Training Log Archive: Nadim

Patapsco State Park, MD; McKeldin. Mark Mace setup the SSS training (in a very short time) for this week. The weather cooperated by being only 82 F starting out, and not raining on us. It was humid however. The course was made more difficult by the summer vegetation. There was lots of wavy invasive species grass covering the ground. There were some big trees and small branches that had been knocked down in the big storm about a week back; these were sometimes in the way too. I stuck to trails about as often as I could while doing the Long course. I spiked #1, 3-11. On #2, I had gotten a bit high and wonder if that control was set too low. The plan had been for me to pickup controls #7-11. I thought I'd started last but leaving the control I heard Dasa Merka approaching. I waited a while for her to get ahead, then waited for Dave Onkst too, as he showed up later. I saw Dave several times as there were some dog-legs to the Long course. I did walk several times due to the steepness and the vegetation. My legs were a bit tired from cycling the last 2 days. I was happy to pass a bathroom along the course, and happy to spike #11, the last control. It was a depression on a bland hillside with not much to attack from when going directly. All in all, it was a fun outing

Patapsco State Park, MD; McKeldin. I went back to check the last two controls for he Long course. These were the same last 2 controls for the short course too. Not finidng Paul or Florence, I looped back and started checking other areas. Passing the start, I discovered that Florence had returned. I did another loop before finding Paul. He had already decided to head in but was near the second to last control.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I felt better than the day before and had fast company early. I led one guy down the Capital Crescent Trail. He spurred me to go faster than I otherwise would have. I think I lost him when passing some others but it wasn't clear. We were doing mostly around 23mph going down the hill and I slowed to about 21.5mph on the flats. Another more consistent rider whom I've seen before came up from behind. He was in better shape and I didn't realize the change in riders behind me until reaching Georgetown. He took over for about a mile and we split at Independence Ave. There were some headwinds but less than yesterday. I hit the traffic lights well and ended-up with just about the fastest ride I can remember in a long time.

From 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. With an overcast sky, it was comfortable outside. I got off to a good start and made steady progress into a slight headwind getting to Georgetown. About 3/4 of a mile outside of Georgetown, I heard a conversation coming up from behind. It was perfect timing for me as I didn't want to push into the wind. Though they passed quickly, a roadie and a commuter, both younger, they settled into a pace not much faster than I had been going. I tucked in behind them and enjoyed the ride. They rode in close quarters, side by side on half of the trail width. Passing others and obstacles took some attention. The commuter broke off at Massachusetts Ave. and then the roadie picked up the pace. At Falls Rd. we split. I moved well but slower getting home.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It had been too long since I last rode all the way into town for work. I felt sort of weak riding but with being stuck in lower gears and with cooler air, my cadence and endurance was pretty good. There was lots of traffic around Bethesda, lots of cyclists going both ways on the sometimes narrow trail, and headwinds after Georgetown. My back didn't hurt at all on this ride.

From 12th St & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. to to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I left work late so I first had to ride through the courtyard and basement of the building to get to 12th & Independence Ave., SW. Traffic was making me a bit slow getting out of DC but there was a tailwind initially on the Capital Crescent Trail. I kept a good steady effort going.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was in the low 70s F. With a refinancing appointment later in the day, I didn't have time to ride all the way in to work. My back is still tight but a little better than yesterday.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I rode casually, slowing down on hills so as not to sweat too much in my work clothes. The breeze while cycling felt good.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Cornish Rd., to Burling Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Brite Dr. to Radnor Rd., to Wilson Ln. to Old Chester Rd., to Aberdeen Rd., to Aberdeen Pl. to Northfield Rd. After Peggy's brother Paul took us out to dinner, I was full but worked off some of the malaise by preparing some old things for donation. One was my desk that I'd had since 1981 and which was old when I got it then. Still, it was a rather well designed and comfortable desk. All of the moving around kept me active enough to be able to get out to run rather late. My back was once again tight starting out but not quite as bad as it had been the other day. Earlier this day, I heard a slight but still audible crack while moving around. It came from the base of my spine, where my back had been hurting. It seemed slightly better after that. The run was nice and quite. It was rather comfortable out there.

C • back 2

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was about 73 F :). I didn't have time to get ready to ride all the way in and my bike needs a shift cable replaced. My back tightened-up at the base of the spine after this.

Washington, D.C. From 14th and Independence Ave., SW, down the Mall past the Lincoln Memorial, onto the Rock Creek Trail to National Zoo Dr., up Olmstead Walk to Connecticut Ave, NW. to the Cleveland Park Metro Station. It was 88F starting out; nicer than in earlier weeks. My big worry starting out was my back. It's aching in a more localized way now, at the base of the spine on the right side, and exending down the back or my right hip. Having had previous experience with aching backs, I figured that it would stand a good chance of loosening during the run. I got started and had to run gingerly, with restricted movements for a while, while still feeling pain. It started loosening up at 17th St.; after a little over half a mile. I'd planned the route so as to have some options to cut it short but the further I went, the better my back felt. I was still running a bit slowly. The climb through the zoo wasn't so bad but probably because I was moving fairly slowly.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. There was a little bit of car traffic along the way. I was happy to finish before the rain came as the approaching clouds were warning.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Bradley Blvd. to Kennedy Dr. to Dorset Ave. to the Capital Crescent Trail,.to Woodmont Ave. to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy. to Custer Rd. Northfield Rd. I felt better than yesterday but not by much. Earlier in the day, I had felt rather weak and walking to lunch felt like I had low blood sugar. Perhaps I was feeling some of what's ailing Max. The 80 F weather made it easier tonight; there was only 58% humidity. My late start tonight was just so that I could digest more dinner. My right hip was feeling sort of dead earlier in the day and slightly at the beginning of the run.

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 awful starting out. I twas too soon after dinner but I realized that if I hadn't gone then, I probably wouldn't have gone later. It was about 84-85 F and humid. I was really slow starting out. I felt better later but it ws humid enough that my fingers (which rarely sweat at all, were sweating before I'd run 2 miles. After finishing, I thought that I was running slower than my time indicated. There were a few places where fallen trees/branches had to be stepped around too so I went slow during these. I'd been busy earlier in the day cleaning-up the house and doing a little shopping. Peggy's brother Paul and his housemate arrived.