Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., Charlcote Rd. to Huntington Pkwy. to Old Georgetown Rd., W. Cedar Ln., to Beach Dr., to Jones Mill Rd., to Jones Bridge Rd., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Maple Ridge Rd., to Park Ln. to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I knew I needed a few more miles of cycling to surpass my total from 2014 so I went out after dinner in the dark for a ride. I had lights to see and be seen with. It was nice though I was a little nervous about auto traffic in the first part. I rode on the sidewalk along Old Georgetown Rd. but Beach Dr. was pretty good. When stopped at a traffic light, a middle aged couple rolled down their window and chatted showing smiles and a little concern without saying it. I smiled too. It was a rough year for training so I'm glad I was able to surpass my effort in cycling by a little bit in 2015.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. I had to turn around at one point when one of my ankle clips fell off. It was 42 F, humid, and with a breezy headwind. I was kind of glad to be riding since it edges me within 4 miles of surpassing my cycling total from 2014. I was in much worse health and unable to train for more of 2015 so this shows that I did put in some significant training work during the end of the summer and the fall.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. There was some traffic along the way and a slight drizzle.

Seneca State Park, near Lake Clopper. I had intended to set a course for Peggy, watch our kids while Peggy ran, then do some field checking. With the late start, I was only able to set the course, and I didn't do such a great job at that. I used control locations for the local meet that's to be run here in April, so Peggy was in essence, vetting part of a course. Some locations were in common with the Summer Short Series training that Boris setup for QOC, using a course I'd put together last June. In these locations, streamers and even sticks/logs arranged to hang streamers were already out.

I got started in a hurry and quickly realized that I hadn't changed into my o-shoes. The trail shoes that I had on were slippery on some slopes so I fell a couple of times. It had rained significantly in the previous 24 hours so I took the long way around for one early leg, just to keep from getting wet crossing a stream. I paused a few times to make notes for map updates. There was a big new rootstock in one area, some unmapped ditches and vegetation in another, and I found a large depression/ruin too. All of this was getting me further behind so when I got to one control and needed a nature break, I must have forgotten to put out a streamer for Peggy--she found the ditches but not the streamer. Later, when I was rushing to finish-up, I skipped a control; I had the course in my mind and had been mentally running through it a couple of times when I was on travel, so I didn't look at the map. Many of the course controls seemed too easy to me but Peggy thought they were appropriate. The area isn't technical, and she was also running in low lighting. The terrain was mostly open so it'll be fast when people race it.

This was a travel day mostly. After a lunch and movie with the kids and Peggy's brother Paul, we flew home. We got stuck in Chicago for 5 hours, and ultimately arrived home at 6 AM on 12/27.

Maple Grove, MN. Christmas Day 5K. Peggy, Max, and I started the somewhat traditional holiday race together while Paul Dickison and Samantha watched from the side. Wh I Max blasted out to a quick start being pulled by the crowd which included some young kids (I almost stepped on one who sprinted out erratically from the start). There was some ice but mostly the paved trail was dry. There were some small hills. It was about 32 F with a light breeze. We had three loops to do, of roughly a mile each. I thought I'd fade after the first 600m and hit the mile in 7:32. My 2 mile split surprised me at 15:05; roughly an even split. I pushed a little more on the 3rd lap to stay ahead of others. I think I hit 22:25. No one passed me the whole run though I passed a few. I felt it in my lungs which aren't used to running like this. Max dropped out after 2 miles, probably after Peggy passed him. It was a nice way to start the day. We ate wth Peggy's family later and opened presents.

Bloomington, MN. From American Blvd. E. Down to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge on a gravel Road to a bend along the Minnesota River, and back. It was snowing lightly. It had been raining and it was too warm to stick. I had my rain gear on and felt tired. It was a little muddy but the ground was frozen underneath enough so that it wasn't bad. It was nice running.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was around 39 F and there was a steady but not hard headwind. With my puffy cycling jacket on, and that acting like a sail or balloon, I felt the resistance and tired quickly. About a mile before Georgetown, I got passed by another commuter but was able to hang-on to him, in his draft.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I hit all of the traffic intersections at pretty good times and there was a tailwind most, but not all of the way.; I didn't have to stop for more than a second anywhere. The traffic was light though it took some care in the dark in the beginning intersections and roads in D.C. An article in the paper here cited a former Navy Seal who lived in the Bethesda area who had been killed in a bicycle/automobile accident. There are generally more riders that 5 years ago so some increases in deaths are to be expected, but the frequency of these stories brings it home. Max was even asking about running in the dark but I think he likes the notch of independence that allowing that would mean, more than the running which was verbalized as training for a Christmas day race. After getting though Georgetown, I caught a few cyclists who were bunched-up. One of them latched onto me and drafted along till just past Dalecarlia. I slowed some after that.

