Training Log Archive: Nadim

Shenandoah National Park; near Sperryville, VA. From the trailhead at the bottom of Little Devil's Staircase to the Four Way intersection at the top. With Max at Dave Camp (thanks Heidi and Dave), Peggy and I were free to do activities that we don't usually get to do. We walked up as the day was getting hotter. As we rose, it felt about the same temperature though the higher elevations we reached were cooler than the lower ones. The hike was often steep in a rather rocky and in a narrow cliff gaurded gorge that lasted much of the way. We crossed streams, mostly the same one over and over again, 15 times. There were loads of cairns and stone walls; evidence of past farming. The trees were rather smallish and would pass for green terrain on an orien teering map. Perhaps this was due to past gypsy moth damage though there weren't a lot root stocks. There was just a little bit of silk grass along the trail. We took a little break at the top before...

...From the Four Way intersection at the top of the Little Devil's Staircase, Peggy and I ran easy down the Keyer Run fire road. I had returned like this perhaps 2 times before and the last time was probably 15-20 years back. We got a few glimpses through the trees of the valley below. We also stopped a bit to checkout a cemetary. Some of the markers were from the 1700's which is pretty old for the area. The run got steeper the closer we got to the bottom which is somewhat opposite of how the hike up felt. It was nice to get back to the Shenandoah on a hike/run like this. Though Max was probably having fun at Dave Camp, this was Peggy and my way of celebrating 8 years of being married.

I worked almost 4 hours literally around the house. I cleaned the roof of fallen sticks and leaf piles, then the gutters. After that I cleaned the mess on the ground and planted several perennials and a tree that we picked-up near Warrenton. It was hot and needed to keep drinking fluids.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then back to Northfield Rd. more directly, back to Montgomery Ave., then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. Getting Max going this morning was a bit slow. It created some distraction and with a lot of vehicle traffic along the way, I didn't notice leaving Max's lunch at home until I got there. Going back home for his lunch was easy and the weather was still nice--drier and cooler air than we often get at this time of the year. Once headed to work properly, I moved quickly with the wind, passing more than I expected to for being late, though not quite as many as the large scout troup coming the other way that I saw yesterday afternoon. At Dalecarlia, I caught glimpse of a cyclist whom I was gaining on. I kept closing the gap but we were moving well (20-22.5mph on the flats) and I didn't catch him until right at Georgetown. Given my conditioning, I'll probably feel that later. There was more traffic to contend with on the roads in DC.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. through the basement of my building at work to Independence Ave. SW, to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I enjoyed some tailwinds but rode a steady pace by myself. I left later than planned and toted my laptop on my back-an extra 8 to 9 pounds. To my surprise, I had a tailwind to Dalecarlia which is more than halfway. I moved along well with a good cadence. Peggy and I needed to drop off Max at Dave Camp at 7pm so I didn't go to pickup Max's trailer.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. Max was sick this morning so I stayed home with him. Peggy took over later so I got to ride into work. Initially there were headwinds. The winds were neutral along the towpath, then very much a tailwind on Ohio Dr. along the Potomac River. There were lots of tourists clogging the paths at the end. Overall, my speeds along different sections of the route were comparable to my normal commute so it's interesting to see my overall speed without towing Max and the trailer being mixed in.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. The wind patterns from the afternoon were still in place so I had strong headwinds followed by less impacting ones on the way home. The +80 F weather was otherwise great.

York, ME. From Beach St. (north of Short Sands Beach), along the shore drive to Sohier Park, where I looped out and back to view the Nubble Lighthouse, then continuing southward along the shore on Nubble Ave. to 6th Ave., then I reversed the route. This morning was wonderful. Bright sun accompanied by cool breezes really set off the sound and sight of the waves on the rocks. The Nubble Lighthouse is probably the most picturesque that I've ever seen. It's an island most of the time but at the low tide that I saw it, it would have been possible to walk across the seaweed covered rocks. The prominent house was back-lit but from where I stood it perfectly framed the American flag that was in the sun and in the line of sight. On our way back to Maryland, Peggy, Max and I went by car and stopped to walk on the rocks and checkout the tidal pools. The island was an island at this time. We stayed late and cut it close for our flight home.

In York, ME, Peggy, Max and I toured York's Wild Kingdom (quite good for $8 in a quiet beach town), played some sand hockey, flew a kite and got our feet wet in the cold surf. The day was busy with little time to run and the night before I my right foot arch had throbbed/pulsated. The long time standing and walking didn't make me feel much better.

York, ME. Following a celebration of Tony & Suzanne Federer's 50th wedding anniversaryat the York Harbor Inn, Peggy, all the kids plus the fathers, Dave Hall, Pam J, & I walked down to the beach and then to the Cliff Walk trail. I was in my work shoes; not so good on the damp trails and cliff rocks, but much better than I thought they would be. The kids got ahead of me while I gazed and gabbed. Andy pursued followed by me and the rest of our troop. It was good way to walk off the lunch and beautiful.