Training Log Archive: Nadim

Blockhouse Conservation Park. I set out some water then went to a few features to put streamers out on a line-O that I had setup for the QOC Summer Short Series. This kind of orienteering is helping me fix up the map and hopefully helping others get better at reading on the run. I watched Max and Alex as the others ran. I had anticipated being able to ride my bike to the park however I still can't find my road bike shoes and was short on time.

45 situps. I had the day off because Max's daycare was closed. I had thought about cycling to the local pool and swiming with Max but it was sprinkling throughout the day. Max and I had instead gone to an indoor pool that we drove to up Rockville Pike. Max was a little scared and later said he had gotten cold but he seemed to have fun. I spent the evening fixing Peggy's PC.

45 situps. I was feeling worn out and had left the decision on whether or not to cycle in to work or not for the morning. As usual this meant that my morning decision was not to bicycle. It was more warranted today. I had woke up with a bad cramp in my right calf and my hamstrings were a bit sore too. Back pain which I started feeling on Wednesday continued too.

From Rosedale Ave., to C St., SW, Washington, D.C. The heat and humidity were high starting off; it's likely to be that way over much of the summer. I left a bit earlier and passed a bunch of people that I don't usually see. I towed one guy in on the flats and did about 21.5mph across that. I knew there would be headwinds since the National Airport jets were in a landing approach overhead.

From C. St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. Some scattered storms created some headwinds for half of the way but cooled things off slightly. My hamstrings are a bit tight and sore--I'm not used to this level of mileage yet. I stopped to pickup some dinner.

From Rosedale Ave., to C St., SW, Washington, D.C. It was already near 60% humidity and around 80F starting off. I took it easy at first but picked it up after catching a guy and trading a pull. I towed him on the flats into Georgetown. There was a bit of a headwind along the water near 14th St. Bridge.

From C. St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. Having gone outside for lunch, I knew how hot and humid it was. I was not looking forward to the ride back home. It turned out okay. I had mostly tailwinds due the continuing pumping of hot air from the south. I kept trying not to push too hard. The slope of the grade back is awkward for this. I never seem to get into a comfortable climbing cadence like I do when I'm on my road bike climbing a mountain. The trail was pretty busy. I felt a nice breeze from two non-commuting roadies as they passed, but passed them back when they slowed a bit later.

With it being trash night, I continued my axe swinging and got rid of most of the Godelian root mass that I'd been working on removing. I had to rest several times and was rather depleted by the end.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via Kentbury Ave., to Rosedale Ave. via Pearl St. to C St. SW, Washington, D.C. Getting Max ready, I forgot to attach my pannier. After dropping him off at daycare, the lightness of the bike reminded me so I went back home again before heading to work. On the trail, I caught a guy whom I traded pulls with. On his first pull, he jumped up to +25mph before slowing it just past MacArthur Blvd. I pulled most of the rest between 21 and 24mph. We had headwinds which got worse after Georgetown, so I took it easier finishing.

From C. St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. Winds were mixed again though tailwinds more often than not. They were strong in places. I rode by myself doing mostly 17-18mph up the hill. I was 38:35 getting to the daycare to pickup the trailer. Pyro Show trailers were parked on Ohio Dr.--probably preparations for July 4th.

After riding home and a water break, I figured it best to do some digging while still sweaty. Swinging a pick axe, I got half of the bush stump removed which I had started digging out yesterday. I worked steadily, breathing hard sometimes. It was good upper body work. I switched hands some.

Spring is the time for getting gardens ready. Since I was orienteering then, I had a lot of catching up to do. I spent this time in the sun trying to dig out a beast of a thousand horns. A passerby thought it to be a Quince, commonly planted in the area in the 1950's. I'd already lopped off the thorny bushy part and was left with woody spikes when I began digging. There was no trunk to this bush--just a lot of quarter and half inch stems squeezed together rising from the ground in +3 foot diameter circle measured at the base. The same structure appears to be intact underground. I chopped at the roots with my trusty old shovel; over 15 years old and broken from season after season of wear but still formidable. Fortunately, I had Max's help too. After bruising my hands with the chopping, I got a deep trench dug around and partly under the bush. I had stood in the sun too long getting this much done. I abandoned the approach for want of better tools to cut the roots under the bush--a pick axe was procured later.