Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd., to Custer Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Johnson Ave., to Heampstead Ave., to McKinley St., to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. I felt pretty awful on this run. I had been cleaning up the house and outside the house for most of the day before going. I think my blood sugar was low. Additionally, my back, which had been hurting off and on for about 2 weeks, was hurting again. It took the whole first quarter mile for that to start feeling better. After that the ball of my right foot was hurting when I strode. Lastly, my quads were tired; I was dragging all the way to the end of the run. I started feeling a bit cool, but I was sweating by the end.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From 14th & Independence Ave., SW, to 15th St., SW (Raul Wallenberg Pl., SW), to Ohio Dr., SW., to Buckey Dr. SW, to Ohio Dr., SW., to Independence Ave., SW. to 14th St., SW. I almost ate lunch with a co-worker but when he cancelled, I got out to run in the daylight again. It was quite sunny and pleasant out at 41 F, and I was over dressed again. My first mile was slow partly due to traffic but partly because my legs were feeling so dead. I didn't realize that I had picked-up the pace for the 2nd and 3rd miles. After taking off my gloves, I unzipped my jacket but even that was too much. I kept the jacket on however just so I didn't have to carry it. It still bothered me as the wind would blow it off my shoulders repeatedly.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd., in the dark.

Back from having holidays, I took advantage of the warmer weather here in Bethesda, MD; it was about 29 F. I rode from Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. The scale was a shock--I think it equals my all-time high.

From 14th & Independence Ave., SW, to Madison Dr., NW, to 15th St., NW., to Constitution Ave., NW., to Ohio Dr., SW., to East Basin Dr., SW (around the Jefferson Memorial), to 15th St., SW (Raul Wallenberg Pl., SW), to Independence Ave., SW. to 14th St., SW. I took advantage of lunchtime to go running. I usually eschew this since I'm hungry at lunch time and because the weather will usually make me too sweaty. It was 37 F starting out and by the time I was done it was 41 F (in MN, at the same time, it was 21 F). I felt fine starting but somewhat hot by the time I was done. I ran faster than I had been lately and that I think is the effect of getting used to running in snow, then it seemingly being easier to run on pavement that my shoes can grip. Despite that, my legs were feeling kind of dead the last half mile. There were lots of tourists walking along the Potomac River.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd., in the dark.

Christmas Day - Joyful 5k - Como Lake, Saint Paul, MN. Peggy, Max, Peggy's brother Paul and his housemate Annabel all participated in our annual run around the lake this year. Luckily it was warmer than the days leading up to it--somewhere around 17-20 F with little to no wind. I ran in long underwear, tights, a long sleeve t-shirt, a hat, and gloves with overmits--this was just right. Max was mentally tougher this year. He'd been planning to do the run for the last several days and though he was hedging the morning of the race, he got himself out there. We dressed him in more than I had on and Max did only one loop, but he ran most of it. Paul was walking behind doing sweep. Annabel ran somewhere in between doing both laps. The night before it had snowed 3-4 inches but the trail had been plowed. A residue still made it slippery enough to keep me slower or at least I'll blame my slow time partly on that. I started a brisk but steady pace. One guy was out all alone in front. A few trailed him including one woman and 2 guys running shirtless and in shorts. A deaf runner from Ghana and perhaps a younger relative of his were ahead of me for a while. I passed the kid after half a mile and then the deaf runner just after a mile. After that, I cruised along as best as I could, saving harder running for the last half mile. No one passed me and I didn't pass anyone else the whole race. I finished in 8th place. I think Max finished his one loop just a few minutes ahead of me.

Saint Paul, MN. From Forbes Ave., to Douglas St., to Forbes Ave., to the bike path paralleling I-35E, to Saint Clair Ave., to Pleasant Ave., to Saint Albans St., to Fairmont Ave., to Crocus Place, to Crocus Hill Rd., to Dale Ave., to Lincoln Ave., to Grand Ave W., to Smith Ave., to Forbes Ave. It was 10 F when I got going. This felt much warmer despite as much wind as the day before. I had an over mit on top of my gloves which kept my hands a lot more comfortable, and I ran my own pace which let me generate more heat. The bike path had been recently plowed; it had snow on it still but it felt much better than running on the packed snow like the day before. I was still somewhat slow but this is to be expected with the conditions, the extra clothes, and the hills.

Saint Paul, MN. From Forbes Ave., to Douglas St. To Grand Ave., to Victoria St. S, to Summit Ave., to Douglas St., to Forbes Ave. It was cold out--0 F with a 12 mph wind. This might be the coldest temperature that I've ever gone running though I had been winter camping in colder weather. Peggy and I were pretty well dressed though I could have used more on my hands. My right thumb was aching going out, into the wind. It hurt afterward. There was fresh snow on the ground but most of the way I ran on shoveled walkways.

Bloomington, MN. From Killebrew Dr. across from the Mall of America, I ran to Old Cedar Rd. and back. There was snow on the sidewalks and though much of it was cleared earlier, enough new snow had fallen to make it slippery. It was about 20 F and I felt somewhat tired, using muscles that i don't usually use, to slip and slide.

Later we celebrated Christmas with Peggy's family.