Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Bradley Blvd. to Kennedy Dr. to Dorset Ave. to the Capital Crescent Trail,.to Falls Rd./Glenbrook Rd., to Wilson Ln. to Custer Rd. Northfield Rd. As expected, I didn't feel so good starting out. I intended to run a little over 3 miles but on the downhill after mile 1, I thought I could use more training. I slowed a lot returning on the climb back. My left foot was feeling numb and I couldn't get a good stride going up or downhill. My legs were dead. It was about 43 F and calm out.

Event: QOC Lake Needwood
 

QOC: Lake Needwood, MD - It was much cooler today and good for running. Ken and Samantha's courses today were about route choices. I may not have been optimal on all of my choices but I didn't lose much time on them either. The straight-line course measured 6.4K but I ran 7.9K. It measured 310m of optimal route climb but I only climbed 192m per what my GPS track showed. Overall, the courses were fun and the woods were good. I felt pretty tired and slow, especially staring out.

S-1 - I crossed Rock Creek just below the dam, then after crossing the smaller stream, I got on the trail southeast of the control. I walked up the last bit thinking I could have been more direct.

1-2 - Not feeling strong enough to get over the hills well, I stayed low. I managed to cross Rock Creek on a log. I ran the paved trail to the Southlawn Rd. bridge crossing. Staying low until the first reentrant, I climbed and spiked the control. Peggy's time seems to show that a straighter route was slightly faster, but that would have also take more out of me for later.

2-3 - I chased a guy in red up to the building corner and trail. Since he paused there, we were even. I kept a fairly straight route, not wanting to drop. It was not fast crossing the rough open areas but I didn't get held up too much. I ermerged 100m ahead of the guy in red. I also saw my son Max closing in on the control. I knew long earlier that the control was on the southernmost of the tall poles (used for the former golf driving range netting).

3-4 - Max moved ahead of me. I was going to go to the left (west) side of the pond, but I decided to use the paved trail on the east side of it. Max didn't use the paved trail but passed the pond on the east side. Max gained a few seconds on me that way. I was thinking erroneously that the control was on th east side of the stream when I made my choice but realized it quickly enough to not make an error. I punched close behind Max.

4-5 - As I caught-up to Max, he ran an kept doing so up the paved trail. I had to slow to walk up. On the flatter ground we were even, but Max paused at the trail bend before moving in and I gained ground. Going downhill I was less encumbered and I moved past Max. I got to the south side of the reentrant and went down going on memory. The control was much nearer the bottom than my map memory had it, but it was very visible.

5-6 - Out to the road, over the bridge, left onto the trail, then up. I spiked it.

6-7 - Running along the edge of the drop-off got me to the control.

7-8 - North up the paved trail, then to the fallen log that took me over Rock Creek (I'd used the same long from 1-2) . I stayed low and used the open areas or trail s to get to the pipeline ride. I was glad to see that the thorns were gone from there. I was slow to get through the bushes at the end.

8-9 - Back out to the pipeline ride using the ride east of #8, down to the bridge, then staying low to the contro. My feet had been dry until I hugged the marsh open lands too much. The map needs updating in the area of the control for the missing green vegetation and dot knoll/root stock.

9-10 - I stayed high but moved slowly on the steep slope when leaving #9. I went up to the where the trail intersection and pipeline ride were, but I stayed on the trail too long, getting a little north of the control. I could see it so I didn't lose a lot of time.

10-11 - I went straight to the trail intersection, then in. I enjoyed the open woods but I hesitated near the end, pulling-up short.

11-F - I stayed high and dropped lower when I could see the trail bends at the dam. I was able to run well on the downhill finish.

Green - Splits

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Johnson Ave./Hempstead Ave. to McKinley St. to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to the trail at Jefferson St. to Northfield Rd. We got back early from picking-up Samantha so I had a chance to get a short run before dinner. The remnants of hurricane Nicole has been coming through the area. The ground was wet, there was no rain, and the temperature was just under 70 F. I was a little sore from running yesterday.

From the Cross County Trail (the other CCT in the region) parking area near Colvin Run Rd. in Fairfax, County VA, I ran the Difficult Run Trail to the parking lot off of Rte. 193, then back. It had been a long time since I'd run the trail and it seemed early on that some parts of the trail had been rerouted. I kept to the more worn path instead of turning right where there was a CCT marker at one point and kept seeing the horseshoe trail markers, but when it seemed that the trail was turning back, I realized I needed to double back. That happened again at one point where branches were strewn across what looked like a side trail, but really the branches were just an obstacle setup for cyclists. I felt pretty poor from the start and wondered how I'd get through the run--the longest for me this year. I sometimes felt better but mostly I was dragging myself through. It was pleasant enough outside to wear shorts and a t-shirt, but still humid. The trail was mostly dry but won't be in another day in this flood prone valley.

Cabin John Regional Park, MD. Starting from the Group Picnic Area parking lot on Tuckerman Ln., I jogged between areas that I needed to review again and those that I realized I'd missed earlier. The weather was nice but the sun was low and I was rushed. I decided doing this would be better for me than more street running since my right knee was hurting.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Maple Ridge Rd., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail on the south side of NIH, to Jones Bridge Rd., to Maryland Ave., to Fairfield Dr., to Lynbrook Dr., to Chestnut St., to Kentbury Dr., to Chelton Rd., to East-West Hwy., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. As I started out I saw the big moon rising--however, though I'd seen the moon the night before, I'd missed the lunar eclipse that happened then. There was a lot of auto traffic which was probably busier than usual with people voting. I got stopped at traffic intersections a few times. I hadn't been strong enough to do this somewhat hilly route for a long while. I faired pretty well with the ups and downs and I again worked on my form wherever I wasn't too out of breath or too tired.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Library and back. I voted in the last hour that the polls were open. Though there were other voters there, there was no line. My legs were a little sore from running.