Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Rosedale Ave. I did the Two Mile Loop through the neighborhood. I wasn't all that inclined to go but went anyway. I immediately felt chills and started shivering. Taking steps was awkward partly because I used my old running shoes--my current ones were in my suitcase that hadn't yet made it home. My side hurt pretty good starting out. It was windy at first but only around 41 F. I felt better in the middle but slowed much going uphills finishing. After finishing, I felt dizzy and not too good. My legs were both sore and tight. I guess it's a combination of sleeping in 3 hour spurts, the jet lag and the cough I picked-up.

C • Rest 6

45 situps at home in Bethesda, MD. I had wanted to go run when I got home but after getting up at 6am in Moscow for our 1pm flight through Paris to Washington, I was up for nearly 24 hours and too tired. Max slept only about 5 of these hours. He was very restless being strapped to Peggy's and my lap much of the time. We both gave him some walks up and down the isles on the Atlantic leg. To me, it still seemed like the longest transatlantic flight I can remember. Delays at Dulles airport for Max's immigration, a short welcoming from my parents and sisters at the entry gate (and a teary eyed first ride in a car seat) filled the rest of the time but at least now Max is technically considered a US Citizen. I've gotten a cough that I think came from Max.

Moscow, Russia. From Vosnesenski Per. to B. Nitiskaya Ul. to Tverskoi Bl. to Tverskaya Ul. to Mokhovaya Ul. to along the north Kremlin wall past under Troitskiy Bridge past Troitskaya Tower, down Znamenka Ul. over the Moscow River on Kamenny Bridge, through Bolotnaya Square, over the pedestrian bridge to complete crossing the Moscow River, up along Kadashevskaya Ul. back over the Moscow River on B. Moskvoretski Bridge, past St. Basil's Cathedral, to Red Square, past the Kremlin, Lennin's Tomb and the GUM, to B. Nikitskaya Ul. to Vosnesenski Per. It was snowing a lot and very windy out. This definately slowed me a lot. I also stopped at the long traffic lights, not crossing until it was legal--at least in St. Petersburg, the Militsia are known to give out tickets with fines and I didn't want to give them any reason. Earlier in the day, having finished adoption work a day early, we had been given a walking tour from our adoption agency translator Katia. We walked out in similar conditions that I ran in, with Max in a stroller and 1-3 inches of snow on the sidewalks and squares that were constantly being shoveled. Max liked the snow at first and went into licking mode. Later we got a clear vinyl bubble installed on his stroller and he fell asleep during the cultural experiences. He woke up for a detour through the GUM (once said to be the largest store in the world; now very nice and overpriced for all but the elite Russians) and a stop at a souvenir shop where he got a Russian Olympic Team luggage tag that he played with for a long time. Our agency translator thought nothing of going out in the -3 C very windy snowstorm with Max and he did fine in his bubble. We saw many babies in stollers in much colder but less snowy days, without bubbles.

After another all night train ride, this time to Moscow, Russia, we did some paperwork at the US embassy and Max got a doctor exam. Peggy and I took turns seeing the city. While Peggy was out, I got my first solo diaper change—Max conked out after that. On my turn running, I went from Voznesensky Per. To Bolshoi Nikitskaya Ul. through Red Square, past St. Basil’s Cathedral, over the Moscow River on Bolshoi Ordynka Ul. up river along Yakimanskaya Nab. to the edge of Gorky Park (I wanted to go in the park but there was a gate there that led into a closed amusement park), back over the Mosva River on Krymskiy Val. Ul. along the river on Prechistenskaya Nab. up Soymonovskiy Pr. To Volkhonka Ul. to Mokhovaya Ul. to Nikitskaya Ul. to Voznesensky Per. (Marriott Courtyard). What a nice sunny day it was (icy sidewalks were starting to refreeze). I stopped a lot to take pictures. The beautiful Red Square was not how I’d imagined it. A 200-300m long rectangle a little over 100m across. Up on a hill above the river, set against the Kremlin walls and other buildings (the GUM and churches) with beautiful spires. Along the river, I did pass one very badly done monument on an island fork that seemed to emulate the Rostral Columns on steroids. Max is adapting much faster that I expected. We’ve got him past a very justifiably pouty stage to one where he laughs a lot. He does want to be held a lot too.

C • Since Peggy seems to be drawing the comments thus far... 7

45 situps and 30 pushups.

Petrozavodsk, Russia. Most of the day was spent with Galina and Max. She didn’t speak English but shared in the language of child care very effectively. We were really sad to have to say goodbye to her and were sure she felt a loss for leaving Max. At the same time, we were happy to have Max (and taking our own unsure steps as parents) All I could manage for a workout was 30 pushups and 45 situps.

Petrozavodsk, Russia. From Ingelsa Ul & Lenina Prospect, through Lenina Pl. past the Lenin statue along Lososinka Joki (a creek) to Lake Ladoga (near the Ferris wheel) and back. It was much colder out—around -12 to -15 C this morning with the coldest air in the stream valley. My eyelashes froze and I could feel it freeze in my nose. We ran at Peggy’s pace on the packed snow. Max was delivered to us later that evening. We were waiting, not knowing the timing of when Max would arrive in the city with his caregiver. His first car had broken down. He and his caregiver took a bus that went a longer route and stopped a lot. Galina his caregiver helped us feed him and put him to sleep in our room.

Petrozavodsk, Russia. I slept okay on the night train but at the hotel, there wasn’t much to do but watch the extensive and repetitive Olympic coverage. When the interesting Mens’s 50K XC Ski coverage came on, we had to get lunch and were itching to get out. Peggy and I ran along Lenina Prospect to Krasnoarmyeska Ul., to a trail in a park along Losinka Joki (a creek). Heading uphill, Peggy and I crossed under the railroad on the trail toward Drevljanka. It became a XC ski route and many people were out both skiing and walking (the trail was wide enough for 2 tracks and one walking path). The further we went, the more beautiful the snowy woods and icy stream were. Finally at an underpass labeled with Funti Racca and a XC ski icon, we turned back (29:32)—we wanted to go on. Eventually we passed where we hit the trail and came back past a school stadium and on Gertesa Ul. It was a very uplifting run, and one of the last which I felt unencumbered by parenthood responsibilities for a while.