Training Log Archive: Nadim

Summer Short Series at Glen Artney, MD. Ted Good set streamer course starting from the Catonsville Community College campus. It took a little adjustment to find the streamers--I stood right next to a few early-on w/o seeing them. It was hot out but I felt pretty good despite spending a couple of hours earlier in the heat picking up after the Friday night storm. The forest temperature felt okay but I lost a lot of water weight. I tested the mapping of the woods early going straightish to #1 and found them to be greener than mapped. I used trails more after that which worked well. Since the exercise was about route choices for longer courses, using the trails was natural. Though I didn't push the pace due to the distance and heat, I felt unusually strong during the run. My feet felt light. There was debris from the storm but the park and areas chosen for the course were fairly good as far as green terrain goes. Racing here earlier in the spring in other parts of the park, I didn't think the same for much of the time. However, this time I had more trouble running through rocky ground. Initially, the course was steep too so I found myself running and then walking up hills a lot. Later I could run more steadily. I was fairly accurate with many short attack points but had trouble on the last control when I attacked early from a poor attack point, and turned the wrong way. We enjoyed pizza later and got to see Gail Ryan/Pat Ryan who'd watched Max while Peggy and I ran.

A planned evening run was cancelled when a dechero hit the area with sudden force. Tree branches broke all around and a few trees fell onto houses and cars in the area. We were lucky in that we retained power and only lost cable/Internet services. On window pane was broken. Neighbor houses on either side were damaged more.

Cabin John Regional Park, MD. From the ballfield parking lot, I ran the Cabin John Trail north across Tuckerman Ln. and got onto the unofficial trails paralleling I-270. There was a new one forged by cyclists and at least one of the older ones is now intermittant. It was about 96 F on the road but in the upper 80s F with moderate humidy in the forest. I felt fine. The slow times reflect some pauses in deciding which off trail route to use, and some genuine bushwhacking. I met Peggy and Max for dinner later.

Cabin John Regional Park, MD. I tried to finish-up the ballfield area but there's a little bit more plus some small patches of wooded land along Westlake Dr. to do too.

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., to the trail along the school to Bradmore Dr. to Folkstone Rd. to Hartsdale Ave. to Heampstead Ave. to McKinley St. to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to the trail at Jefferson St. to Northfield Rd. It was in the low 80's F. I felt better than the last two days and didn't think that I was going as fast as I was.

From Northfield Rd. to Ayrlawn Park with Max, then back, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. Max happier to ride today. It was much cooler, like a late April morning in the low 60s F.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., through Greenwich Park to Old Georgetown Pike, to W. Cedar La. to the Elmhirst Trail, to Cedar La. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Beach Dr. to Grosvenor La. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Old Georgetown Rd. and to Northfield Rd. via Greenwich Park. I worked late so I ended up eating dinner before running. Watching the PrefontaineTrack & Field meet on television kept me motivated while I digested. I had told Max that I was going to find the lightning bugs when I went running. I eventually did find them. They were only in the darkest spots--the kind of places where Ineeded to just about stop running to keep from having an accident. The night was rather nice-in the low 70s F and mostly feeling dry.

From Northfield Rd. to Ayrlawn Park with Max, then back, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. Max was a bit sleepy and reluctant to ride. The ride through Bethesda yesterday made him more nervous than he had made known. I was getting warm by the time I got to the station.

Washington, D.C. From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, onto The Mall, past the Washington Monument and down along the Reflecting pool ( still under construction, to Lincoln Circle. to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Calvert St., NW to the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. I had been feeling weak legged for a while and sore in my quads, even when not exercising. With no other explanation (not running or biking much the last two weeks) I guess the soreness is from a combination of the lack of training, acclimating to the heat, and not sleeping enough. I started off somewhat sluggishly but with a strong cool headwind it was better than I feared. I caught and hooked up with another runner for a while--he runs with a group meeting on the Capital Steps. The wind made me feel slow along the water but once on the Rock Creek Trail, I was feeling more strength and confidence. Going up the last hill was a struggle but the run seemed to shake off some of the soreness and weakness.

Feom the Bethesda Metro Station to Ayrlawn Park to get Max's bike, then back then to Northfield Rd. I rode pulling Max's bike along and was happy that it wasn't too low for me to hold. I was sweaty after my run but dry after the breezy ride. Max met me at the driveway with a nice hug.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station, then back. I was rushing to meet friends for a movie.

From Northfield Rd. to Wisconsin Ave. for dinner, then back. Peggy, Max and I had dinner with friends.