Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD to Arlington Rd., then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. I rode with Max on the trail-a-bike to Arlington Rd. then the rest of the way to work. It was in the low to mid-70s F. I didn't feel that strong but did pass a steady stream of riders. It might have been because I went in earlier than I've been going, but there were a lot of other riders going both directions on the trail. I frequently had to slow down to wait to pass slower riders or pedestrians. I think the Georgetown Cross Country mens and womans teams were on the towpath near Fletcher's Boathouse too. I felt weak much of the time. Though I suspected a tailwind, none was perceptible at the willow trees along the Potomac River. My legs felt unbalanced, then sort of tight and sinewy afterward. It was good to be back on the bicycle again--it seemed like I lost so much during the 2 weeks I was sick.

From C St. SE, Washington, D.C. to Arlington Ave., Bethesda, MD to pickup Max's trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd. It was hot and I was slow. I was a bit sore from the earlier ride and running. I carried a little extra weight and used a backpack that kept me hotter--two sets of clothes and shoes since I had to take home my set from yesterday when I rode. I wandered about in Bethesda as I'm working on finding the optimal route.

From 14th & Independence Ave., Washington, D.C. Independence Ave. to the Reflecting Pool, to the Lincoln Memorial, to the trail along the Potomac River, to the Thompson Boathouse parking lot & the Rock Creek Trail, to the Woodley Park Metro Station. I'd been coughing more today and feeling like I might be getting sick again. Leaving work late and eagar to hear about Max's first day of kindergarten, I went out to run anyway since I'd brought my clothes and didn't want to sqander the opportunity. It was around 94 F after I was finished. I was plodding along most of the way feeling slow, but I did keep passing the few others that I saw running. Once into the Rock Creek valley, the shade of the hills and the low sun really made a difference in the comfort level. I picked-up my pace for a bit over the last mile. I was surprised approaching the big hill at the end for being as fast as I was. Once home Max eagarly told me what he could and then Peggy and I pumped out the rest of the news from his good day.

At the Algonkian Park (VA) Volcano Island water park, I splashed and chased Max a while before we switched pools. Max tried to surf on me while I swam. It didn't work very well but I got some arm work in. I was going to run later but a long birthday party for a freind of Max's wore me out. However, seeing the tortise and touching the lizards was kind of neat

From Northfield Rd., to Lynbrook Park with Max on his trail-a-bike. There, Max played on the first playground that I had ever gotten to take him to (most of the equipment had been changed in the last year). Afterward, we had lunch in downtown Bethesda, and rode home. Max was pedaling more consistently so his help ensured that we had better speed, rather than just ~60 lbs. of dead weight.

Oregon Ridge Park, MD. Summer Short Series. For what will probably be the last SSS for the summer, Eddie Bergeron set 2 courses. The first was a Prelude to get us used to the map and ready for a longer second no compass exercise. It was 88 F shortly before starting and I haven't been doing that much training recently. I had decided in advance to take it somewhat easy. After getting past the hang gliders practicing on an old ski area I moved slow and steady. I think the first control was slighly mis-hung. It was to be a depression near some green and a small clearing. I found the depression but not knowing if we were looking for real bags or streamers, I went past the streamer doing so. I was hitting things pretty well and rather enjoy running in this park that has so much open ground. Even the spider webs were rare to find. I got slightly low going to #5 and the end control, a man made feature near a ride and a trail intersection wasn't really there--I took some time on the clock for both.

