Training Log Archive: Nadim

I flew to New Orleans for some meetings this week. I had intended to do a little more than 45 situps and 10 pushups but arrived too late with thunderstormy warm weather. The pushups were weak but my right shoulder hurt less than it had last I tried. Running this week could be difficult here in the French Quarter and the gym charges each day. I suppose some rest would be okay. My last week paltry 3.5 hours of running was the most I'd done since August when I ran the Catoctin Trail. Before that I had to go back to February 2004 just before getting an achilles injury.

In Westmoreland State Park, VA. Warm-up for QOC's meet. It was a nice sunny day close to 50F at the start. I did a couple of strides too. My right knee complained a little.

QOC at Westmoreland State Park, VA. The 20 year old map had been updated partially by Scott Pleban who was also the course setter. Heavy blowdown from a hurricane 18 months back made the flatter tops and a couple of the bottoms of reentrants rough running. Reentrant bottoms were often mud-sucking flat wet marshes. Hillsides were very steep and tall. Though the contours are advertised on the map at 5m, the originals were 20ft. so I don't think these had been updated. If true, this means the climb was higher and it felt like it. There were several doglegs on the course but route choice was emphasized in design. I mostly did okay on route choices but my #3-#4 leg was not optimal partially due to on-the-fly adjustments for unmapped blowdown. Some real dog legs appeared at control #7. A big black lab (one of several things today reminding me of Piper who was also black) left it's owner and followed me through almost 6 controls. We crossed the park over two big ridges and two marshes. At a campground, he either got too tired or decided the campground was a people place and he should stop. A couple minutes later I was stopped by it's owner who drove around and luckily recognized me as just as I was crossing the park road. I directed her back (17 seconds) to the campground where after the dog followed two other runners, dog and owner were reunited. I caught Ted Good when he made an uncharacteristic error and though he out-navigated me from controls #13-#19 (I made three less than optimal route choices), I cramped less than he and got in first. See the Split List.

C • Westmoreland Contours 2

Meet director Mike Brooks had controls all over the place and due to the remoteness of the park, no pre-assigned volunteers for pickup. Ted Good, Francis Hogel, Michael Warlters and I split it up. I picked-up the far away ones by driving around. I picked-up #5-#11 of the Blue course in the exact order of the race. I certainly wasn't runing as fast. Getting to #5 I had to cross the grain of the blowdown for half a kilometer. I was cramping good by the end.

Blue - Splits

Event: 3 Sprints (Sat) and Middle Dst/Route Choice Team Training (Sun)
 

I did not make it to the sprints in DVOA. From Carderock Recreation Area, I went north on the C&O Towpath to the Widewater Mile Mark 13, then back via the towpath and the Billygoat Trail Section B. Going out mile marker splits were 7:11 (0.99 mile) and 5:56 (0.84 mile somewhat into the wind). I slipped and fell on a rocky part of the Billygoat Trail but landed so that I only felt it in my right shoulder which had been bothering me before. This was a beautiful run in the sun along the wild waters of the Potomac River but one heavy of heart with a little one on my mind. After our run I stood alone on Carderock to watch the sun set over the river, listening to the water and birds and I said more goodbyes.

From Rosedale Ave., Chestnut St. to Lynnbrook Dr. to Jones Bridge Rd. to Kensington Pkwy. to the Rock Creek Trail to the Old Georgetown Branch Trail, to Kentbury Dr. to Rosedale Ave. & Maryland Ave. 7:17 mile split on the RC Trail. Tonight's run in the cool air and dark was contemplative. I'm very bummed because I reached the conclusion with my vet that I must put one of my cats down tommorow. The other is sick too but so far in much better shape. They both have been with me through thick and thin over the last 15 years and are considered family. One of my early enjoyments out of running 29 years ago was the escape it provided me while growing up. Maybe that's why I always think of myself as a runner. Running has partly been a natural crutch/strength in this way for me when stressed; the strides a metronome bringing things back to normal as well as getting me away. Context is everything when stress makes us try to make meaning of things. As I ran I picked-up on the many dog walkers and yard barkers that I passed and remembered good and bad times with my kitty Piper. With Piper's impending death on my mind, I happened upon debris on the sidewalk off Jones Bridge Rd. Snapping to attention I soon came upon the reason. Just minutes or a minute earlier a car came over the sidewalk, through some tall bushes and landed overtuned in someones yard. Several people were helping before the police and ambulance were heard and seen. I kept running and before getting home I started feeling better.

Working late, hunger for dinner and cat troubles conspire to make a lame 45 situps my workout for the day.

From Rosedale Ave. to Kentbury Ave., to the Georgetown Branch Trail to the Rock Creek Trail via Susanna La. to East-West Hwy & Meadowbroook, to the Georgetown Branch Trail via Terrace Dr. over the bridge over Rock Creek to Kentbury Ave. to Rosedale Ave. It was around 29F out with a strong wind so I aimed for some sheltering trees. The trail had some snow and ice but mostly was okay. I still felt weak on hills but better than the last time out this way. My left shoulder hurt again. It's getting worse. I feel a sharp pulling sometimes when I swing my arm forward. My knees bothered me going out on the downhills.

From Rosedale Ave., Battery La. to Huntington Blvd., Gargield St. to Hemsted Ave. to Sonoma, around Arylawn Park to Johnson Ave to Old Georgetown Rd. to the NIH Trail to Jones Bridge Rd. to Maryland Ave. to Rosedale Ave. I'm still feeling the remnants of being sick. I felt virtuous for persevering. I took a nap and held off dinner till I felt more ready to run. Though not fast at all, I felt okay once I got out. It's a wonder what a good pair of socks will do for your feet. Going mostly downhill through NIH I did 6:56 for a mile.