my building. They are filming there a few days this week. I left work late so the trail was somewhat empty. At one point, a guy caught up to me, after Georgetown. Though he would have passed me, he pulled off after following me a short way.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. There were headwinds. I rode alone.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I had a tailwind, though being tired, I wasn't very fast with it. I got passed by one guy whom I'd caught earlier, and another who caught me outright. Both independently pulled off to the side of the trail shortly after passing me.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. Some roads in DC were blocked off for what looked like bus parking. The police were gearing up for the Washington Capitals victory parade/celebration. At lunch time, there were plenty of people excited and wearing Caps colors, as well as activity on the Mall.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Having had a headwind in the morning, I was disappointed to have one again for part of the way home.

Event: QOC Cunningham Falls
 

From the shelter below the visitor center at Cunningham Falls State Park, MD, I hiked up to the start of QOC's Platformpalooza put on by Jon Torrance. Along the way, I passed Florence T. who had been out during the worst of the rain and hadn't found any controls. She was cold and tired. As I got to the start area with a search and rescue crew there hanging around in tents, David Onkst was arriving too. He restarted, having been distracted by Florence and others who were lost earlier. David went out, and I waited. A black teenage woman arrived and a man did too. The teen asked me where the start was. I felt sorry for her since for the Yellow course that she was on. It was all the way back where I'd started. this hike--near the registration shelter. I pointed out the way. After she began her walk back I was ready.

QOC: Platformpalooza! at Cunningham Falls State Park, MD (near Thurmont). With my late start, just a few minutes behind David Onkst, I knew it'd be hard to finish on-time by 3pm.

S-1 - I messed-up with distance estimation. I got confused by a change in steepness as I descended matching one on the map, an unmapped boulder off to my right as a mapped one, and a charcoal platform that I hit right on. I found a cairn that was there too but with my wet glasses and the dim light I couldn't tell that the cairn was right on the line (unbroken line). I did a loop, finding another charcoal platform in the process. A younger guy came through, before I figured it out. I set my bearing and spiked it from there. The younger guy dropped off to my right. David Onkst was at the control as I got there.

1-2 - I contoured, then crossed the reentrant. From there I went straight through the green. I corrected my bearing at a small but distinct reentrant a little past middway. David Onkst was initially lower than I but came in behind me. I emerged through the green to spike the control. I let out a small hoot.

2-3 - I contoured to the reentrant, passing octogenarian Susanne Izzo along the way. She was trying to say something and looking confused. I didn't hear what it was but I told her that #123 was behind me. From the reentrant, I followed a ditch higher until it ended. That put me about 325m away to the SW. I came in a little high but realized it despite my foggy glasses and actual fog forming. I dropped in time to see it!

3-4 - I went straight. There were several boulders along the way. The leg line covered them and there probably were some other unmapped boulders too. This all made me a little unsure about my approach, but I hit the control rather well.

4-5 - Initially went straight. With deadfall often hidden by ferns, and stony ground with and without ferns, and with a constant climb, I didn't do much running. As I hit the steeper slope before the change in contour angle, I climbed more steeply and to the right; aiming off. After getting above the steepest part, I saw a break in the green. It seemed early but I went up anyway. Once sure it wasn't the platform I was looking for, I went on through the green and spiked it. I was rather glad to have done that as this was pretty much in the midst of green on an otherwise mostly bland hillside.

5-6 - I decided that approaching from above would not be efficient so I set out to drop down and go around the green. I didn't really drop enough, but that was probably good. It wasn't super slow getting through the green and I was more confident in not having to turn so much. I found what looked like an extension of a trail and figured I was getting close--actually what I saw was an extension of an intermittent mapped stream but I couldn't read it that well with the fog and my glasses. Emerging from the green I realized I was above the reentrant I was looking for--again, breaking the control circle would have helped me see how high above the charcoal platform I was. I turned at the top of the reentrant and found the control quickly.

6-7 - I was sloppy on this. I intended to aim off, hit the trail and attack from a trail bend. I wasn't careful reading along the way, though I think I did seen the cairn under the leg line. I kept pushing myself to the right/south so that I'd hit the trail. As I found the green, I was tempted to run along it in hopes of hitting the control--I probably had a 50% chance of success or more. I sucked it up to be accurate and punched through the green (found an unmapped rock dam on one ditch), and hit the trail. I misinterpreted where I was and thought I got below the control somehow (not too smart since I knew I'd gone through the green and had crossed a ditch). I cut right on the trail and hiked upward. When I saw the rescue searcher gear besides the trail, I knew I'd climbed to the start. I reversed direction and ran down to just past bend (ironically about where I'd hit the trail to begin with) and found the control quickly.