Oregon Ridge Park, MD. For part II of the SSS training, I put away my compass and set off. I ignored a simple trail route to #1 but was a but unsure about the control feature as I got close. I misread the line on the clue sheet and thought I was looking for a depression. I pulled-up at a spring which fit the description, then went on to the boulder. With two different colored streamers on it, I was still unsure what I was to be looking for (a control or streamer). Francis Hoegel had come-up from below; probably the trail route and explained it. I left climbing steadily, surprised at my ability to run without much running training. The cycling in July really had helped despite my 2 week break while sick. I was a bit high at #2 but seeing a rootstock clued me in and I lost little time. Going to #3 I probably left on a bad bearing--without a compass going up a hillside it's hard to tell. Once across a ride, I straightened out a bit but crossing a reentrant and a curving hill, I must have drifted more. I ended-up left 2 reentrants over. I corrected did a better job reading the next reentrant as I crossed it. As I approached #3, Francis was just leaving. I chased and caught him on the way to #4 but in the process of focusing on passing him, I made a classic mistake of not watching the terrain well enough. My sense of distance was off and I wasn't sure if I'd already passed a reentrant on the left. I cut across the creek, and then went on. With a stream fork somewhat hidden I stayed left of it presuming I'd see the fork. Francis passed again as I did this and so I got to #4 after him. I made-up time on him going to #5 and got there just after him. He set of more quickly than he had been running so I still didn't pass him for the next 100m. I chose a more difficult but shorter attack to #6. I angled up a hillside presuming I'd hit a reentrant that I'd seen on my mistake going to #3. This worked well but went I got to the right reentrant after it, I was too high. I could tell by seeing a reentrant fork below and to my right. I corrected and hit the control just fine, finally ahead of Francis for good. I passed another orienteer leaving #6 and hit both #7 and #8 well. #7 seemed further down than expected. Going to #9, I stayed on the right side of the curving reentrant, then didn't cross it until a bit too late. I ended up very near the pipeline ride without having seen an intermittant trail that I must have crossed. I corrected and went right to #9 without much time lost. I also noticed a second streamer on a small unmapped man-made feature just past the streamer. Going to the finish, I didn't have a good bearing and was too far left. I was heading to the top of a hill and was running to what seemed to be the high point. I corrected easily. I thoroughly enjoyed training without the compass. It was a confidence builder that I really needed, not having done much real orienteering training in a while that wasn't mapping or course setting. I was also glad of being able to run through this pretty well. I walked up some hills but my speed was quite good for the effort level that I put into it.

Oregon Ridge Park, MD. After the SSS no compass exercise, I jogged to the old ski area and down the grassy slope to the parking lot.

Bethesda, MD. From Northfield Rd. to Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd. to the trail to Cornish Rd. to Honeywell Ln. to Wilson Ln. to Aberdeen Rd. to Garfield St. to Northfield Rd. It was in the 70s F this evening and though more humid than San Antonio, not so bad--I had wonder if I came back to the right city or some parallel universe since it's August after all. I'm still getting my land legs back. The run was hillier than in TX but with it being cooler, I ran faster with only similar effort.

San Antonio, TX. From E. Market St. into the Riverwalk, then out to get around some construction, then back in where it's less touristed down the river. I left again on Beauregard St. and took that into the Hemisfair Park grounds. Winding my way back through the buildings, I finished at E. Market St. again. I snuck this run in in-between a work meeting and a retirement dinner. It was slow making my way through the tourists downtown in the Riverwalk. The first mile went by much more quickly than it seemed.

San Antonio, TX. From E. Market St. to S. Alamo St. to E. Sheridan St. to Madison St. to Geunther St. to the River Walk Trail, to E. Nueva St. to S. Alamo St. to E. Market St. I replicated my run from Monday mostly to check the distance with my GPS watch. I felt slow running. I'd been kind of cold all day in a chilled conference room so it took the first mile before I really began sweating. It was ~92 F out but still with moderate humidity. I ran at dusk. Though this was slow, the good news was that my left knee did not hurt before or afterward.

C • that is good news 2

After the run on Monday, my left knee was stiff and didn't bend well. At times I limped walking and during my conference, I could tell it was generating a lot of heat just below the kneecap on the left side. After work, I went to see the movie Inception at the IMAX theatre right across the street from my hotel. It was an aficianado's sci-fi thriller with an inventive complex plot and lots of fun. I stood up after the 2.5 hours watching it and the tendons in my left leg felt rather tight. I walked it off and before I got to my hotel it felt better than it had all day--wierd but good. It was late enough and with enough injury risk that I didn't attempt to go run.

San Antonio, TX. From E. Market St. to S. Alamo St. to E. Sheridan St. to Madison St. to Geunther St. to the River Walk Trail, to E. Nueva St. to S. Alamo St. to E. Market St. After flying in I waited for it to cool down. It was getting dark and a fullnmoon was out. Though still hot out (~100 F), the warm air felt good. It wasn't humid like at home. I moved along okay but it had been a long time since going for a road run. After stopping my left knee felt like it really needed to be popped as I often do in the morning. However, I couldn't make it happen. It felt swollen under my knee cap, like a bubble but without any visible sign.

