Training Log Archive: Nadim

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Wisconsin Ave., to Norwood Park, to the Little Falls Trail, to Falls Rd., to Glenbrook Rd., to Edgemoor Ln. into to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was cold out again (mid-20s F) but not very windy. My hamstrings felt sore in the first mile and overall, I felt tired. Mark Mace and I were able to have lunch again, and that was nice!

From 12th & Independence Ave, SW, to D. St. SW, to 6th St. SW, to Independence Ave., SW., to Maryland Ave., SW, around the Capitol Reflecting Pool, to Constitution Ave., NW, to 12th St., NW, to Independence Ave., SW. It was pretty cold out but I was pretty well dressed. I started out going with the wind tonight, so that I could warm-up. I didn't want to stop long at traffic lights so I made turns accordingly. I felt slower than my pace would indicate for the first mile, and then tired for the second. Many tourists were moving about hurriedly trying to get to their destinations. Seeing the little ones and their parents worry about them, even in the dark, was touching.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

Washington, D.C. From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, down The Mall along Independence Ave. and the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Calvert St., past the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. to Connecticut Ave., to the Cleveland Park Metro Station. I had planned to run at lunchtime but got a little lazy. I also had it in my mind to go 5 miles and thought of doing something from the Grosvenor Station where the wind would be at my back. Getting outside I thought if the wind wasn't bad, that I'd save time and just run from work. It didn't seem bad but felt stronger getting to Rock Creek. It was in the upper 20s F starting out so I felt cold. Tourists, who were out in good numbers, were getting a little desperate--some asked me the way to the closest metro station, and other asked me the way to bathrooms. They were all cold and their younger or older ones were probably suffering. After answering, I plodded on going slowly and feeling heavy. My hands got cold but I did sweat. As usual, the nicest part was in the Rock Creek Valley--only a cyclist and a runner passed by there. My climb out of the valley was deliberate and slow. I wasn't feeling too bad so I went further uphill to the Cleveland Park Station near the Uptown theater that I was just at last Friday.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. I had left my coat at the office and only had my Goretex running sweats. My head was sweaty under my running cap. I had to take that cap off to get on my cycling helmet so when I hit the cold and the headwinds, I got pretty cold too. It took a while to warm-up at home.

Washington, D.C. From 12th and Independence Ave., SW, I crossed The and ran down along Madison Dr.. Cutting over along 14th St., I ran along Constitution Ave., NW to 17th. A construction detour had me go through Constitution Gardens but I was back along Constitution Ave., to 23rd St. I took trails to get to and across Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy in the area north of the Lincoln Memorial where the roads are crazy. I'd crossed one set of lanes to an island then waited for traffic to clear. As I stepped off, I didn't look the other way and cars were coming. I jumped back rather lucky about the timing, then crossed safely. I finished up getting to Independence Ave. and back to 12th St. There were lots of tourists and families walking about just about everywhere on this run.

Time with family--breakfast, opening presents, seeing the new Coco movie and then getting a touch of religion by watching Life of Brian, filled the day and evening.

New York City, NY. From 31st. St., west of 6th Avenue we walked over to the Empire State Building and took the kids to the 102 floor. The lines were long and slow. The view from the 86th floor was just as good and would have sufficed because the lines getting up to 102 took a long time. We rushed after that, huffing down hot dogs on the street as we walked up 5th Avenue. The streets were vibrant with crowds just about everywhere. It was worse at the interesting department store holiday displays, Rockefeller Plaza and St. Marks Cathedral again. We didn't stop much. I hadn't realized that the Trump Tower was right across the street, next to St. Marks--that was quite a contrast, with happy holiday shoppers passing the white stone, and a few protesters across the street from the dark Trump Tower. Our rushed walk got us to Central Park where we immediately caught a horse and carriage ride. Peggy had missed this when she'd visited the city with her parents decades back. We walked more in the park with a small climb on some bedrock. We came back to 31st Street going all the way down 6th Avenue. However we did stop along the way at the LOVE sculpture, a deli to grab some dinners to go, and a McDonalds for a drink for Peggy, which turned out to be awful.

It was a nice quick trip. We were on the bus and moving at 5:31pm heading home. We reached Bethesda before 9pm and were home shortly afterward. It was a fairly stress-free way to see the city that we will probably try doing again. Peggy's brother Paul arrived half an hour after we got home to top off a Christmas Eve.