Training Log Archive: Nadim

Cabin John Regional Park, MD. From the playground parking area, Peggy and I did a lolipop loop through the northern section of the park (above Tuckerman Rd.). It felt better starting out than usual--though humid it was only 78 F. Most of the trail was in pretty good shape except for some recent deadfall in the northernmost part of where we ran--new tree fall covered up some of the switchbacks. I did fall once. I was following Peggy too closely and I tripped on a rather small stone in the trail. We had brunch at Corner Bakery later.

Bolger Center, in Potomac MD. I probably hadn't been to the Bolger Center since 2016 when Peggy setup a sprint. I had helped setup the map and knew it needed work. With only one day before a training event, I did a lot of fast field checking. Since I've been focusing on running more, I was rusty at field checking and forgot to bring my compass! I was going to use my watch compass but that seemed too unreliable. I didn't think I had time to go back home since I knew rain was on the way. It turned out that the storm I was worried about missed us. Once in the woods, mosquitoes got me--I just wore running shorts and a t-shirt. After some hunkering down, I felt pretty good about the checking I was able to do. The area is not so big that I didn't have reference points. The new LiDAR that I had updated the map with was very detailed--intricate ditch detail was near perfect from my drafting. The Bolger Center has some big semi-open grassy areas and I was able to pinpoint a lot of trees as point features. As I got into checking the trees, I could tell that a lot were missing. They'd been cut down and grass has grown over. It was surprising since the LiDAR is supposed to be from 2018. I went one by one without my compass, checking them. It was good training, but for some reason my back was hurting during that. A strong storm came as I was wrapping things up but I got home dry.

I could have used more time field checking to do a better job. The area has a lot to map--a good variety of terrain with nice open woods. However if I can get the drafting done quickly enough tonight, I think it'll be good for the training. I'll have to set out controls in the morning.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Woodmont Ave. to Wisconsin Ave., to Norwood Park, to Dorset Ave. to the Capital Crescent Trail to the River Rd. access point, the back the other direction doing fartlek to Woodmont Ave.; I stopped fartlek there and warmed down going down Strathmore St. and back alleys between Wisconsin and Strathmore St. to explore them for the Bethesda sprint map. Looping back from Bradley Blvd., and Wisconsin Ave., I crossed Wisconsin and took another alley to a parking lot eventually getting on 47th St., Elm St., and Wisconsin again, to finish at Panera Bread. I got take home dinner there for everyone. When warming up, it was warm and humid--88 F--I was wondering to myself if I should just run instead of doing fartlek. However I felt okay getting to the starting point. Once I got running fast, it seemed easier than running slow had been in some ways. It was nice to move fast! I did 10 fast runs from 20-45 seconds with about equal slow jogs in between.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. From the Sports Pavilion parking lot, I went over to the old campground loop, down to the Northwest Branch Trail, down the trail to where the re-routed trail split off, then taking the higher new trail, I went up to where the trail merged and returned on the old Northwest Branch Trail. On the return, I stopped at the Nature Center for water and a bathroom stop, but it was closed. I finished up on the low trail to Pine Lake, and up the last bit past the dog park to the parking lot where I started. It was around 83 F starting out, but already humid. I was worried I'd feel weak, as I had running an bicycling earlier in the week without eating so much those days. I wasn't feeling strong but it felt better running than I thought it would. I weakened returning as the heat and humidity were taking a toll. When I finished up I could wring sweat from my nylon tech shirt, and a lot from both of my socks. I was wet all over. There is some more trail re-routing going on in the park. It looks like they are removing one that broke up the orienteering map.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. My legs were feeling weak and wobbly.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I had worked late and had an errand to do after getting home. By around 11pm when I had time to run and had stepped out to walk my cats, I figured it would be best to take a rest day.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., via the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and Independence Ave., SW. My normal route was completely blocked off by the Trump fireworks setup that's taking out all of West Potomac Park, and apparently Haines Point too. A fence blocked off the Rock Creek Trail under the Memorial Bridge. I contended with early tourist traffic to finish up, though in actuality, I was about an hour late leaving for work. Samantha, had a problem with her braces that I had to take her to get fixed first. On the CCT, I caught a rider who took over for me when we hit the flats. I passed him back as he faded a mile or so from Georgetown. We had headwinds. I was pretty tired/weak from my run yesterday and from not eating breakfast or lunch (I had some snacks) and was trying to ride easy as it was.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD via Independence Ave., the Reflecting Pool, and Lincoln Circle. A storm had just passed so roads and paths had damp spots. Needless to say, it was steamy. I had to weave amongst the tourist getting to Lincoln Circle and I got in behind one rider doing that. As I passed him another rider got behind me. He passed me after I was pretty slow getting out of Georgetown after all of that. The rider I had picked-up in traffic stayed behind me for a mile or more on the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT). He passed me but wasn't going so fast. It helped me a lot since I was dragging in the wind and uphills. At the water treatment plant, he stopped at the water fountain. I kept going at a good effort but slowed the last mile on the trail. I was able to do a short sprint on Custer Rd. but overall I felt drained; still weak from not eating much. I weighed out at 91 lbs.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I didn't want to get sweaty in my work clothes so I didn't push this.

From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. Independence Ave. to the Reflecting Pool, to the Lincoln Memorial, to the Rock Creek Trail, to along the Georgetown Waterfront, to the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT), to the Glover Archbold Trail, up to the Tenleytown Metro Station via Van Ness St. and Wisconsin Ave., then to the Friendship Heights Metro Station at the DC/MD border (Western Ave. & Wisconsin Ave.). Looking back it's hard to believe that I last did a version of this run in 2014--far too long if that's accurate. I looked ahead at the week of hot weather and decided it'd be the best to do a longer run today (87 F starting out, but low humidity). I set out to reach the Tenleytown Metro Station and thought it'd be a stretch to do so, judging from the way I've been running. I started out okay and slowed the sunny 2nd and 3rd miles. With Independence Day celebrations coming up, baricades made for tight-passage/foot-traffic among the tourists. At the start of the Glover Archbold Trail, a fence had been erected because of "Bridge Construction". The old trolley line bridge must be falling apart. I worked my way around the fence but had to work through some fight--thorny bushes were overgrowing a trail others had used to get over the old tracks and around. Once on the trail properly, I felt better. The shade was good and I no doubt was taking it easier to pace myself. I felt okay doing this (and walking where there are stairs) so I got it in my mind to take advantage of the day. From the Tenleytown Metro Station it's primarily downhill to the Friendship Heights Station. I picked up the pace a bit on the pavement but my knees did start to hurt. My left foot, probably doing more work than my right still, was partly numb even before getting to the pavement. I'm happy that I completed the run but it was sooo much slower than the hour it used to take me to do this. At home after , I weighed out at 193 lbs after drinking water.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I was tired and took it easy. In the metro station, when walking up the stairs, my left knee hurt, so I eased off.

Great Falls Park, MD. Starting from the Falls Rd. and MacArthur Blvd. intersection, Peggy led me on a hilly figure 8 loop through the park. I ran a bit easier than she did but it was hot and hilly enough for me to feel I was getting a workout. Every now and then, Peggy would pickup the pace on flat or downhill stretches. We walked some of the steeper hills.

I'd planned to do a bicycle ride after visiting my mother and sister, but there wasn't time for that. I probably needed the rest anyway.