Sandy Point State Park, MD. Splashing around in the waves with Peggy and Max. I hadn't been to this park for about 40 years when my parents took my family there. They still have jellyfish--I was stung twice but it only felt like some intense nettles. It was windy so the waves were bigger than expected for the Chesapeake Bay.

From Northfield Rd., Beech Dr. to the Bethesda Trolly Trail, to Executive Blvd. to E. Jefferson St., near Rollins Ave. and back. Peggy, Max and I rode out to meet the MCRRC brunch bunch. This was the first exercise since mostly drying out my lungs. I still have some coughing fits. I was still a bit weak on the ride but did well. Max rode with me on his trail-a-bike. We stopped off at Ayrlawn Park for playground time. It was in the upper 80s F.

Still drippy. I've also been working late. Between the rain and working late, there's been little time to attempt a run. Though a bit weak still, I've had the itching to do so.

I had a relapse of a sort. I had a rare headache for half the day and was rather foggy headed much of the day.

Great Falls Park, MD. Continuing my course setting work from yesterday, I went to the remaining control sites for inspection. Overnight I had added a few controls and I also modified some that I'd already set. Therefore, I went back to a few sites and moved streamers. I got out in the forest by 8:30am. I had been waiting for the sun to get bright enough. The overcast sky stayed the same initially then got worse. Steady rain fell for about two-thirds of the time I was out. Fortunately, I had written down most of the needed map annotations before it started. My plastic folder kept the maps I was carrying from getting totally drenched but they got wet enough for me to know not to try writing much on them. A continuing distraction today was frequently cleaning spider webs off my face. The dangling dead and dried flies in them were more creepy than the occasional live spider. I felt stronger for much of today and actually did a bit of jogging between controls when the terrain allowed it. I was pretty tired after finishing but had enough time left over to take Max to lunch, for a haircut, and after the rain had finally stopped, to the Montgomery County Fair where we did a lot more walking (we came home with multiple stuffed animals). My cold is going away.

Great Fall Park, MD. I was finally able to get out into the woods and check control sites for a meet that I'm course setting for; the meet will be held in December. I was supposed to get out last weekend for this but was too ill. I wasn't up to it all week and even on Friday when I was planning for this, I would have lacked the energy to do it. A good night sleep helped reenergize me. I still walked almost the whole way. It was humid enough to keep me sweating but this was probably good for me too. What wasn't that fun was breaking all the spider webs. I was spiking everything though that's to be expected when walking slowly on 1:10,000 and then using 1:5,000 when I got close. I did make note of lots of map edits but will have to go back for more serious updating. There were many new root stocks but I also identified some umapped rock. The woods were great. Course setting in Great Falls is now rather more convoluted. I have to turn them in about 4 months in advance and the vegetation is vastly different from what it will appear to be with leaves off. Invasive grasses were growing in large areas, just like many others in the area but I know these will be gone in December too. Armed with a map of the park's own restricted areas it was hard to tell from visual inspection why one area was out of bounds while others adjacent were not. However, in one very small defined area off the canal, I did notice a Great Blue Heron resting or doing some fishing. I was moving a bit too slow to get to all of the 38 controls that I'll propose so I hope to get to more tomorrow.

I slept a little better than the night before; less coughing. A follow-up visit to the doctor let me get out early and rest a bit more.

I relapsed but still gained weight. I guess I ate too much of my own cooking.

Went to work for half a day and then I had a trip to the doctors office. He didn't seem to think much of what I've got and I talked to him about other things too. I like him; he doesn't overprescibe medicine. It'd be better if were closer. The weight gain was unexpected. I was fairly worn out from the day.

I almost went to work but thought better of it when starting to get dressed. I got much more of the base map drafting done for Cabin John Park and spent a lot of time cleaning my desk of papers.

C • Get Well Soon! 2

Alternating between feeling cold and feverish. No going to the office today bit I did make significant progress drafting the Cabin John base map. I also led a conference call for work that I felt it best not to miss.

Still fairly weak though I did manage to volley some badminton wither in the front yard.

A sudden cold or flu has come on.

From Northfield Rd. to Bethesda Elementary School, then to Roosevelt Ave., then to Northfield Rd. I rode with Max on the trail-a-bike. We went pretty slow but I was weak from fever. I had gotten sore thoat on Friday and it progressively worsened. We had taken Max to a play date with other new Kindergartners--he starts at the end of the month. Oddly, Max was shy at first but the arrival of long-time friend Miles Trawick brought him out of it fast. We later took Max over to to a play date with Miles.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. It was somewhat soggy (and of course humid) outside. I felt tired, and like I was straining my left hamstring. There were some slight headwinds.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Montgomery Ave. where I picked-up Max's trailer, then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I felt rather tired most of the way. Both pedestrian and bicycle traffic slowed me up as did headwinds for just about all the way.