Seneca Creek State Park, MD. From Riffleford Rd., I did a loop to the southeast which took me on both sides of the Seneca Ridge Trail. I would have liked to have joined the scouting party that went to Prince William Forest today but I figured I'd make better use of the day doing this. It also allowed me time to do some Christmas shopping. I'd been on the Seneca Ridge Trail and knew some of this area to be greener than what I'd mapped on the north side of Riffleford Rd. After getting off trail, I thought it was an appropriate amount of green--not too much to make it totally unpleasant but enough to make the simple contours of the area a little more challenging. I did also find some quite open terrain too. There were relatively few point features. The flat areas along the namesake creek were generally quite runnable and had various features. There weren't a lot of good places to cross the main creek which has a good flow ensuring a drenching over the knees in most places, or more.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. While Max played a soccer game, Peggy and I went out for our own independent runs again. I did a different route this time. I started out on the paved trail below the ball fields, the dropped to the train tracks on a dirt trail. I rounded the lake, then climbed toward the campground loop. I took the lower part of the loop toward Kemp Mill Rd. I dropped to the trail along Kemp Mill Rd., and passed Peggy who was climbing going the other way. From there, I dropped to the bottom and crossed Kemp Mill. Rd. to the Northwest Branch Trail. I did a lollipop route on the Rachael Carson Trail. Running back, I passed the Nature Center and the edge of Pine Lake before finishing. Peggy, Max and Samantha were all in the car and ready to go and had been waiting a few minutes for me, so we took off right away from there, to go a birthday party that Max had been invited to. The temperatures were in the low 30s F and it was sunny.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

Washington, D.C. From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, down The Mall along Independence Ave. and the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Calvert St., to the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. I escaped work and mustered enough will to run after another long day. The run was rejuvenating and was a good comparison from the previous week. I took my sweat jacket off early this time and ran faster.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.

Event: QOC Patapsco McKeldin
 

QOC: Patapsco State Park, McKeldin Area. Like others, I struggled with the steep slopes. I didn't check by counting, but the listed 325m of climb seemed low for the course. I moved steadily.

S-1 Took the way around the rough open and then through the trees after the basketball court. The trees weren't as white as mapped initially. Along the way while reading the map, I was getting confused between open forest and open ground.

1-2 I stayed in the open terrain, then cut over to angle up the hill. I passed the picnic area on the ridge top. Going down the hill, I could see the deadfall and I used that to zero in. I was still very high up when I was first able to see the control.

2-3 I trudged up the same tall steep hill that I just descended but passed the picnic hut at the end of the road. I dropped to the trail bend in the reentrant, then took the trails down. The leg line hid a trail so I was surprised at finding one going where I wanted to go.

3-4 I ran up the reentrant then cut over a bit. I passed the depression and then the top of a gully. A little unsure of my exact location, I went through some open and eventually hit the road where I wanted to. I crossed, hitting the trailbend in the reentrant, then climbed. I left the trail quickly and made my way toward the chimney. A little surprised at not seeing the control yet, I curved left luckily and dropped enough to see it. Don Davis had just found it and was leaving--the control wasn't in the right place and was just out of sight from where it should have been (the feature had disappeared or the piece of rusted oil drum rolled down) so Don had just spent several minutes finding it.

4-5 With several legs on the course having acute angles, and not being in the right place leaving #4, I guess I got confused leaving #4. My bearing took me down the big reentrant below the control, rather than back the way I'd come (#5 was very close to #3). I went all the way to the next big fields and an alternate parking area that QOC uses sometimes before correcting. From there, I had another big reentrant to cross. After finally approaching the control area, I dropped from the top of the hill to a rock. I could see leaves disturbed like others had been there too but I didn't find the control. I cut across the steep hillside and eventually found it. Jon Torrance had indicated finding the control in the wrong place (probably after I had passed the area).

5-6 I stayed high, using the trail initially but cutting off bends and then running down the hillside. I was surprised at how low the rock was but I spiked it.

