Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd. to Fort Hunt Park, via the Capital Crescent Trail, the 14th St. Bridge, and the Mt. Vernon Trail. I had initially left without my lock so I circled back and got that. Despite the 100 F heat, I felt fine early on and moved down the trail with two loaded panniers just about as I would commuting to work. The route was almost the same. With winds from the west, I had a slight tailwind through Ohio Dr. Once on the 14th St. Bridge, I rode into the furnace and was much more exposed. My pace dropped in Virginia and mostly kept diminishing through Old Town Alexandria. I'd hoped to stop at Deli on the Strand for something to drink but it was closed. At Bell Haven, I saw a gas station across the George Washington Pkwy. and headed to it for a cold drink. As I was crossing, traffic that I was waiting to pass slowed to give me the right of way. I didn't want it but didn't want to sit in the road either. To take it, I had to move to my right and I went over a small previously unoticed pothole in the process. The familiar wavering hiss as my tire spinned meant only one thing but I finished riding across the road on it anyway. I got half a gallon of cold Gatorade and started to suck that up as I changed the tire tube. I was back in commision quickly but on a mushy front wheel. Feeling refreshed, but also with more sheltering trees, I moved up the Mt. Vernon Trail quickly. Rememberences of many runs there from my high school years and college summer came forth. As I would then, I took West Blvd. to Collingwood, but got back on the trail to finish-up. At Ft. Hunt Park., there were no bicycle racks to lock-up with. I wandered a bit before finding a fence railing near the main fort.

Fort Hunt Park. I setup controls for a QOC Summer Short Series training event. I was tired from cycling and knew I had just over an hour to get all 20 controls out before people would arrive to run. I calculated in my mind that it meant an average of 3 minutes per control, including covering the distance, untangling the strings and getting the right feature. Right from the start I ran into problems. Through I made the map only 2 years earlier, various things had changed. It was mostly fallen trees that affected things. A few yellow areas that I thought would make good passage were blocked. At the only controls which were off a path or open field and which happened to both be rootstocks, there new rootstocks in the circle. Worse than this, in the one area with a lot of trail intersections, 2 trails had disappeared. I could still see where they were but it was only because I knew they were there before--the vegetation had grown-up over them. Most of the controls were okay but being tired from cycling, rushing to get the controls out, and getting a bit flustered with the changes in the map, I made a parallel error and set once control incorrectly :( About 14 people either ran or walked and seemed to do okay. One other control was stolen.

Fort Hunt Park. I had a lot of help from John Torrance, Mark Mace and David Onkst in picking up controls. I only had to get 3 but I checked on the one that people said was missing (stolen) and looked a few other areas that I suspected were in need of map updates.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. I didn't have the tailwind that I had yesterday so this ride felt like more work. I had gotten caught from behind, perhaps by someone I passed earlier. However I seemed to have dropped him on the small rise near Dalecarlia reservoir. I was doing 20mph or above on the flats but slowed from Georgetown in.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Montgomery Ave. where I picked-up Max and his trailer, then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I left work early and hit the heat of the day--upper 90s F and humid. In the morning, I'd finished the ride on Ohio Dr. along the river and the park service had turned on water sprinklers . A good bit of the water was rotating into the road and I had gotten a nice cooling. Though I was on the other side of the road coming back in the afternoon, I still got some of the water and I appreciated it much more. The wind was blowing so much that spray was wafting all the way across. It felt good in the hot sun and otherwise hot air. After turning the corner at the water treatment plant on the Capital Crescent Trail, I got a bit of a tailwind and picked-up my pace. However, generally I took it easy going home from beginning to end and was loaded more than usual with clothes today and from the day before. I also had some farmer's market nectarines for Max which he heartily ate once I got him home.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. Though a little slower dropping Max off, I moved quickly after that passing a bunch of peole. I picked-up a few in my wake and pulled them all until crossing Canal Rd. Up until then I had a good tailwind. I pulled again once more but then cruised behind other strong riders doing about 23mph on the flats. Traffic slowed us a bit, then I took it easier with Greg, another rider from Bethesda. We chatted almost to the 14th St. Bridge where he broke off to add on. It was nice to have company.

