Training Log Archive: Nadim

Ken Gar Park, Rockville, MD. From Ken Gar to Spring St. and back on the Rock Creek Trail with Max. As often is the case we got there late. Paz and Leo ran past as we were just looking for a parking spot. By the time I got the babyjogger setup and Max in it they were long gone and Peggy trailed behind. I passed Barbara and eventually got a glimpse of Leo and Paz as they left the water fountain at Spring St. to reach their 10 mile turnaround point. Coming back, Barbara turned around in front of us so we passed her again. It was a nice cool morning and Max ate Cherrios during the run. Mile splits: 7:59, 7:35, 7:30, 7:40, 31:45 turnaround, 7:40, 7:53, 7:49, 7:22.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD to C. St. SW, Washington, D.C. With it being Bike to Work Day in D.C., I could not again miss it. Last year it was pouring rain and cold; I begged-off. I was about to true-up my commuter bike's rear wheel last night when I discovered that it got out of true so suddenly the last time I rode because a spoke had broken. This morning I used my road bike and a backpack instead of my clunky commuter and panniers. It certainly seemed easier though my legs were a bit shot from recent increases in running. It was damp out but sunny and cool. In downtown Bethesda, I rode past one of the Bike to Work gathering points for the ride into town and there were still people and vendors there. One of the downsides of the day and increased the publicity was the extra traffic that regularly had me slowing and then speeding up to pass.

From C. St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. Heading out, 20mph winds felt rather strong blowing into my face, especially along the water; probably from an approaching front. Having my road bike made it much nicer. I felt like I was cutting through it much better than I would have otherwise. I wore my free orange Bike to Work t-shirt that I picked-up this morning and flew past a steady stream of others including several with the same shirt. I hand timed since I had no cycling computer and was surprised that it wasn't faster. I guess the wind in the beginning accounted for it.

From the Rosslyn Metro Station in Arlington, VA (N. Moore St.), across Key Bridge to the C&O Towpath, to Fletcher's Boathouse, Reservoir Rd. to MacArthur Blvd. to the Battery Kemble Trail to the Wesley Heights Trail to the Glover Archbold Trail to Van Ness St. to Connecticutt Ave. to the Tenleytown Metro Station (Connecticutt Ave. & Albermarle St. NW), Washington, D.C. I'd remembered that Peggy was getting up to do her workout so I brought a change of clothes to work for the return home. I ran with a Camelback a bit more loaded down than the last time and was slow on the flat towpath (7:44 for one of the two miles there). I knew the hills on the Wesley Heights Trail were steep so I just paced and ran up everything except for the long stairs at the Foxhall Rd. crossing. The trails were wet, mushy in some places and slippery from earlier showers.

From the Bethesda Metro Station (Wisconsin Ave. at Old Georgetown Rd.) to Rosedale Ave. It always seems easy to go faster after walking up the escalator at the metro station.

From Rosedale Ave., I did the Two Mile Loop at about 10:35pm. There was much more traffic out; more than is usual for the daytime.

I had intended to bicycle commute today but after getting all ready and pulling my bike out in the morning, I noticed that the rear wheel was severely out of true. It rubbed the brake pads such that it required some torque to move through them. I'm not sure what happened but presume it occured on my last commute home. This might explain the slow time.

From 14th & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. to 7th and H St. NW. After work I had intended on taking the metro to someplace and then running but when changing, I realized I'd forgotten to bring socks. I used my work socks and ran haphazard across the mall to the closest store that I could find with good socks--I'm tired of getting crappy ones that don't cushion.

Washington, D.C. After getting some socks, I went to the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro Station (Connecticutt Ave. at Calvert St.). Doning my Camelback to carry some water, and things like money, keys, etc... and partly just to get used to it, I ran down to the Rock Creek Trail, to the Dumbarton Oaks Trail, picked-up the Whitehaven Trail to the Glover Archbold Trail, turned right at the top of that onto Van Ness St. went down Reno St. to the Melvin Hazen Trail (I didn't find the Melvin Hazen Trail yesterday coming from the other direction because the trail head is actually behind some appartments buildings with only a few yellow blazes on light poles that are overgrown with weeds to tip you off--the alley is even marked with a Do Not Enter sign coming from Connecticutt Ave.), then down Connecticutt Ave. to the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro Station again. It still amazes me that there are such nice unpaved trails in the heart of the city less than half a block from some of the busiest streets. I ran with my new shoes. They started to burn on the ball of the foot a bit, especially as I tore down the pavement back to the metro station.

C • The maze 3

From the Bethesda Metro Station (Wisconsin Ave. at Old Georgetown Rd.) to Rosedale Ave. Getting home after the run to put the bambino to bed. I stretched on the floor while he fell asleep.

From Rosedale Ave. to the Bethesda Metro Station at Wisconsin Ave. and Old Georgetown Rd. Starting out my legs didn't feel like going.

Washington, D.C. From the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro Station (Connecticutt Ave. at Calvert St.) to Sedgewick to Tilden St. to Reno St. to 41st St. to the Cedar Pkwy., to Connecticutt Ave to the Old Georgetown Branch Trail, to Kentbury Ave. to Rosedale Ave. at Maryland Ave. I had wanted to do this right after work and had brought my change of clothes but had to get home to relieve the baby sitter. After Peggy returned, I took the metro back into D.C. and started running. I intended to use the Melvin Hazen Trail north of Connecticutt Ave. but the trailhead was not marked well enough and it had been 7 years since I was on it. It was nice out for running. I stretched a good bit afterward. I haven't been doing that much and it felt very good.

C • dedication 2

Macedonia Brook State Park, CT. While others warmed-up for the Billy Goat and Peggy watched Max, I did a score-O using the permanent markers. Unlike most permanent marker courses, most of these were fairly difficult; at least for me. To make it worse, the markers were small metal rectangles nailed to trees. If you came from the wrong direction, you were out of luck. Several times I would stop and while standing under or beside the marker I would not see it. One was literally 7 ft. above the ground on a tree. It was nice to get a run in though I wanted to go longer. I made it back just as everyone had started walking to the start of the race and ran on to catch Peggy to relieve her of Max. I ran in my new Merril Overdrive trail shoes which I plan to use in the SVO Rogaine. They were nice though not as nice as O-shoes with spikes.

C • Trees grow... 4