Training Log Archive: Nadim

Bethesda, MD. From Northfield Rd. to St. Elmo Ave., and back. I went out for lunch. It was about 99 F but I was going easy and short. Seeing my helmet, the manager asked me about whether it was too hot out to ride.

Schooley Mill Park in Clarksville, MD. Jan and Dasa Merka setup some interesting SSS training on short notice. It was a memory-o in which the only maps were at the start/finish. To make it more interesting, and challenging, it was in a score-o format with a 1 hour time limit. One had to memorize as many control locations on the map as was practical, navigate to them, memorize the 3 digit code on the streamer, then return and report them. One couild go out as many times as needed within the time limit. The map was put together very quickly from some limited materials but it worked very well. It was a sort of horse park with lots of carraige trails. Most of the controls were on the trails or at field edges. There were several scattered point features used too. I got about 18 controls altogether and on one outing i managed to correcly get 5 controls. It was enough to make one forget that it was 99 F. As Peggy, Max and I were driving to the park, we passed through some heat islands and for half of the way, the temperature reading was 103 F. Officially, the temperature hit 105 F and equalled 106 F for about a minute; however, official recorded temperatures must last for 3 minutes to count. To cool us off after this, we all went to the Merkas house for a swim in their pool, dinner, and a game night. It was lots of fun!

From Northfield Rd. to Moreland Ave. and back. Peggy, Max and I rode to town for dinner.

From Northfield Rd. to Arlington Rd. with Max, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. Max is starting to ride faster.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I got behind some slow car traffic and still rather warm. More of the trees blocking roadways since last Friday have been cleared. Our neighbors's fence was broken during tree removal on the far side. It was a very busy day at the office.

Frederick Municipal Watershed/Forest. From Hamburg Rd. near Frederick, MD. the Catoctin Trail one-way across Catoctin Mountain toward the Manor Campground near Thurmont, MD, bit turning around at the cliff viewpoint. This route is part of the Catoctin 50K that is run each August. I ran with Eddie Bergerone and Amber Thomas. The trail was rocky and damp from overnight rain. I was feeling the weight of my nearly full Camelbak pack, and from not having run much lately. We saw other runners including Glen Brake.

We had one break after 6 miles, and again after +8 miles at the cliffs. It was there, about 2 miles from the end of the run, that I realized I didnt have my van key and that the pocket I had put it into was open. I decided to go back to the last break area, and look for it. After heading out, falling along the way, and getting there, I didn't find the key. I headed back further and ran into Peggy along the way. She had started late since she got Max to his day camp an Camp Calleva. By the time Peggy and I crossed paths, it was going to be just about the same for me to run back to the van as it would have been to go to the Manor Area. Going to the van would let me search for the key more. I eventually found the key in the van's lock.

From Northfield Rd. to Arlington Rd. with Max, then to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. Thunderstorm threat kept me from running later on.

From Northfield Rd. to Arlington Rd. with Max, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was in the low 70s F.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.

Peggy, Max, and I spent several hours cutting and collecting broken branches out of the yard. I got the chainsaw out. We were fairly busy after that until cooking out. I didn't work out. I was too full afterward and needed to do some work later.