Training Log Archive: Nadim

Rock Creek Park, MD. From the DC/MD border off Beach Dr., I ran up the Western Ridge Trail over the rolling hills to Broadbranch Rd., then through the valley trails on the west side of Rock Creek. At Military Rd., I crossed the creek and went up on the Valley Trail (east side of the creek) back to the DC/MD border. Just before getting back to the parking lot, I cut right at the foot bridge to continue following the creek up to where the unofficial dirt trail ended on the paved Rock Creek Trail. From there I continued northward to East West Hwy., made a u-turn and finished where I started.

I had gotten started at 4:30pm and was wondering how much of the run I'd be able to do before it got too dark. I almost took off without stretching my calves but stopped myself; I think it and the softer ground helped. I didn't feel much pain from my left calf--less than yesterday at least. I was worried about the amount of light before reaching the first turnaround at Broadbranch Rd. Once on the flatter parts of the trail I moved well. The little climb after Military Rd. slowed me up but I was so focused on getting back with the failing light that the miles went by easily. With the darkness coming, my depth perception diminished. I started having to pick my legs up after 55 minutes at Sherrill Dr. and the cars on Beach Dr. were already using headlights. In several places while descending, my eyes would water-up and make it harder to see. It was in the 30's F and breezy, even in the valley. I was still running strong when I hit the paved trail. It was fully dark by then. The longer I was on it, I felt the pounding more. My right calf on the right side was straining. I finished-up at a good time so as not to run the risk of more injury.

I was pretty pleased with this run. My left calf didn't stop me. Recent workouts have started paying off with endurance. I was glad that I even got to go this far with as late as I had started (I was visiting my parents earlier). My first mile went over some good climbs but was 8:47. My last mile on the flat paved trail was 8:16. The overall pace was not much slower than I ran a week ago on a flat paved trail for a shorter distance.

Event: QOC Laurel Ridge XC SkiO - CANCELLED!
 

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 Greenwick Park. It was cool and breezy; temperatures in the low to mid 30s F. I had trouble telling my pace. I felt slow but my first mile was just over 7 minute pace. I slowed. I was about 22:53 at 3 miles. My quadricepts were a bit sore and I continued to feel like I was lumbering. I also kept trying not to push off on my left toes so as not to further aggrivate my left calf. This seemed to work but the stretching that I did before starting the run probably helped as much or more. This slowed me on hills a bit.

MCRRC: Shooting Starr in Sligo Creek Park, MD. Peggy and I ran together in this memorial race for our friend's husband. I ran it casually while keeping pace with Peggy (Max stayed with our friend Beth Starr). My left calf was hurting some. It was in the mid to upper 20's F when running. I ran as much as possible on the side of the paved trail, and on the grass when the course was on the sidewalk (Inwood Ave.). The Sligo Creek Trail looked to be about as nice as I remembered it. It'd be good to do some loops with it in the future presuming I can keep up my running through busy times at work and all the aches and pains.

Cabin John Regional Park, MD. I went back to the flat marsh grounds that I've been in the last 2 times out. Traipsing around in a cold damp marsh isn't one of the great parts about field checking or map making. I felt a need to check the alignment of point features and made some adjustments. I also discovered an extension of a linear-pond/stream that I added to the map. I think it's a remnant of an old oxbow. After that I went southward, still on the west side of the creek. With fewer features and more uniform vegetation, I moved well. I still did find an odd mix of white and green woods. I had to walk the edges with my GPS to capture it. Most of the point features on the slopes were root stocks. However, I found some cairns and a line of stoney ground. Perhaps these later items are evidence of old farming activity. It was in the low 30's F and a little breezy while I was out.

Max's school had a night at the Cabin John Ice Rink. I saw Ken Walker, Jr. there with Samantha. At times they looked like Max I a couple of years ago when we were struggling to get around the rink together. Max has been ice skating many times now and though he can't yet zip around, he can skate by himself fast enough to be off chasing his friends and knocking each other down. Peggy was moving around steadily, competently, like anyone who grew up in Minnesota should.

Kennsington, MD. From Raymoor Rd. to E. Bexhill Dr. to Kensington Pkwy. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Garrett Park Rd. After work, I drove over to Rock Creek, parked and asked Peggy and Max to pick me up at the end of the run. It was a cold and breezy night (~35 F). The trail had several slow spots where it was covered in water. The auto headlights from the nearby Beach Dr. didn't make it easier. Police were out in force running speeding traps. I took it easy but after 3 miles when going up a steeper part of the paved trail, I got some old familiar warning signs in my left calf. I'll have to strech more.

45 sit-ups. I had planned a run after work but got out too late to make it work.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. I had gotten started in th dark in between the heavier rains. Though well lit, I felt a little more vulnerable knowing that car drivers can't see so well in such situations. I hadn't worn any rain gear and lacked a fender. I went slower and only got a little stripe of wetness. Good thing it was a shorter ride than it took me to write this.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. I woke up late and didn't have time to check the weather. Knowing that there was a chance of rain in the forecast the night before, but not knowing how much nor when, I decided to go ahead and ride. There wasn't much cloud cover. It was cool out--around freezing. I was a little sore from yesterday.

College Park, MD. From Cherry Hill Rd., the paved Paint Branch Trail to Lake Artemesia, to the Indian Creek Trail, to River Rd. and back. I also had a small out and back addition where there was some construction to move the trail and it wasn't quite clear in the dark which way to go. I thought I might get too warm on this run but perhaps due to sweating and the temperature dropping fast, I was just a bit less than comfortable on the cold side. I moved steadily but kept trying to pace myself. I felt a bit slow and tired at times. I couldn't see my time at mile markers much and with breaks in the trail, I couldn't have gotten many useful splits anyway. However, I did get a few slits: 3:45 (0.5 mile), 3:52 (0.5 mile), 8:05 (1.07 mile), 3:57 (0.5 mile), 3:54 (0.5 mile), 41:54 (halfway), 4:01 (0.5 mile), 4:01 (0.5 mile), 7:59 (0.5 mile), 4:05 (0.5 mile), 4:01 (0.5 mile). When I finished, I realized that I was a bit more wobbly on balance than I should have been. Like yesterday, I had worked in Beltsville. I got out later than planned but with the weather better, I think I made a good choice to run while being tempted to go home.