6-7 I left the control area and took a nature break. After that, I crossed what little was left of the ridge, and hit the trail bend. I ran the trail bottom till it was time to climb at an intersection. I stayed on the left side of the stream near the end.

7-8 I walked up the hill mostly, then ran across the field. I left the field at a sort of bend in the field edge, angled down and spiked it.

8-9 As I was leaving #8, I saw John Campbell approaching and guessed that I had about a 50 second lead on him. I used the field and road to take me back toward #4, but I crossed the reentrant below #4 to get there. I attacked from the trail bend above the control. I wondered where John Campbell was, expecting that he'd catch me on the way to #8.

9-10 Reversing my route, I followed it all the way to the field above #8. Along the way, I passed Yuri, who wasn't having any fun. However in the field I hugged the opposite side of the forest edge. I actually got into the woods too to avoid climbing in the field. I think I was on the mapped trail but it was more like a ride. Perhaps the trail has changed with the disc golf course. I dropped down to the control spiking it easily.

10-11 - I angled down to the river trail and stayed low, even when the trail ended. I did climb over the large spur where the river bends around. I took more trails to the flatlands, cutting where I could. I saw the boulder a long way off but with the control obscured on the other side of it, I was a little unsure until I saw the line of rocks above.

11-12 I think I saw John Campbell as I was leaving #11. I never went to the trail, opting instead to hug the hillside and climb where it wasn't too steep. Still, I walked most of the climb.

12-13 I walked the steep climb, and didn't use the trail at the top much. I took a straighter route and more or less spiked it.

13-14 I ran the forest on the left side of the stream to the bottom (instead of trying to get to the trail). I went straight across the marsh and to the ride. I was a little unsure of the rootstock at the end because it seemed small and the control was not visible from afar.

14-15 - I ran the ride up to the trail intersection. Tired and wanting to stay ahead of John Campbell, I flubbed the intersection by going right instead of left. Later I corrected, when I could have walked straight up to the trail bend. Finally on the ridge trail, I had no trouble spiking the control. It was just visible from the trail.

15-16 - I could hear leaves rustle when leaving #16. I figured that it was John Campbell finally catching me. He may actually have passed me already at this point as I flubbed the trail intersection on the previous control. I stayed low, running pretty well through the mountain laurel. I climbed to get onto the road at the hairpin turn but descended from there. I ran the trail along the old power line, picking up speed and passing others. I went too fast and didn't see the ride to my left. Perhaps I had just said hello to someone at an inopportune time. I also couldn't see the vegetation boundary that I was looking for on the map--that was hidden by the control circle. I eventually ran toward the road and saw from the telephone poles across the road, that I needed to be higher.

16-F I ran through the ride and the depression near the trail, then up, up, and away walking. I did manage to charge a little at the end.

QOC: Patapsco State Park, McKeldin Area. I picked-up 10 controls and 2 water stop. Chocolate at the end was a nice touch from Mark and Patti, the meet directors.

Blue - Splits

Wheaton Regional Park. While Max played a soccer game, Peggy and I went out for our own independent runs. Samantha waited indoors doing coloring. I went across the park on the paved trail first, past the elementary school. Eventually I got past the maintenance yard, and the old campground loop. Crossing Kemp Mill Rd. at the bottom of the park, I ran the Northwest Branch Trail to the Rachel Carson Trail and kept going south on that. At just past Springbrook H.S., I crossed the creek on a fallen log and got back on the Northwest Branch Trail headed north. I took a detour to the north paralleling, then coming back on Kemp Mill Rd. Eventually, I went back into Wheaton Regional Park past the Nature Center and into Brookside Gardens where just the night before we'd seen an outdoor lights display. To finish-up, I rounded Pine Lake. The run was pretty nice. I felt sore in my quads and still tired from not sleeping enough. It was pleasant out; in the low 50s F. Of course, along the way ai was looking around from a mapping perspective. There were a few updates I found to make, but not many.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. As I was getting ready to leave, I saw a rider go past. I got going myself about a minute later and caught him at a traffic light. I led for us starting out. He and I traded pulling later but I think he did more than I getting to Georgetown. The other guy slowed a lot there and I slowed myself another mile or so later. It was 42 F starting out with calm winds. Wearing shorts an a jacket with full gloves was good but my toes got a little cold.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. left work just before 6pm and carried back extra clothes from the previous day. I kept up my effort but worked on not redlining. I passed a few others and got passed by one roadie. I pulled for one of the other commuters that I'd caught and passed.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was just cool enough, and I was just tired enough that I didn't ride all the way into work. I was thinking I might because the weather was supposed to be so nice.

