Training Log Archive: Nadim

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Main Ave., to P Street SW, to the South Capital Street bridge, to Anacostia Dr., to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, to the Northeast Branch Trail, to Goodluck Rd., to Springfield Rd., to Beaverdam Rd., to Kenilworth Ave., to Cherrywood Ln., to Lake Artemesia, to the Paint Branch Trail, then across the University of Maryland campus to McKeldin Mall. This day started slowly with Peggy getting me to the metro station and taking the train downtown. I couldn't get into my building from usual front entrance and had to walk around. With a few other delays, I got to my bicycle and found it had a flat tire. I patched it and improved the front derailer too, by tightening up the cabling. Getting started I was surprised at all of the new waterfront development--all of that had been under construction the last time I'd come by. Once cross the South Capital Street Bridge, I was happy to see Anacostia Park being used by a lot of people and there being various picnics--that last time I'd been there under my own muscle, the place was empty. The paved trail was pretty nice though it curved about at times. Getting through Greenbelt and the Beltsville Agricultural was interesting and I was cruising steadily. Unfortunately, just as I was just getting to the home stretch on Kenilworth Ave., I could tell that I had another flat. I swapped out the inner-tube and eventually got to the University of Maryland.

QOC Summer Short Series at College Park, MD. Boris G. and Ali B. setup a sprint relay of sorts. There were 4 courses and I did the first one. I was tired from cycling. The cycling probably loosened me up. My left leg didn't hurt much and I didn't feel like I was going to roll my ankle quite as much as at George Mason a while back. It was warm and I was dehydrated. I was tasting salt water like I do at the ocean and that hadn't happened so strongly before that I can remember. About 2/3 of the way through the course, I started walking because I was feeling a bit off balance. I had to pace myself walking up a 4 flight stairway to one control. This was a fairly fun event with good participation.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, Folkstone Rd., then to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. Samantha scootered to day care again and is getting more proficient at it. I rode steadily most of the time but did surge here and there to pass people in places that were safe. There was a bit of a headwind on Ohio Dr. along the water.

I planned to ride back home and knew I'd have to take my laptop but as it was time to leave, a front was moving through--that and carry a laptop don't go together. I didn't want to wait another half hour for the rain to pass, nor for me to be able to take my bike on the train--7pm. The funny thing was that in Bethesda it had hardly rained earlier, and wasn't raining at all when Peggy picked me up.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. The rains, about +10 inches worth over the last 5 days, finally let up. Things were damp when I rode but mostly not wet. I took it easier since I have been feeling weak on my left leg. The winds were calm. I rode alone and no one passed me. I stayed in my middle range front cog, since the cable got loose over the last week and I wasn't able to get it fixed right this morning. It didn't matter much as I was not able to hold the highest gear for long going downhill.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. It got sunny and about what a summer day in Washington, D.C. should be this time of year. I took a steady pace through the city and on the trail. I got passed at Massachusetts Ave., and rode the draft until on Falls Rd. I got ahead again for a while but was passed when the grade to steeper on Glenmont Ave.

From Northfield Rd., I had to get a pre-op physical with a blood test, and then dinner. I went to an urgent care since I couldn't get in to see my regular doctor before a trip next week. I don't think many people ride up to this place on a bicycle. I also got lunch for everyone but poor Peggy who's rather sick and was in bed. Max had his friend Devon at our house for a sleepover.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. Though rain was in the forecast, I took advantage of it not raining in the morning.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. As I got to the Bethesda station, it was pouring rain. I waited about 15 minutes, and let it slow down. I was in my work clothes. I opened up a sizeable umbrella and rode slowly through the rain to home. I managed to stay fairly dry except for my ankles.

Earlier in the day, and the day before, my back was affecting my walking more than it had been for a while. I also in the last couple of days started getting some pain on my right calf. Since January, everything had been on my left leg and foot. I waited a day after seeing my orthopedist on Monday, and have decided to go through with an almost identical discectomy at the same vertebrae level, but on my left side. That's probably going to happen in 2 weeks. Meanwhile, I'll continue on trying to exercise, etc. It's been very busy and often stressful at work.

I saw my orthopedist today. The results of the MRI I tool show another broken piece of cartilage at the same vertebrae as 3 years ago but on my left side. I worked from home this day. It was too rainy to do much outside and I was too busy working late anyway.

Poolsville, MD. From Fischer Ave.just across the street from the elementary school, I took Fisher Ave., to Sugarland Rd., to Whites Ferry Rd., to White Ground Rd., to Clarksburg Rd., to Barnesville Rd., to Slidell Rd., to Comus Rd., to Peach Tree Rd., to Darnestown Rd., to Catail Rd., to Fischer Ave. With the remnant rains what they were in the aftermath of 5 inches the day before, I was wary of starting out. I saw a window of opportunity but still got a slowish start with eating lunch then realizing I forgot my gloves--I got more and some nice shorts from a nearby store. By the time I was starting out across the county's agricultural preserve, it was well after 3pm and raining moderately. My front derailleur cable was slipping so I rode the whole ride in the 53 ring. Radar showed that the rain would pass and it did after about 35 minutes. I still rode through occasional puddles and overflow from ditches and fields. I had to keep a good eye out for debris. Through all of that, I really enjoyed seeing this countryside again. I'd feared suburban growth would have taken over a lot of it but except for 2-3 places, much of it was intact. The high point and mental turnaround point was near Sugarloaf Mountain. Riding the Peach Tree Rd. ridgeline back, I got a few nice views of that mountain which I used to nickname Mt. Pipsqueak. The best view was across a large open grassy field with clouds rising off the top. At the end of the field was an iconic Victorian house with yellow, blue, and red floors and a nice porch with a metal roof. I didn't feel that fast finishing up on the downslopes toward Poolsville. There was a headwind that dried-off the roads where it was sunny. While I'm not running I hope to do more long rides. I just have to make a point of getting out earlier.

After the ride, I had to drive to Virginia to pickup Samantha, who'd slept the night at my mother's house. White's Ferry was my initial plan, but that was closed due to the high water on the river. I drove through Point of Rocks, recalling other bicycling I'd done decades back. It was a pretty drive, though a little busier than it used to be.