Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Ken-Gar I did the Tuckerman loop backwards up through Garrett Park, up Rockville Pike to Edson Rd., then behind Georgetown Prep on the Trolley Trail, left at Tuckermann Rd. to the Rock Creek Trail and to Ken-Gar Park. It was humid but cooler. I ran the hilly route alone and felt tired.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD to C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was hazy humid with temperatures in the upper 70's F and humidity 71%. I rode with my laptop which slowed me a bit but oddly, I think this is the fastest that I've ridden in all year. I got some help for 1.5 miles with a draft off a much older man doing over 20mph on the flats after Fletcher's Boathouse. I returned the favor.

From C St. SW, Washington D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. The winds must have shifted. Where there was a headwind in the morning, there was a headwind going home (until I got past the water treatment facility bridge). It felt very humid and I felt tired from the morning too.

In Annapolis, MD at Annapolis Park/Broad Creek. After my flight back, I took the afternoon off. I first headed to check out the western park of the park. The map didn't show features on the low lands like ditches or patches of thick green. Some of this was runnable and looked like it could be interesting. Across the uncrossable creek on a log, I found the terrain thick and steep like much of the the other wooded portions of the park--however this area was just innapropriate for a sprint. I next went looking at the streamers I hung earlier to make sure approaches to controls would not be bad on the first course I set. In the midst of this I visited the open high school grounds looking for other interesting sprint course setting possibilities. Much of the map is in need of correction. Building shapes were not always accurate and formline features were not shown. The heat and humidity (80%) here contrasted negatively with the sunny and hotter but drier weather in Kansas City.

In Lenexa, KS at Sar Ko Par Trails Park. Checking streamers that I hung on Monday and putting out some new ones for sprint training.

In Lenexa, KS at Sar Ko Par Trails Park. Picking-up streamers after the sprint training. I had intended to run the sprint on memory but needed to stay to watch M. Shipman's bike and to time people. It was just as well since it was a bit hot and I ran hard the previous day. Watching and hearing about the different sprint route choices people took was fun. There were no major mistakes that I heard of but micro route choice differences seemed to add-up. Sar Ko Par Trail Park is only a quarter mile by less than 800 meters but has the right density of open terrain, uncrossable boundaries, contour change and point features to keep one thinking on the run.

Afterward with Mary J., Mike E., Gene W. and Fritz M. was just as fun. I ate My one dinner of a sandwich and a salad, while Mike and Mary conveyed last minute plans for Mongolia. Fritz and Gene impressed upon me their own personal fatherly experiences giving me a good real sense of expecations. Adoption is getting nearer.

C • Thanks 2

In Grandview, MO at the southern end of Longview Lake Park. From the ballfields I picked up the trail and ran the loop at the end then went north to mile mark 3. Turning around I came back to the ballfields. I hadn't run here before so when I saw a hefty guy walking the trail the other direction I asked him how far the trail went. He described the loop being 3 miles--it was just over two (14:03). Going north with the sun low, the trail was basically flat with open areas. The lake bed was dry here so I never saw it while running. Available mile splits: 6:45, 6:51, 6:50, 6:41. I pushed and the upper 80's F or low 90;s F heat and humidity took it's toll. I was pleased to run this well as it was another sign of improvement.

In Lenexa, KS at Sar Ko Par Park. I ran the course and hung most of the streamers for training that will be run on Wed. at about 6pm. Now having seen the locations that I picked off the map, I'd make a couple minor adjustments but the maps have already been sent to Mike for printing. I think it will be fun anyway.

From Riley's Lock on the C&O Canal Towpath, into Seneca Creek State Park up to River Road, into McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area to the towpath, back to Riley's lock. Jon Torrance and I expored the southern reaches of Seneca State Park. Hoping to find some nice unmapped terrain, we instead found thorny bottoms, steep cliffs and lots and lots of farm fields bordered by thick woods. Other than the training of being out in the heat for a long time and running with Camel Backs, the effort was a waste and dissapointment. Finishing-up, Jon and I plodded along together on the towpath at about an 8:20 mile pace.

Cycling on the Yellow Trails in Schaeffer Farm Park. Jon Torrance and I explored the possibilities for orienteering in this Montgomery County multi-use park (mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders). There were several fields like at the southern end of Seneca State Park however once in the woods, the terrain here was generally open with grasses growing under tree canopy. There weren't many point features other than root stock but I felt there was significant contour to make it interesting. I think it'd make a fine local map. I stopped a lot to take pictures and kept going while taking some video shots too.