Training Log Archive: Nadim

Rachel Carson Conservation Park, MD. Our family met Heidi and David Onkst for another holiday hike. This was very casual and socially distanced with masks--It was in the low 30s F. Most of the mud was icy. We checked out some rocky spots with nice woods first. Most of the lower lands and parts along the stream seemed to have been farmed long ago and was still recovering. They were the thorniest. Low vegetation covered the most of the terrain. There were scattered rocks and a pond. Though it was nice hiking through, using it for running and hiking would be better than for orienteering. It was a nice way to get out and there weren't too many people.

Since we ate lunch after our hike, I wasn't ready to run for a while and I later decided this would be a good point to put in a rest day. I was feeling like I had yesterday with a slight headache and being sleepy. I caulk it up to all the Christmas holiday stress and eating holiday stuff.

Great Falls National Park, MD. From the Angler's Inn parking lot, I started up the Berma Rd., with Peggy. We ran separately. I continued to the bridge over the canal, just south of the Billygoat A trailhead. From there I ran the towpath south to the bridge over the canal for Marsden Tract campers, and lastly, northwest on MacArthur Blvd. to the Angler's Inn parking lot. After celebrating with a big dinner on Christmas Eve, we had big brunch. Peggy got me some running shoes and clothes. With sleeping oddly the combination had me feeling tired and with a slight but rare headache. I thought I was not going to run well. However, my body responded, running more quickly than I thought I was going. It was in the low 30s F. There were groups of people hiking, with more on the Berma Rd. than I can recall seeing before. However overall, foot traffic was down. I guess we chose the right time to go.

For the last week and a half, I've developed some cracks in the hardened skin of my left heel. These are on the side of the foot and hurt sharply when I put my shoes on sometimes. While running I've been okay. Today, I have a sore left shoulder. I suppose that I slept on it wrong because I have no other explanation.

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., to the trail along the middle 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 raining and the street in front of our house was flowing with it. I went out with a full Goretex suit but wearing that was too much--it was in the mid-50s F. Though I was taking it easier, I was also constrained a bit. I was even getting tired with it on. At about 3 miles as I started climbing back, I got some warning signs from my right hamstring again, like yesterday. I eased off each time that happened but it didn't happen as much as yesterday. The rain stopped and I took off my suit jacket feeling better, and running a little better. Today, I surpassed my yearly mileage for 2019 despite being injured more this year. Earlier in the year I doubted I could do it, so it had become a goal that I've now reached.

From Northfield Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd. via Greenwich Park, to Cheshire Dr.. to Grosvenor Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail at Fleming Ave. to Old Georgetown Rd. to Northfield Rd. via Greenwich Park. I thought I'd feel better running today and I did for a while. However, I felt that I was slowing down after 2 miles on the small rises. After that it was hard to see my watch in darker places. I kind of wasn't sure how fast I was going. I tried to pickup my pace several times but felt some warning signs in my right hamstring when going down graded slopes. I backed off and tried shortening my stride to finish-up. I was glad not to have hurt myself. I wonder if the hamstring issue could be related to dehydration. I had lost weight and a lot of water in the last day.

From Northfield Rd. to Custer Rd., to Wilson Ln., to Maiden Ln., to Whittier Blvd., to Woodhaven Blvd., to Bradley Blvd., to Valley Rd., to Temple St. to Ridge Rd., to Ridge Pl., to Greentree Rd., to Garfield St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. This is a close variation of a loop that I'd been doing. It has some bigger hills on it, but it didn't hurt too much. I was not as tired as I was yesterday and I made a good effort finishing. It was in the upper 40s F and breezy.

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 Falls Rd./Glenbrook Rd., to Wilson Ln. to Custer Rd. Northfield Rd. Though I started out okay through about the first 1.5 miles, fatigue from my run the day before caught-up with me. I grinded out the gradual climbs finishing-up. My quadriceps were sore. It was warmer this day--around the mid to upper 40s F.

From Query Mill Rd. on a spur trail near the intersection with Esworthy Rd., I ran up the Muddy Branch Trail (NE) to Quince Orchard Rd., then back to Esworthy Rd., and up to where I'd parked. I skipped the switchbacks inadvertently on the way out but got them coming back. It was about 42 F so there was a lot of snow and ice melting. Though the stream valley is pretty and gently sloped, the trail conditions were once again not great--standing water, streaming water, slushy ice, and mud. It required caution sometimes but overall wasn't too slippery. My small spiked Ice Bugs kept me pretty comfortable. My left knee hurt a little once in a while. I finished-up at about sunset and was pushing it in the last half mile and where I could and on other down slopes. The trail was pretty empty--only about 3 people and a dog.