7-8 - I ran straight but like #1, I misjudged the distance. I punched a control on a charcoal platform and being in a rush to try to finish, I didn't check the code. It turned out that I'd mispunched. This sucked since it was the 3rd time in 3 courses that I'd mispunched :(

8-9 - I contoured out of what I thought was #8. It was taking a long time to hit the reentrant that I should have. I worried that I punched the wrong control at #8. I hit #1, and figured that there was now a high probably I had mispunched #8. Continuing on, I went fairly straight. There were a few things to help me know where I was. At a change in steepness, I aimed off a little but realized this wasn't going to help me a lot as it had at #5; the control was too far away from the change in steepness. I realized I wasn't going to finish the course pretty early in this leg, but now figuring that I was close to the control I wondered if I should turn back. Just about to turn around I found the end of a lonely ditch to my left. I hadn't seen it on the map until stopping to search for it. From there, I went directly to the control!

9-10 - Despite getting to #9 efficiently, it took me long time since it was climbing the whole way. I figured I had to drop to get back on my DNF so I figured I'd just get #10 along the way. I thought I was being a bit careful with my bearing but I drifted left and saw a charcoal platform further to my left. I went to it and thought it might be good but it wasn't. I had much farther to drop. I corrected my bearing but still was a bit hesitant and zig-zaggy getting there.

10-DNF - I set a rough bearing and tried to keep moving. I must have fallen 6 or more times along the way. Part of this was wet rocks and deadfall and part of it was probably being tired. I didn't feel that bad. I was trying to not drop too early and actually climbed at times to get around deadfall or drops that were too steep. On one of my falls, I must have hit the start/stop button on my watch. I realized it later when I was close to hitting the trail. People were picking up controls--a rough job on such a wet rainy day and on long steep slopes. I felt guilty not helping but Peggy and Samantha were already waiting for me a long while.

Regarding my DNF, a lot of people did the same. I was having fun on the course but started too late for it. It was too long for the terrain and day but I would have liked to have started early enough to finish it. I need long training runs and need to work up to them more like this.

C • Reading you and Peggy... 5

Blue - Splits

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. I felt more tired than earlier in the week but this was the first time I rode all the way in more than 2 times and this was the 4th time this week. I rode alone practically the whole way though there were a bunch of people on the trail. A couple of people passed me in Georgetown. Time is estimated since I failed to restart my watch at a light.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I rode alone mostly, though one guy had followed in my draft for a few miles up the hill on the CCT. The winds were light and mostly favorable.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. I picked-up people trailing me getting into Georgetown; I didn't have people to draft off of. There were some headwinds along the river on Ohio Dr.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I had a mild tailwind most of the way. I caught some people who then used my draft going up the hill. One of them passed me later.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. I caught up to some people near the MacArthur Blvd. tunnel and one of them fell in behind me. Others joined-in later so there were 2-3 others. We had a nice tailwind which was good since I felt tired. It was nice and cool again this morning.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I got off to a good start. Once again, I led a guy out from 15th St., NW and he passed me on Ohio Dr. where there were headwinds. I caught-up to him and passed him in Georgetown. I took it easy after that and the guy along with 2 other zoomed past a ways along the Capital Crescent Trail. I expected worse headwinds than there were. Eventually another guy, perhaps the guy, I rode with the day before, caught and passed me, but he slowed to let me pass and pull. It was a little surprising that I was only 2 minutes or so off of my pace the day before, since I felt I was going much slower. It was very pleasant weather to ride in.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. It was nice--60 F starting out. After the water treatment plant, I passed a guy whom I pulled for until the end of Georgetown. Surprisingly, there was a headwind along the water from there. I took it a little easier. There were a few minor detours along the route. Two were due to flooding which had already receded. The river in general, was up and swirling. My back was hurting a bit during the day, after this ride. It was the lower left side, a bit higher than previously; maybe it was due to the change in weather.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I hit the initial traffic lights pretty well. I rounded the Jefferson Memorial ahead of a guy whom I'd left at 15th St. NW, but he caught me part-way down Ohio Dr., NW. The winds had shifted from the morning so we again had headwinds along the river. The other guy sort of missed the ramp onto the Rock Creek Trail so I got ahead again for a while before he passed me again. In Georgetown we split and I got ahead going through the traffic well. As expected, he caught me again about a mile outside of Georgetown. From there, I latched-on in his draft until he broke-off at Dorset Ave. Like the morning, I took it easier from there.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. I had dinner late last night.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Edgemore Ln to Glenbrook Rd. to the Capital Crescent Trail, to Woodmont Ave., to the Bethesda Metro Station. There were a lot of other runners in the neighborhoods and on the trails. A smell of pollen was in the air. All of it had come out after the big rains over the weekend. My legs felt a bit dead from orienteering yesterday but it was okay.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I was a bit tired from running and hit some traffic.

Event: QOC Jug Bay
 

Blue - Splits

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Woodmont Ave. to Wisconsin Ave. to Norwood Ave. and Norrwood Park, to the Capital Crescent Trail, to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was a bit warm and humid but good weather to get used to the heat in.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I was tired from running.