Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. The power went out in the night so I overslept a little. I didn't feel very strong riding. Besides waiting to pass others, I rode alone. There were some headwinds getting to Georgetown, but afterward, the west wind was more in my favor.

C • power 1

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I started out in a downpour as the tail end of a line of thunderstorms was still running full force. There was little lightening and for some odd reason, the traffic was light leaving the office. I had to gear down to get through the headwind getting to Georgetown. The rain was coming head-on and was a comfortable temperature but it stung at times. My wheel was cutting through the often deep puddles. I couldn't see through them but am familiar enough with the route that I wasn't worried. I did roll over a few manholes. I was under the freeway in Georgetown and emerging on the other side, the rain had just about stopped. I saw a lot of other cyclists whom probably had waited out the rain. I took it easy and was tired.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I was a little later since today was the first day for the kids at their first summer camp. It was a pleasant low humidity morning and the winds felt calm. I caught-up to one guy and drafted for a mile or so before passing and finishing on my own. I felt stronger. I had cookies and milk late last night so my weight was up. My sister and my lack of will power foiled my weight loss once again but it is good recovery food.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. There was a good headwind getting to Georgetown, and traffic there, but after that it wasn't too difficult. I did get passed by a few riders today but I caught back up w/2 and ended up passing one of them for good. It was in the 80s F but with not a lot of humidity.

Blockhouse Conservation Park. I went out to pickup controls and the water jug that I had setup out earlier. Immediately, it was getting difficult to see the map in the forest. I did most of the course in a sort of massive memory-O. I also didn't have my eye glasses. It wasn't too bad since I had passed the same direction for most controls on Sunday. I even hit most controls more directly. Eventually, I needed to use the headlamp. I had an underpowered one that we'd gotten for Samantha to use on our last camping trip. I was especially happy about finding the 2 controls that Greg Lennon had unsuccessfully tried to find after the training on Saturday. I found them in the dark because I knew how I'd set them. One of the 2 wasn't accurately placed because of the vegetation and me being rushed toward the end of my setup loop. The other was on a very steep and partly green hillside that didn't induce a lot of will power for people to keep looking. When I ran this night, it was in the 70s and nice out. I saw glimpses of the Strawberry Moon through the trees and better views, past strawberry time, when driving home. I hadn't done a night-o training run in a long time and it was fun.

Father's Day was my excuse. I just had little time given going to visit my dad and sister's gravesites with my mother and other sister. I did get some needed shopping done to replace my cycling shoes--I like my Speedplay pedals but it was too hard finding shoes for them that I could commute w/too so I am going back to SPDs. In the afternoon, I saw Finding Dory with my family including my sister, and friends Bob and Ben. we had dinner together too.

Blockhouse Conservation Park, MD. I setup for the first Summer Short Series (SSS) training of the summer season. The woods weren't that bad considering it to for all practical purposes, being summer already. The lowlands were the most lush. The point features were needing updates so I field checked some of these loosely and took new way points. I lugged around a gallon of water for the first 3rd of my route too. I missed setting up one control, and being rushed at the end, and back in the lowlands with high grass and thicker vegetation I didn't find some features--my placement was loose and in the general area. Had I a little more time, I would have found the features as some others did.

With rain forecast and my back not feeiing so good. I skipped. Of course, later in the day the rain was all cleared-up. A late dinner the night before with no workout had my weight up and my stomach not feeling so good.

It was a rainy morning and I had to make sure to get home for Max's elementary school graduation. It also happened to be Peggy's and mine anniversary, but that sort of took a back seat for the night.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. This morning was one of those days that didn't start out right. It was like my body or some karma was trying to tell me not to ride. I did anyway, exhibiting some willpower to get through various things that didn't go right. I felt slow from the start and just went through the motions. I never got passed but was moving more slowly. There was a slight headwind.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I got out of work late. It was nice having the long day. I had a tailwind most of the way. Once in Georgetown, I kept trading leads with another guy. He was stronger and younger, riding on not as nice a bike with old clip-less/cleat-less pedals. His pace kept changing and that's the reason I kept passing him. At one point we all had to stop as a small trail-sized ambulance truck came the other way with siren and lights on. I guess there was a wreck behind us. The other guy finally turned-off at River Rd. and from there I rode more easily with another guy up to Falls Rd.