Washington, D.C. From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, down The Mall along Independence Ave. and the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Calvert St., to the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. It had been over a year since I did this once regular route. When I had been feeling well enough to run this year, I'd been opting for the shorter route to the Dupont 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. I once again got my workout lugging around my running clothes in my backpack instead of running after work--I was just too busy to fit the run in.

Two people, apart from each other stopped as I was getting ready at the station to ask about gear and my locker. One wanted to know if the locker was a good value--excellent was my answer. It saves me time, gives me a little exercise and fresh air, and saves me about $8-9 in parking a day. The other wanted to know about my flashing leg strap which keeps my pants from getting caught in my bike chain. It was odd to be asked by 2 people on the same day but refreshing--it must be the neighborhood. Both of my leg straps fell off on the way home. I noticed and picked-up the newer one.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. There was some traffic along the way.

Event: QOC Occoquan
 

Occoquan, VA. I warmed-up with a trip to the restroom and back.

QOC at Occoquan, VA. During the morning, while watching Max's soccer game, my back was aching. I became doubtful about running the QOC event, however as it warmed-up, I felt better and ultimately ran. I was fairly smooth through slow and heavy after picking-up weight in the Thanksgiving leftover and lack of sleep bonanza.

S-1 - I was not fast getting going but I passed some younger guys while walking up the hill to the ridge. I followed the ridge in.

1-2 - I decided to stay high. I went left around the first reentrant. I almost passed by #12 before using the trail north of the pond, and the pond corner to attack from.

2-3 - I followed the edge of the out of bounds area to the reentrant north of #3, I was forced by vegetation to drop into the reentrant but angled up just right to spike it.

3-4 - I went straight, passing Kathleen Lennon along the way. I used the distinct tree in the flat area on top to attack from.

4-5 - I backtracked, then followed the spur down to where it flattened. I continued dropping from there into the reentrant, then angled-up to spike the control.

5-6 - I stayed low by going around to the left. I caught sight of #8 by being just NE of it. A few people were headed to #6 and I saw at least 3 hunting in the reentrant NE of #6. I had ended up just south of that. I paused, and went straight to the control ahead of the others.

6-7 - Down the left side of the stream until I could see the confluence. Virginia was just punching as I got there.

7-8 - I ran straight and noted a few extra ditch-like reentrants on the way. I saw and passed Greg Lennon and Gary Smith, the turned up one reentrant too soon. Realizing this and confirming it by seeing a converging reentrant ahead, I cut right over a ridge and dropped right to the control.

8-9 - I saw Greg Lennon headed up the wrong reentrant that I'd led him into, then proceeded straight to the control. I had to force myself to trust my bearing but I spiked it.

9-10 - I climbed to the knoll on the leg line, then stayed high so that I didn't have to go up and down crossing the detailed reentrants; I also had thought it might be greener in the bottoms. I was a bit high on the spur that I'd descended going to #5 earlier so I dropped to the flatter area again. From there I ran on bearing. I didn't see the rootstock at the stream crossing. Going up the hillside, I hedged by checking the reentrant to the right before moving back to the one to the left. As I climbed to the right height, I went back to the one to the right and found the control. I'd probably lost 30 seconds or so.

10-11 - I ran up the reentrants to the flat area, and rather than running around the next one, I kept straight. I spiked it.

11-12 - I went fairly straight to spike the control. I used the pond corner to attack from.

12-13 - I climbed high then kept on the ridge to the control. I hesitated at the trail crossing but decided getting through the little bits of green was best.

13-14 - I guess I dropped down to the left (southern reentrant) rather than us or cross the northern one. I should have been more careful. I made good time running along the stream and getting through the marshy bits. Though AP shows me losing 20 seconds, I was right on and moving fast for the route that I'd taken.

From Northfield Rd., to Elm St. in downtown Bethesda, to pickup dinner for the family. It was dark and there was extra traffic from people going to house parties and doing their shopping. Though not on the ride, after the orienteering, my heel/arch was hurting a lot and making me limp.

Green - Splits

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. I stopped-off to pickup dinner for the family. It was still warm when I got home.