September 5, 1975 is the date that I became a runner so I'm one month away from my 35th anniversary! I still think of myself as a runner. Despite doing more cycling and orienteering lately, it's part of my identity.

Though I ran some races and a few training runs as part of my physical education classes earlier, my first run with an organized running team was from Fort Hunt High School to Fort Hunt Park. It was 1.5 miles. After a break, we also proceeded to do our school's cross country course. After that we ran back so I got in 6 miles my first day. Later in high school, August would mark the time of year when we would sort of start each season new again.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. Though there is a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, it was sunny this morning and I decided to ride anyway. I took it easier. I also encountered some SW headwinds along the water. It's depressing that my weight jumps from just a little inactivity. I ate about as much as I usually do.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Montgomery Ave. where I picked-up Max's trailer, then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Having left work after a thunderstorm had already gone through, I knew from the NOAA radar image for my area that it was likely that I'd run into another cell on the way home. I had a few unanticipated slips on places where metal covered the ground (sewer lids, bridge joints, etc...) in which I'd recovered without incident so I went more cautiously for a while. It started raining harder once I was past Georgetown on the Capital Crescent Trail. I got passed at one point though I thought I was moving okay. My relative angle to the wind shifted and as I climbed, I made-up the 200m on the guy that passed, and then kept up the pace to Bethesda. Because of the rain, I used my stopwatch. I was 41:05 at Montgomery Ave. though I thought I would have been there faster. There was traffic finishing up and I took it easier getting home.

A wet morning and forecasted thunderstorms gave me reason to skip the ride this morning. However the rain cleared-up. It threatened to storm a few times but never really did. I was felt a bit too tired and full to go out for a run after dinner. I had been tired all day.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. This morning it was cooler: 77 F, however it was also 77% humidity. After some self-massage last night, my legs felt better than they had the previous morning. I actually rode pretty quickly on Capital Crescent Trail. I lead 1-3 other people from around Massachusetts Ave. into Georgetown and was going +20mph on the flats, where there was tree cover. There were 10mph headwinds so I really slowed-up after Georgetown along the water. I did have some knee pain again though it was not quite as much as I felt it going home yesterday.

From Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. to Montgomery Ave. where I picked-up Max's trailer, then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Leaving late, I rode through the building basement to exit Independence Ave. Unlike yesterday in which I had to fight headwinds both ways, today I had a nice tailwind going home. I was 39:18 at Montgomery Ave. which includes the time riding through the building basement halls. It's amazing how fast 8 mph seems inside. I had a close call turning left onto Ohio Dr. off of Independence Ave. I rushed to make a light that I though was going to change and thought the oncomming traffic was clear. Cars rounded a corner by the river rather fast and had me worried when I saw them while already committed to the turn. It was cooler going back than it has been in the evenings but still humid. I saw Paz from MCRRC running near the water treatment plant back toward Bethesda.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. There were some pretty good headwinds this morning. It was cooler but the winds were bringing warm and moist air. I moved along at times feeling rested but other times feeling worn out. I passed steadily but one of the younger guys I went by picked up his pace on the flats, caught me and helped me get into Georgetown. He got ahead after that when staying on the roads past the Kennedy Center.

From Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. to Montgomery Ave. where I picked-up Max's trailer, then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Leaving late, I rode through the building basement to exit Independence Ave. I felt tired so I set out to ride moderately. I had some mixed winds which turned more to a headwind. On the CCT I saw a guy riding (while standing) a long skateboard but instead of using his feet to push he used a long stick with pads to push off in an oar-like fashion. Before reaching Bethesda, I had some kneed pain in my right leg. After getting his trailer and pushing-off, I felt it more strongly in my left knee so I took it easier.

From Northfield Rd., to Montgomery Ave. via back streets on the west side of town for lunch, then back through E. Bethesda and other back streets. Max and I rode tandem with his trail-a-bike and Peggy was on her hybrid. We came back a bit rushed while trying to avoid a squall. It was breezy and we got sprinkled on.