Training Log Archive: Nadim

Mark Twain School and Athletic Park, Rockville, MD. Leaving from the school, I started a new section of field checking in Rock Creek Park. It was north of Avery Rd., south of Southlawn Dr., and west of the creek. I probably had been in this section more times in the dark than during the day. It was nice to see things in the full sunshine. The woods were almost entirely white open. Much of the terrain is steep but the upper and bottom parts are quite runnable. There were more features than I had expected though because they were often close to edges or in some large reentrants, they amount to mostly Orange level navigation. Because the woods were open, I covered a good bit of area. Some detailed areas remain for at least another day or two of field checking. It was nice to be outside with temperatures in the 50s and 60s F. My knee was hurting on the steeper slopes and when encountering twisting tension.

When I went out for the field checking, I was unsure if I'd get to run the lowlander version of the Hudson Highlander since we didn't have child care arrangements. Though this wasn't a rigorous effort I might have done less if I had known. It turns out that the Breton sisters will watch Max so I'm looking forward to another day outside.

Washington, D.C. From 14th & Independence Ave, to 15th St. to Constitution Ave. to the Rock Creek Pkwy., to Ohio Dr. along the Tidal Basin past the Jefferson Memorial, to Main Ave. to Maryland Ave. to 12th St. to 13th & C St. My knee was aching starting out and most of the way through but it eventually got better as I got slower. I ran on grass and dirt wherever possible. For some reason, I felt a strain in my right quadricept like a charlie horse. Perhaps it's due to favoring my left leg because of the knee pain. It was about 70F, sunny and breezy--nice!

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD to Montgomery Ave. via Bethesda Ave. and the Georgetown Branch Trail, to 13th St. SW, Washington, D.C. via the Georgetown Branch Trail and the Capital Crescent Trail. It was the coolest morning so far with temperatures in the lower 50s F. I hadn't ridden in for a while and with Max up past his bedtime last night we were a bit slow getting going. After dropping him off, I was just starting to get up to speed on the trails when an older commuter passed me. We judiciously traded pulls with me doing the longer pulls but him stepping in at the right moments (22mph down the grade and about +20mph on the flats). I didn't realize until later that he was on a track bike. I felt sluggish. Was atrophy setting in from not riding for a week or was it the yummy but large Pakistani dinner last night. Winds were mixed. I definately benefitted from them on Ohio Dr. My chain fell off near the end and there was a bit of traffic to negotiate slowly too. Both before and after, but more after, my knee was hurting.

From 13th St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I started at near 6pm. The winds were not favorable so I thought and decided to ride through Rock Creek to go home. What swayed me was anticipation of the darker months ahead and being less likely to want to ride in that direction in the dark. I rode steadily, spinning more. Just before climbing out of the valley, another rider converged with my route. I led him for a little bit but didn't have it in me to climb faster today. I cut across Chevy Chase on the way home differently than I had in the past. I used Ridge Rd., the Military Rd. to Utah Ave. I used Northhampton St. and should have used Nevada Ave. next because I popped out S. of Chevy Chase Circle. With the twisting roads and only a setting sun to guide by, I had been thinking about 90 degrees off. The route turned out to be pleasant with rolling hills through nice quiet neighborhoods instead of the long gradual climbs that my most used routes home take me. After picking up Max's trailer (just under 55 minutes and just over 13 miles), I noted several cars yielding to me at intersections. It's happened many times before with the trailer but can be a bit confusing or awkward as I slow to stop and they wave me ahead. By the time I was home it was just about dark.

20 pushups. Another round of misinterpreted weather forecasts led me to foregoe cycling (it was wet in the morning). I brought running clothes to try another lunchtime run but got away from work too late. In the evening Peggy, Max and I went to my parent's Eid celebration dinner.

Washington, D.C. From 14th & Independence Ave, I ran down The Mall to the Lincoln Memorial, to the Potomac River along Ohio Dr., to Buckeye Dr., to Ohio Dr. to Basin Dr. up to Maryland Ave. via the Portals complex, to 12th St. to C St. SW & 13th St. SW. I had thought about riding my bike to work today but the weather had been forecast for rain and I was up too late the night before again. I started out running at lunchtime and proceeded somewhat easy to keep the stress on my knee low. Most of the route was paved. I used the grass where convenient but also had on good shoes and thick socks. The weather was partly sunny and in the 70s--in other words great. Before going out, I didn't think I'd run but a little more than 2 miles. However, by the time I was nearing the Lincoln Memorial. I was tempted to cross the river for a double bridges route. I thought it better to not risk it. The loop to the edge of the Hains Point penninsula was a little longer than I thought it would be. As I rounded it I needed to use the bathroom so I started thinking and then feeling less about my knee.

CNYO North American Championships-Long. I think taking some Advil in the morning helped keep my knee from aching too much. I was able to jog most of the way to the start. I enjoyed the running today though early on, I found that the small ups and downs and many wet sticks were wearing me out. In fact, I was tired and feeling sluggish through the first 11 controls. I made my first notable error at #3 by passing under it a bit and coming back. Going to #4, I lost my way but relocated at a trail crossing. Going to #6, I got passed by Andy Hall and a few other runners who were on RedY. I remember feeling heavy when I stepped on 3 different +3" diameter deadfall branches that broke under my weight--I thought it odd that with many others passing by, I was the one to step on and break these 3. When approaching #6, I was planning to cut across the marsh but when Andy and everyone else went around, I second guessed myself and went the way they did. Mark Cornish joined our crew on this leg too. Andy pulled up short on #7, then ran too low. The group split up with others finding the control and leaving. I think I found it before Andy since I'd seen him heading away a little before I found it. I took a poor route to #8, and on the next long leg to #11, I again decided against crossing the marsh. This cost me +2 minutes to others as I ran around on trails. I had ruled out crossing the marsh since the other marshy places I'd encountered on the course to that point were too slow to be useful. I caught up to Mark Cornish again before #12 and we exchanged some leads. Whenever I ran on roads, even the dirt ones, my knee bothered me. Vadim joined the hunt at around #15 and Mark dropped back with a different route choice than me as we were going to #16. I was moving slower and Vadim M. got ahead going to #17. He ran up the trail higher to pass #3 on the way there. I took a more direct line cutting in before him. It turned out that he missed and I spiked it. I finished ahead of him but well behind him in total time. At #17, I got to the control just before Tim Good who had missed and had found it coming from another direction. Bernie Breton joined in behind too. I pulled up short going to #18 and #19 but each time was able to correct and stay ahead of Bernie and Tim. My result today wasn't so great but I was glad to finish the weekend with a higher level of confidence in my knee and get some running training behind me. This was the first time that I had run consecutive days since the Letchworth A-meet last spring. I'm now better positioned for the Highlander "Light" (or Lowlander) next week though I did get a blood blister on my right big toe.

Red Y - Splits