From C St . SW, Washington, D.C. to Montgomery Ave. where I picked-up Max's trailer, then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. There were some moderate headwinds getting to Georgetown. I kept a pretty steady pace through it. My ability to pull up as well as push downward has gotten better this week, as have my back muscles. After crossing the Canal St. trestle bridge, I picked-up a drafter who was with me most of the way to Bethesda. I left him behind at a traffic intersection there. My time reaching Montgomery Ave. (38:24) was 2 seconds faster than it was on Tuesday. I had more of a tailwind for the earlier ride so this represents even more progress. I was surprised to find that Peggy had gotten home early enough to pickup Max just 14 minutes before me. I occasionally pushed on the way home but was also slowed by some traffic.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Woodmont Ave. to the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT), to Elm St. to Oakridge Ln., to Lynn Dr. to the CCT, to Montgomery Ave. With storms predicted at 50%, I didn't want to have to risk it picking-up Max. I took the metro and brought running clothes to work. I was short on time again today when leaving work and didn't want to cut it so close as yesterday when picking-up Max. I ran a short loop and got there just before the last few people were leaving. It was in the low 90s F and still rather humid. My legs were tired starting out after running up the Bethesda Metro station stairs and from riding harder yesterday.

Later, Max and I went to a park where he practiced riding his bicycle. He's getting better at handling his larger newer bike but has improved starting. Getting off of it, he still looks like a slow motion accident in which he lands on his feet half the time.

From Northfield Rd. Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave. via the Air Rights Building with Max in his trailer, then to C St. SE, Washington, D.C. I was a bit sluggish and just cruised in. I passed a bunch of people nearing Georgetown. I'm not sure why my weight is still up. I ate moderately that last few days.

C • weight is still up! 2

From Independence Ave., SW, to Montgomery Ave., Bethesda, MD, then to Northfield Rd. with Max in his trailer. I got busy toward the end of the day and left work rather late. I looked at the clock and it was 5:41. I had to close down my computer, change clothes, get my bike and be in Bethesda by 6:30 when Max's day care is supposed to close. I hustled and got a great start just catching the traffic lights right. The winds were strong coming from the south southwest so I had to ride into it sometimes. I moved well, working steadily. Out of Georgetown I got passed by a younger guy in much better shape. I wasn't up to grabbing his wheel but kept a stronger pace. The pace sometimes wavered but I was glad that my strength was holding steady. I'm getting in enough of a better shape to pull up more consistently as well as downward and in this way I powered over some changes in slope. I caught the traffic lights just right at Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda and noted only a minute and a half left to get about half a mile away and I made it--not a stellar time but 38:26 at Montgomery Ave. is amongst the best for me this year and I worked harder for this. I warmed down toting Max home after that.

Peggy is off flying to Colorado while I stayed to catch-up on some work. With the weather uncertain, I was going to run at the office. However, it was rather muggy and I had to work through lunch. After eating dinner when I got home, Max suggested a ride to a playground so we took a tour through the neighborhood, much of it a reverse of a 4 mile loop that I run except that we passed through and paused to play at Ayrlawn Park. At times Max's pedaling really helped. Going up one hill, I think he stopped and I was crawling just to catch and pass a woman runner--she was so in the zone with the heat and humidity that she didn't respond to a hello.

Algonkian Regional Park, VA. Max and I explored a new pool. We enjoyed the splash area with the giant bucket pouring on us and a crowd of people--it was strong enough for me to feel like I was being pushed down. Later Max and floated about, treading water and basically staying cool in the larger pool. He is just 3 inches too short to get on the big slide--I suppose he'll just make it next year.

The pool was right next to the woods and I've enjoyed several runs on the trails there. I'd like to map this area sometime for other Summer Short Series events, then jump into the pool. Though the area is rather flat, it has ditches, streams, trails, root stocks, a few hills, and a mix of pretty nice to green forest. Peggy reminded me that since they have cabins it will make a nice QOC weekend place one day--complete with mini-golf and boating activities. Blockhouse Point is not far across the river and downstream a bit.

After the park, Peggy, Max and I visited my family and saw Despicable Me--it was rather enjoyable. Peggy and I discovered that the iPhone app that goes with the movie for translating the minon talk at the end in the credits, doesn't work unless one sees the 3D version.