Training Log Archive: Nadim

Summer Short Series at Fountainhead Regional Park, VA. Matt Smith setup a relocation exercise on the Fountainhead West map. We started at Wolf Run Shoals Rd. This was Matt's first time setting courses. He did pretty well though I believe he calculated the climb incorrectly and at least 2 controls were misplaced. The long course was supposed to be about 300m but my GPS indicated 735m. I moved okay, but on climbs, my left ham string was forcing me to slow down. I hit most controls well, but missed on the first relocation control. We had to cross an area where the map was whited-out. The control was shown in a small map island. Since the control circle covered it partly, I didn't realize that the trail was a catching feature. I went past it pretty far, but turned around and hit it. It was not very hot; clouds kept it cool enough (it rained at home in MD) but it was humid. I took a few minutes to relieve myself going towards 11 or 12. I was feeling pretty badly towards the end. I'm just not very much in-shape. We had a nice pizza dinner sitting outside afterwards. Joe Barrett told us about the WOC.

From Northfield Rd., the Jefferson St. trail to Glenwood Rd., to Irvington Ave., to Roosevelt St., to Folkstone St./Ewing Dr., to Heampstead St., to the Madison St., trail to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. Samantha and I took a walk after dinner. Samantha needed a couple of breaks but the weather was darn good for this time of year. The humidity was low and the temperature was nice.

In Rock Creek Park, at the Washington, D.C./Maryland border. I ran the Valley Trail to Beech Dr., turned south to the Pinehurst Trail, turned right quickly to cross the Pinehurst Branch on an unnamed but still maintained trail, eventually got to the Western Ridge Trail, and took that back to the border. Conditions were good. It was 80 F, low humidity, and dry. I paced myself. After the climb about a mile out, my left hamstring was feeling pretty sore again. Further along it mostly hurt when going uphill. I slowed down a bunch when this happened. The good news was that I finished without incident, and the my right knee was doing pretty well. The anti-inflammatory prescription for my right knee seemed to clear things up quickly. My left knee gave more woe than my right did, and my left knee wasn't bad.

Cabin John Regional Park, MD. It was 91 F at home when I thought about running, so I headed to the forest where it was 87 F. From the Tennis Center parking lot, I took mostly the Cabin John Trail along the creek and power lines northward to the trailhead near the dog park and train parking lot; then I came back. The trail had a few wet spots. I was about 2 minutes slower than in May, but back then it was in the 60s F. My left calf and hamstring were feeling sore near the end of the run.

From Northfield Rd., to Jefferson St., to Madison St., to Garfield St., to Greeentreen Rd., to Heampstead Rd. to Roosevelt St., to Garfield St., to Northfield Rd. Walking with Samantha.

Starting from the C&O Canal Lock 10, I went a short way north on the towpath, turned left on a side trail to run along the river (near Plummer Island), returned to the towpath, went north under the Capital Beltway (where the new bridge is being planned to be built), turned left again at the Billygoat C Trail, got back on the towpath at Carderrock, then went all the way back to Lock 10. It was much cooler today; in the 70s F when running. The trails were sometimes overgrown, especially inside the beltway where I hadn't run previously. I picked-up the pace a little on the towpath returning.

From Northfield Rd., to Custer Rd., to Lambeth Rd., to Overhill Rd., to York Ln., to Hampden Ln., to Charlcotte Rd., to Northfield Rd. My older sister and mom had come over for my sister's birthday. I spent a while getting her setup with phone and Internet accounts. After they left, Samantha and I went for a walk. Samantha was easily out of breath. The temperatures were in the low 80s F.