Training Log Archive: Nadim

Candy Cane Village in Rock Creek, Park, MD. The MCRRC Winter Trails group met at this park instead of at Muddy Branch, since it seemed the Muddy Branch Trail was going to be closed--we got word just before starting our run in Rock Creek, that the Muddy Branch Trail was now open. It was around 36 F when we started and we'd just gotten some nice vests, no doubt paid for by our program fee, to commemorate the efforts people made in the training program.

Peggy and I happened to be on the end of the waiting crowd that was in the direction we needed to go in. I nestled in behind a lead pack of about 5 runners. It was 1K before we hit the DC/MD border where the pavement ended. I didn't want them to pull me too fast so remained alone, just behind the main group. They started to pull away slightly when later I found I'd caught back up with them. As we set into the first climb on the Valley Trail, I fell back. The climb was made bigger by a turn off onto the Pine Bluff trail, that closely parallels 16th St. for a while. Once back to the Valley Trail, I moved okay. I did try to stop at the restroom prior to Military Rd., but found it was closed. On a switchback just before getting to Military Rd., I found a smaller but fast running group coming the other direction. Since time was running long, for what I'm physically ready for, I decided to cut up the dirt trail along Military Rd. It gets steep in one section so I walked it for probably the first time ever. Moving again, I descended almost to the bike trail at Oregon Ave., but there I could pickup the Western Ridge Trail. I had to stop again, for a nature break but this time it was just in the forest. Getting going again, I moved better. At a big bend in the trail I could look backward and I was surprised to seen Peggy. I decided to wait and run with her, which is what I did. We stayed together for about 3/4 mile and then I pulled ahead going up a hill after Wise Rd. I moved better than earlier and the hills didn't wear me down too much. Nearing the DC/MD border, I crossed the running group I'd seen earlier that was running about the same loop in the opposite direction. On the 1K back to Candy Cane Village, I felt slow but not excessively tired. The good thing about this run, besides it being a nice area that I hadn't run in a while, is that my left knee didn't ache.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd.

Rainy weather and busy work kept me from running or riding.

From Rte. 29, Peggy and I started together and ran up and down the Northwest Branch Trail. We'd been here last Thanksgiving and I'd run a loop with Ted Good and David Onkst using the Rachel Carson Trail to go upstream and the Northwest Branch Trail to return. It was around freezing when Peggy and I started. We separated going up the biggest hill right at the start. As bad as I'd been feeling the last few days, I was surprised that I was running as close as to within a half a minute per mile on the trail. Most of it was flat for a trail run but it was rocky and sometimes muddy. Maybe the lighter Ice Bugs with spikes that I was running in that made a difference, or just sleeping more. After passing the trail to Lamberton Dr., I went almost to the bridge but turned around at the large overhanging cliff before it. Peggy and I only had an hour to run and be back to take Max to his basketball game. The cliff was the best landmark before the bridge. I'd actually started to slow after +2 miles so going much further wouldn't have made much sense either. After turning back, I took a new and paralleling side trail. I'm guessing it was designed to get cyclists and bikers away from the creek shore and the part I was on was more used along a stretch that's usually wet along the creek. The side trail went up and down, even for small stretches--it's the kind of stuff that's fun on a mountain bike but when your energy running is low, it saps more out of you. The trails merged as the park got narrower along another set of cliffs. I eventually caught and passed others including Peggy. It was nice to get out and run, see Max play basketball, and then to have some lunch.