Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Bradley Blvd. I ran on the Cabin John Trail to River Rd., then turned around, went past Bradley Blvd. to Seven Locks Rd. and then returned to Bradley Blvd. I ran at around 1pm and it was warm but a breeze kept it nicer than normal for July. My legs felt awkward running. They were heavy feeling without much continuity in my stride. I felt just about every rise in my quads. I was around 10:14 (~1.23 miles) getting down to River Rd. but back at Bradley in 20:00. I was 30:26 at Seven Locks Rd. (3.64 miles), a hillier section, so overall my pace was going faster the further I went. Later in the day Max and I splashed in the Lake Fairfax water park before going to my sister's 50th birthday celebration.

From Northfield Rd. to Maple Ave. with Max in his trailer, then to C St., SW, Washington, D.C. via the Capital Crescent Trail and Ohio Dr. I felt better today, though not fully rested and we were out of breakfast foods. The humidity and temperatures were up and I rode alone but the difference was that winds were calm. I could ride a steady pace. Getting on the trail in Bethesda, I thought I saw one of the guys I had drafted off of yesterday but I went around him and didn't see him again. About a mile up ahead, I thought I saw him again but I think it was another guy in the same kind of jersey who was on the side of the trail with a cell phone to his ear perhaps waiting for the first.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Maple Ave., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I was tailwinds going home but what was happening at ground level was the opposite of what the radar was showing. Instead of tailwinds blowing to the NE, I fought winds most of the way. I wasn't tempted to push by other riders much and took it smoothly. I was 40:44 at Maple Ave. which was better than I though I'd be.

From Northfield Rd. to Maple Ave. with Max in his trailer, then to C St., SW, Washington, D.C. via the Capital Crescent Trail and Ohio Dr. In the past, when I've been training a lot, I recall feeling a dull but persistent muscle pain when I slept, and having conflict dreams. Both have been back recently. My legs feel a bit of a burn like there's lactic acid after an interval workout. It made me not want to pedal very hard. I took it easy getting to Maple Ave. After dropping off Max and getting into the Air Rights Building tunnel in Bethesda, I got passed. The guy wasn't going that fast but had gotten up to speed before I had. I was going to pass him but I sat on him. After Falls Rd., he opened-up. We were going 23-26mph down the grade. Once going this fast, I didn't feel so guilty sitting on his wheel. We caught up to another guy who picked-up his pace. The guy we caught kept leading at 21-24mph across the flats into Georgetown. We split up soon afterward. Headwinds from the south and southwest slowed me after that. I thought I was going to finish much faster with all the fast drafting.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Maple Ave., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. It was slow going home. Cummulative effects of training have been wearing me down. The summer heat finally worked up to normal strength for this time of year and there were big winds slowing me down getting to Georgetown. Eating lunch late and leaving work early so that I could get Max to soccer practice meant less time for recovery and digesting on the ride too. Okay, okay, that's enough excuses. I was able to get up to decent speeds, even going uphill, whenever the winds weren't slowing me. I got to Maple Ave. in 41:42. I detoured with Max to soccer practice but no one was there. ?

From Northfield Rd. to Maple Ave. with Max in his trailer, then to C St., SW, Washington, D.C. via the Capital Crescent Trail and Ohio Dr. Starting out I felt tired so I just let my body ease into it. After dropping off Max, I saw the same young guy with glasses and a backpack go by. Like last time I was still getting ready but this time, I never caught up to him. I think I was keeping pace for a little while but riders far ahead start to look similar and he disappeared. He did get me moving pretty well. I picked-up one drafter as I passed everyone else and the drafter was with me until Georgetown. Once out of Georgetown, I was tired and I could feel the headwinds from the south/southwest--I took it easy the rest of the way the last 3 miles or so.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Maple Ave., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. It's taking me some time to warm-up. Even with a good tailwind, I was a good way down Ohio Dr. before I felt I was moving smooth with the right speed. I passed a bunch of people but rode alone. The tailwinds kept up but there were several times that I was going into it too. I was 38:11 at Maple Ave.

From Northfield Rd. to Maple Ave. with Max in his trailer, then to C St., SW, Washington, D.C. via the Capital Crescent Trail and Ohio Dr. I've had a sore throat since after the ride and working in the yard on Sunday. I may be getting sick which would explain yesterday. I started off easy with Max this morning. He was a bit cold from the cool dry air. After dropping him off and making it to about River Rd., things got easier. I had tailwinds though on Ohio Dr., the willows were only blowing a little. I felt good--able to accelerate and hold it when needed.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Maple Ave., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I started out taking it slowish. Even after Georgetown, I was only doing 17mph. I started picking up the pace near Fletcher's Boathouse, then gradually increased the effort up the grade. I was 39:46 at Maple Ave. and expected to be a good bit slower. I inadvertantly knocked my computer out of position so I estimated the final time.

From Northfield Rd. to Maple Ave. with Max in his trailer, then to C St., SW, Washington, D.C. via the Capital Crescent Trail and Ohio Dr. There were several detours getting to Maple Ave. today. Part of Arlington Blvd. was closed. After dropping off Max, I had more relaxed ride though as I was passing some well spaced groups, slingshoting off one person's wheel to the next got me going. Winds were calm but it sometimes felt like there were some. I brought my heavy lock by mistake.

From 12 St & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. to Maple Ave., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Leaving work late meant riding through the building again to get out. Once out, I cruised down Independence Ave. enjoying the way a bicycle can beat traffic. However, I was tired and had been unusually so all day. I settled into an easier pace. Winds were from the west but not much of a full headwind until I had the cover of trees after Georgetown. I kept passing people but mostly was trying to conserve energy by spining. I slowed before Massachusetts Ave. and took it even easier finishing up. There was aggravating traffic on Bethesda Ave. as I rode homeward with the trailer. A guy in a Suburban sized SUV saw to it to come along side me (he couldn't pass because of the guy in front of both of us) then he started nudging closer. When he got within a foot of me while driving parallel I started to bang on his door with my hand like I remember doing in college going to class on a main route into campus--only then I was doing it at +20mph.

C • "bang on his door with my hand" 6

From Northfield Rd. into Bethesda for a late lunch/snack, then to Silver Spring via the Georgetown Branch Trail, then back to Bethesda and Northfield Rd. via Portal Dr., NW Washington, D.C. and Beach Dr. Peggy, Max and I did this together. Max was connected to me on his Trail-a-Bike. This was the longest Max has ridden on his Trail-a-Bike and perhaps even in a trailer. He did well but without a nap his energy was low. We stopped multiple times for him to rest: on the trestle bridge over Rock Creek, along the road portion of the Georgetown Branch Trail, at McDonalds in Silver Spring, at Candy Cane Park in Rock Creek (for the playground), and a few other places. He didn't pedal the whole way but it was noticeable when he did.