Training Log Archive: Nadim

I'd been busy all week at work and have been still getting over being sick. Having missed a planned run on Friday evening because of getting home late and other things, I was looking forward to the opening QOC Summer Short Series (SSS) event in Great Falls, MD. We had a picnic to attend at Candy Cane Park (Rock Creek near Chevy Chase, MD) before the the training. At the picnic in the playground area, Max had been climbing on some 15" square vertical wooden posts with irregular heights. He'd done this many times before and at least 2 times this day. I was surprised at how easily he could do it now compared to a year ago. UnfortunateIy, he slipped and on the way down banged the side of his head near his right eye on a rounded corner. Though overall he was okay after some crying, we had to take him to the emergency room to get him checked out and to stop the bleeding. They said it was a contusion. The taped him up with Steri Strips rather than use stiches so close to his eye. He was still a little bloody drippy hours later.

With the ER visit, we missed the SSS training setup by Dave Onkst (we did have yet another fine dinner with friends). Missing another opportunity to run motivated me. I had to wait until I digested but very late, I ran up to Custer Rd., to Wilson La., to Exeter Rd. to Glenbrook Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to the NIH grounds, to Maple Ridge Rd. to Georgetown Pike, to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. It was a nice calm summery night. I wasn't trying to move that fast but I did run 40 seconds faster than my last try on this route. I thought it was going to be slower because I had increased nasal drip all day however I was glad to find that my lungs could breath pretty well.

Bethesda, MD. From Northfield Rd. to Maple Ave. via the Georgetown Branch Trail, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. I woke up at 5am and after getting back in bed I fell into a pattern of nasal drip coughing. I didn't sleep much after that and was not eagar to ride in. With more storms predicted and an expectation to work late again tonight, I was on the fence about riding in until Max in his usual emphatic way stated his preference to ride. He played with his Optimus Prime helmet while I got ready then just as emphatically stated that he didn't want to ride this morning; if we drove, he could play with his helmet until we got to his school. It was too late to change directions for me so I rode.

At one point starting from a stop and going up an incline I again felt sudden pain in my right knee. When I was running more the previous week, I had started to hope that this I'd seen the last of this but it looks like it may be around for a much longer time. It hurt several more times on the ride and occured with much easier torque than on earlier rides that set it off. I slowed my riding even more.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. It was an odd day yesterday. At lunchtime at work there was a lot of activity going on around the building associated with the shooting at the Holocaust Museum across the street. Streets were closed off and I had to evacuate my office from the afternoon onward for fear of possible stray bullets or explosions. I worked until pretty late at the other end of the building (it's about two blocks long). It was already dark when I left. Emerging from the Bethesda Metro station I found it was raining pretty good. I forgoed my usual stop at Max's day care to pickup his trailer and left it there overnight. When the thunderstorm subdued I rode home. Perhaps I should have taken Max's second advice from the morning after all especially considering the compatibility of riding with laptos in the rain.

Bethesda, MD. From Northfield Rd. to Maple Ave. via the Georgetown Branch trail, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. Though my lungs are still congested and I am coughing up phlegm, with a nice morning like this I just had to ride. I was tempted to ride in but after riding this much shorter way, I'm pretty sure I made the correct decision.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Maple Ave. to Northfield Rd. When riding this shorter commute over the cooler months I didn't need to bring a change of clothes. However, at this time of year it's a lot more comfortable, especially for the return commute. Unfortunately I had forgotten to bring the extra clothes wtih me this morning.

Event: QOC Beer Chase
 

I had been feeling pretty lousy on Saturday though I had to go to work then. On Sunday morning I felt much better and contemplated running a shorter course of the Beer Chase. I remained undecided right up until we arrived at the park. After the race, meeting and festivities, I played several holes of disc golf with Jon Torrance, Ted Good, Tim Good, Io Good, and Max. The walking and throwing wasn't bad for me (though my consistency was awful) but whenever I had to climb up a steep hill (after recovering from a bad throw) I could tell that I had little lung power. Max was enthusiastic throughout the disc golfing despite attending a friend's birthday party in the morning and then running around playing with other kids while parents ran the Beer Chase. Max switched discs, throwed and ran from throw to throw. I carried him up a few hills but he charged ahead on his own most of the time. He wanted to do it again once we got home. One day he'll learn that there is scoring to disc golfing. I sure he beat Io who competes as "if this were a bowling score..."