Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd., to Custer Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Beech Ave./Burley Dr., Johnson Ave. to Heampstead Ave., to Bradley Park. It was about 63 F with a cool breeze--definitely fall weather. I felt a little sore in my quads and was tired from not getting a very good sleep.

Event: 2014 US Nationals
 

Northwest Branch Trail - From the Adelphi Manor Cricket Field to the stream crossing north of Piney Branch Rd., and back. I worked in Beltsville today so I took advantage of it and stopped off for a run on the way home. I hadn't been running on this part of the Northwest Branch Trail system since 2009. It's shame since I used to do so many runs here when I trained with the Prince Georges Running Club. I didn't have a lot of time. I pushed the pace a bit too. I used to run rather quickly through this area back in the early 2000's--usually a 6:20 mile pace while going a further distance. I count doing 7:25 pace today a victory but mostly because I don't train enough. I didn't have time to go all the way to the end of the paved trail but would have liked to have done that and more.

From Northfield Rd. to Madison Rd. with Max, then back, towing his bicycle. Afterward, I rode to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was a much cooler morning. I was tempted to ride all the way to work but the schedule wouldn't allow for that.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I had my backpack full of clothes from yesterday and a laptop. The laptop and case is a new lighter one but the case didn't sit well on my back over my backpack like the other one did. It might get better with some adjustment but I don't plan to bring this home much.

Washington, D.C. From 14th & Independence Ave., SW, down The Mall along Independence Ave. and the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Calvert St., to the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. It was again rather pleasant out and in the low 70s F.

As I ran down along the south side of the Reflecting Pool, I saw the same field stripped of grass that was striped with dark patches of dirt that I had the previous week. I'd wondered about the stripes then and figured they were just from a landscaper wanting to appear to be doing a good job laying out topsoil that would be spread over the bare ground to improve the soil. In fact, I read an article in the Washington Post about just this kind of soil work going on as I came to work on Monday, earlier this week. That work is going to stop people from crossing a portion of the Mall nearer to where I work for 18 months. However I was surprised to read this morning, again in The Washington Post, about what the soil work going on near the Reflecting Pool--the lines of darker dirt--really is. The lines were a gigantic face portrait! Once at the Lincoln Memorial, I saw the 3 Presidential helicopters flying--they didn't head straight to the White House as they usually do when I see them. The did a slow circle over the Reflecting Pool area and were probably looking at the same portrait. I wonder whom it is?

On the last 2 miles of this run, I was catching up to a stretched-out group of runners and eventually I passed them. The one in front started pacing behind me and this helped me to keep up my pace rather than slow down as much as I probably would have. I held the other runner off kind of running my pace until hitting the climb up to Woodley Park.

From Northfield Rd. to Madison Rd. with Max, then back, towing his bicycle. Afterward, I rode to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was warmer and more humid this morning.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. It was easier in the daytime and I hit most of the intersections pretty well.

From Northfield Rd. to Madison Rd. with Max, then back, towing his bicycle. Afterward, I rode to the Bethesda Metro Station. When I got to the station, I found that my rented bicycle locker was gone. There had been some forewarning of this maintenance work. I had forgotten about it last week which was a week after they said they'd start but I remembered today and this time I had my lock ready. There were very few racks left to use but I cold squeeze in. My back was still hurting but at least I was able to ride and that's better than nothing.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. I was as little tired and sore but it all worked out okay. I had been picked-up after work to go get my van but had to go back to the station to get my bicycle.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I didn't have a light or helmet.

Fountainhead Regional Park, VA. I did a lot of checking of control sites and other related course setting things. It was sunny and got up to around 80 F. I had pretty good energy jogging to control sites whenever feasible in the terrain. As I sweated out a lot of water, I slowed down.

Fountainhead Regional Park, VA. I did more checking of control sites and other related course setting things.