Training Log Archive: Nadim

Spinning on rollers and watching a movie. Though I was putting in what seemed a normal amount of effort into it, the spinning was a little slow for a long while but got easier. I worked up a good sweat.

Event: QOC Wheaton Regional Park
 

Seneca State Park, MD. Jon Pifer and I followed the Seneca Greenway Trail from Rte. 355 northward to Damascus Regional Park, and back. It was 17 F starting out and 26 F when we finished. The trail conditions were not as good as about 2 weeks back. Flotsam and mud flow from the heavy rains we had the previous Wednesday were evident on lowlands. One paved road crossing was closed to auto traffic because flooding broke the pavement. There was a thin layer of snow over half the route. Where people had walked in mud and left footprints, it was all frozen and thus uneven. Where there was standing water, there was ice. We had to detour parallel off-trail in various places.

I set the initial pace in the beginning and it was slow. I can't remember starting out a run at over 9 minute pace but then again, I was preparing for a run longer than I had in many months. Our pace remained fairly consistent over the route. There were some slowdowns going up the hills and toward the end. Jon and I traded-off leading. Whether it was the luck of who lead the hillier sections or not, I don't know but it seemed like Jon was setting a faster pace when he led.

The only wildlife I recall seeing were a few birds. There were 3 bluejays vying for territory, oddly some birds that looked like bluebirds (out of season), and a hawk.

We stopped a few times along the way. One stop was to get over the creek between Huntsman and Log House Rd.; we used the log crossing upstream of where the trail crossed, to keep dry. Ironically, I was following Jon too closely after this, stepped on some ice that broke through, and got one foot wet. At another brief clothing adjustment stop, I forgot to restart my GPS watch so the track incorrectly shows a straight line until I noticed and restarted it. The climb at the turnaround in Damascus Regional Park wasn't as difficult as I thought it might get. We got to the point of where going uphill or downhill didn't seem to make a lot of difference in effort. It did however get windier on the high ground there. It temporarily got harder to mouth words due to the cold. Talking was instrumental to making the miles go by easily. My joints were feeling it going downhills on the return. Overall, this run was as great experience and great way to spend a cold morning. I'm glad I had Jon to run with. The MCRRC planned training runners were to park where Jon and I had, but shuttle to Damascus for the run back--we may have seen one of them but the rest didn't seem to show-up.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. I had mixed feelings about missing the QOC event held today. The mass start handicapped format that David Onkst has setup sounded fun but I opted for doing the long run because it would have longer lasting effects. After my long run this morning and a brief stop to get food and eat it on the drive over, I arrived just as a steady stream of people were finishing. The handicap format meant that people should all be finishing at around the same time so this was interesting to see. I talked to a lot of people afterward and opted not to go out on the brown course. Being tired it wouldn't have been very beneficial. Instead, I just picked-up nearby controls. I didn't use a compass but for the most part, one wasn't needed. These were all on stands and I lugged one gallon of water back for event use later. An early dinner at Panera Bread in Wheaton ensued. After that Jon Pifer's daughter babysat for Max so Peggy and I could see the Oscar Nominated Animation Short Films in downtown Washington, D.C. It was quite a long but fun day.

45 situps.

From Northfield Rd. to Arlington Rd. with Max on his bike, then to the Bethesda Metro StatIon. I had told Max to go ahead, then realize I'd forgot my leg loops; I rushed to catchup but at least he had stopped before going too far.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's bicycle, then to Northfield Rd. It was very windy and I was going into it. I felt kind of tired.

From the parking lot at Lake Needwood Mansion, I went around the lake. I had planned to take a detour north of Needwood Rd. but as I started down the path, it was blocked by high water. I figured it was just a flooded marshy area from the heavy rains the night before but since I hadn't gone in the area before, I didn't think much of it, and turned around. Going south and around the lake on a clockwise loop, I tried the lake route; dirt trails around the shores that I'd mapped earlier. I realized then how high the water was when I couldn't proceed. I had to bushwack up to the road again. A park service car stopped me there because the park was closed, but he let me finish my loop. I felt pretty slow and awkward, especially on climbs. I passed some blood. This has been the most miles just purely running for me in one month in several years.

Working a little late and having rain in the evening left little time for a better workout.

From Northfield Rd. to Arlington Rd. with Max on his bike, then to the Bethesda Metro StatIon.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's bicycle, then to Northfield Rd. It had been a while since I'd towed Max's bike and
I almost had a mishap.

C • Maxs bike 6

From Northfield Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd. to W. Cedar Rd. to the Elmhirst Trail, to the Rock Creek Trail, to the Kensington Pkwy., to Connecticutt Ave. to the Georgetown Branch Trail, Pearl St. to East-West Hwy. to Wisconsin Ave. to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I got outside a little earlier today. Working a little later than planned, I missed an opportunity to run homeward from work. It was nice all day and still 51 F when I was running at night in just a long sleeve t-shirt and shorts. The ground was damp all over but the trail wasn't overly wet. The moon lit things well. I continued to work on my stride and this is helping me regain my speed. It does however takes some out of me with a little more pounding. I slowed a good bit going uphills. I passed some blood; probably a sign of losing weight and running faster more than anything else.

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 mid 40's F; the ground was wet but it wasn't raining. There was a nice moon and I could see a lot of star--that's unusual for around here because of there being a lot of tall trees and there usually being some light pollution. It took me a while to get myself out the door. My legs were stiff so that I couldn't get a smoot stride. I worked on form but with tired legs, it felt like I was lumbering. I thought I was going faster and loosening-up toward the end of the run. It was uphill for the last third but my second mile was the fastest. I stretched nicely afterward.