Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Quill Point Dr. through Tanglewood Park to Old Bowie, to Lemons Bridge Rd. to the north end of Fran Uhler Park, through various trails to the souther end and the WB&A Trail, to High Bridge Rd. to Fletchertown Rd. to Quill Point Dr. I wasn't feeling up for a long run so I started moderately. In Fran Uhler, the trails were muddy/icy. Melting ice raised the level of the water so crossing the creek in the northen end took a sprint and an extreme jump and I still got a foot wet. The road under the railroad was flooded-out but lower than in December. It should subside in a day or two and be ready for the meet two weeks from now. I checked a few new control locations for the white course and sloshed over to the WB&A where the pavement felt much better. Splits returning: 3:23, 3:22, 3:23, 7:10 last mile uphill (I bonked).

I was feeling a bit run down from the workouts and working late this week. I watched the tube and looked at the Hawn map for St. Louis while riding.

30 pushups, 45 situps. Stomach was full...

From C & 13th St., SW, I ran up the Mall, around the Capitol Building on the north side, up E. Capital St. to Lincoln Park, out Kentucky Ave. across the Annacostia River on the Sousa Bridge, down Water St. SE to and over the S. Capital St. Bridge, P St. to the Washington Channel, then past the Washington Sailing Marina back to C & 13th St. This was a variation of what I call the Southeast Tour. I was tired from the beginning and a slug on hills--my quads protested. The route was very runnable despite all the street crossings at rush hour. I saw lots of everything from security at the Capital to dogs playing soccer, homeless shacks in Annacostia (Washington's version of NY's East River) to missile destroyers at the Navy Yard.

From C St. SW, Washington, D.C. Independence Ave. to the Lincoln Memorial to NW Parkway Drive to Thompson Boathouse parking, up the Rock Creek trail to Devil's Chair Bridge and back. I was a bit sleepy and tired from yesterday starting out. The headwinds to and along the river didn't help until the return. There were just a few icy spots on the Rock Creek Trail near the turnaround (25:51).

From UMD Track, to the Paint Branch Trail, to Cherry Hill Rd. and back. My back was out of kilter so I skipped a track workout for the trail. I felt like I had to re-learn how to run without the ice. The last couple 45F days on this sunny trail made a big difference even though it was in the low 40's/upper 30's when running. My leg speed is coming back. Available half-mile splits on the trail: 3:25, 3:22, 3:26, 3:21, then 1:45/22:36 at the turnaround, 1:42 to the marker, 3:18, 3:20, 3:15, 3:17.

Warm-down on the UMD Track w/Tim Holtz.

30 pushups, 45 situps.

Fairfax, VA. I was visiting my dad at Fairfax Hospital today. He had an elective knee replacement surgery. The surgery went well but he is in pain. After visiting, I took advantage of the local trails. Leaving from Arlington Blvd. (Rte. 50) near Nutley St., I took the Accotink Trail (formerly Eakin Trail) to the creek crossing just before Rte. 236, then back. Like the C&O towpath from Saturday, the trail was choked full of ice mostly but wetter. The unmaintained section was worse. I came back muddy with soaked shoes. Available splits reflect the varying ice conditions: 7:27, 7:15, 3:49 (0.5 mi), 29:18 (turnaround), 3:43 (0.5 mi), 3:24 (0.5 mi), 11:02 (1.5 mi).

In Greenbelt Park, MD. A 5-lap warm-up in the field at Sweetgum Parking for QOC's meet.

I ran the Blue course at QOC's Greenbelt Park meet. Starting, it was just above freezing with winds but sunny. There was re-frozen snow in the woods. I felt pretty strong but had several minor troubles and two big ones. I violated the cardinal rule at Greenbelt by trying to go straight instead of taking trails to #4. I got a little confused and relocated quickly but incorrectly. After really figuring it out, the hurricane blowdown in the area made it really hard to see the shallow reentrant. Many had problems with this control and had I kept straight early on, I might have better seen it. Similarly, at #9, a poorly mapped reentrant confused me and a lot of others. Besides these, the day was not perfect but just okay--see the split list. My slow time, forced me to rush-off afterward instead of picking-up controls because I was late to meet my parents.

Bluw - Splits