Training Log Archive: Nadim

SSS, Blockhouse Conservation Park, Montgomery County, MD. Since Peggy had setup the training event and was watching Max, I got a chance ot get into the woods. I didn't run but got back into the practice of reading the map for more than mapping. I did take a pencil and made stops to record map updates. I also went out of my way a few times to capture new features (with GPS and by observation). I found the rest of the new trail that I'd mapped earlier and after 5 controls I did more mapping than navigating to controls. The purpose of the exercise was to know how high one was on a hillside. I noted a few places where either the control placement or the map was wrong and I could tell which. It was fun to be out. My knee wasn't so good but fine enough to do this. Just walking in a store earlier in the day, it buckled out from under me, causing me to whince a bit. I spent a lot of the morning packing boxes for our move.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD, to 12th St. SW, Washington, D.C. I got a late start but it was still relatively cool under the trees. Winds were from the east so they slowed me in DC. I passed a group of cycling tourists who were loaded down and looking like they were finishing up in Georgetown.

From 12th St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. I rode a steady and good pace up to the McArthur Blvd. underpass and slowed with more headwinds going into Bethesda. It was a little quieter on the trail and there were few people downtown at around 6pm; not even many volleyball players. I got to Max's day care to pickup the trailer in 39:30 which surprised me because of how much I was slowing down the last 3 miles.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD, to 12th St. SW, Washington, D.C. After getting to Max's day care we relized that I'd left his lunch on the porch at home. I rode home and back again before getting on the trail. I felt a bit energized by a day off and the cool air (low 60s F). At River Rd. I caught and passed a guy who had just gotten on the trail. After towing him for a mile or so doing 22-23mph on the downgrade, he passed me and accelerated. We were doing 26-23mph for a while before calming it down to 22-23mph on the flats after Fletcher's Boathouse. In Georgetown, we kept moving along (I was just hanging on) until I heard a TING-TING... TING, the telltale sound of something metal falling off my bike. I stopped and circled back to find that my chain-wrench multi-tool had come out of my seat pack. No, the pack hadn't been burning up from the blazing pace but it was disintegrating at the seam. It's funny that it came apart on the smooth road and hadn't fallen apart on the bumpier trail. I had failed to replace it since noticing the seam splitting earlier. I rode a saner pace the rest of the way. This is the 3rd time this week that I've seen Georgetown and GWU runners on the trails. There was a bit of a headwind on Ohio Dr. I ate too many cookies while watching the Olympics last night and had weighed in at 178 that morning.

C • Duct tape... 2

Like Tuesday, I left after 6pm from the inner courtyard of my offices building and rode through the basement halls to the Indpendence Ave. Wing 1 entrance/exit, then via Independence Ave. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. I rode inconsistently. Fast along Independence Ave. with the cars, I was slow going up the first part of the grade past Fletcher's Boathouse. I finished faster but not very fast. There were lots of beach volleyball players out again.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD, to 12th & C St., SW, Washington, D.C. My knee is feeling stronger every day. I can now walk down stairs better most of the time and without using the handrails. I was able to beat Max in a "sprint" to get the newspaper this morning and surprised myself when my knee didn't hurt doing it. I didn't push my luck so Max beat me on the way back in. For the last couple of weeks he'd been beating me on these newspaper jaunts pretty regularly. Riding in was nice. The air was cool most of the way. There were slight headwinds from the southeast. I kept a good cadence at the sacrifice of speed rather than try to push hard.

C • Nice job! 2

From the inner courtyard of my office building on Independence Ave., Washington, D.C., I rode through the basement halls to the Indpendence Ave. Wing 1 entrance/exit, then via Independence Ave. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. I had to go through the building because it was around 7pm and the gate was locked. I was feeling tired starting out. Head winds were blowing strong and steady out of the north. After Georgetown, a guy I had passed on the streets caught me on the trail as I was slacking. I tucked in behind him. He kept a good pace going to the Dalecarlia Reservoir and almost lost me on the water treatment plant bridge. He turned away at the reservoir. By then I was feeling hungry and more tired so I slacked off even more. Eventually, one other guy passed me but we got separated at a traffic intersection. I expect that I'll be in for many days like this as I slowly work back toward being in shape.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. Today marks my first return to bicycle commuting. I thought I was organized enough and left with just a twang of that feeling that I'd forgotten something. Once on the bike it felt a little sad knowing that in about another week my easy little ride to Max's day care will change. The distance will just about double. Sure enough, after I dropped him and the trailer off at his day care class, I realized my bike felt light. In all the distractions of getting myself and Max ready earlier, I'd left my pannier at home and had to go back (via Pearl St.) to get it. On the trail going to work, I kept a comfortable pace and passed a few people but didn't see very many riders. There was a slight headwind on Ohio Dr.

From 12th & C St., SW, Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. Winds were mixed initially but generally favorable. I saw Sam Listwak amongst the many beach volleyball players on the courts between the Lincoln Memorial and the Roosevelt Bridge. I caught 2 guys before Fletcher's boathouse. Perhaps due to their experience and passing others we never got a line going. I felt I was keeping a pretty steady pace but whenever the other two went around me or each other, they took off. We kept catching each other again later. I was a bit surprised I was able to ride at this effort after having not ridden much the last few weeks.

From Deer Meadow Ln., Rockville, MD to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD, via Redland Rd., Lake Nedwood, Avery Rd., the Rock Creek Trail, Beach Dr., Kensington Pkwy. to Jones Bridge Rd. to Maple Rd. to Northfield Rd. to Battery La. to Rosedale Ave. After spending some time at a pool with the family, a friend from our running club and her grandson, I rode back home taking the long way. This was the first time that I've gotten my road bike outside all year. It felt so much nicer than my commuting bike! Despite my own heftiness, I felt I was able to climb with ease and move along well. It was rather warm in the upper 80's F when starting and breezy but the generally nice low humidity day probably helped too. Close to done with the ride, I uncharacterisically took advantage of some lemonade vendors on Beach Dr. near the Kensington Pkwy. They were a bit challenged to figure out the change for a $5 bill after 2 50 cent glasses but they had a good product--ahh Summer!