Training Log Archive: Nadim

From the Nature Center parking lot in Wheaton Regional Park, I ran to, then down the Northwest Branch Trail, taking the upper trails on the way out, turning around where they join, and taking the original/older lower trail on the way back. Peggy walked while I ran. The first mile went by quickly and easily, whereas the second seemed and was slower. I thought the third on the way back would be faster since it was less up and down (generally just a gradual grade going along the creek up) but was much slower than I'd thought. Maybe some of the puddles and downed trees slowed me. It was in the upper 40s or low 50s F, and sunny through the run.

Seneca Regional Park, Potomac Falls, VA. After visiting my sister and fixing the gate at my mom's house I got over to Seneca Regional Park. It's sometimes or used to be called Seneca Tract. It's along the Potomac River across from Blockhouse Conservation Park. It's also right next to Trump National Golf Course (which the Heritage Trail still cuts across). I hadn't been here in a few years and I may never have run there with the leaves off like they were today. The area is not large--about 1.75 miles long and 1/2 to 1 mile wide. From earlier runs, I knew that there were nice areas and a greener lowland, but with the leaves off, I could really see just how open the area is--virtually all of the uplands were very open. The area near the small parking lot had the greenest bits, probably imported from people coming and going. There seemed to be more trails than there were before; especially right around the parking area where informal trails were being discouraged with natural fencing. Like River Bend Park, Blockhouse, and Great Falls, there were enough ditches, gullies, dot knolls and occasional rock features to be interesting. The contours were dominated by rather simple parallel ridges. The bigger cliffs tended to be low at the ends of the ridges and above the Heritage Trail. Some features and trails exist along the flat lands between the Heritage Trail and the intricate river rapid causeways. I had fun running but my route seemed short. I tried adding on turning away from the parking lot near then end to climb and run one of the ridges. I my GPS track showed more wavering in the last half mile than I actually did--it should have ended where I had started.

From Northfield Rd. to Custer Rd., to Wilson Ln., to Maiden Ln., to Whittier Blvd., to Woodhaven Blvd., to Bradley Blvd., to Valley Rd., to Swansea St. to Ridge Rd., to Ridge Pl., to Greentree Rd., to Garfield St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. It was much cooler but damp after the rain had stopped, when I got out. I wore a long sleeve t-shirt and shorts but rolled-up the sleeves pretty quickly. I didn't feel very strong, but not too weak either. The climbs took the strength out of me. After the run, my left hamstring was sore where I'd injured it earlier in October.

From Northfield Rd., to Georgetown Pike via Greenwich Park, to Beech Ave., through North Bethesda Middle School to Bradmoor Dr., to Folkstone Rd., to Hartsdale Ave., to Heampstead Ave., to McKinley St., to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. It was raining lightly while I ran, but still warm outside--about 68 F.

From Northfield Rd to Norfolk Ave to pick-up lunch, then back. The wind had started to pickup a bit. It was blowing in more warm air rom the south. I'd changed into wearing shorts before I rode since it was sunny and in the mid 70s F. The wind helped me on the way back.

From Northfield Rd. to Greenwich Park to Old Georgetown Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail at Charles St. to the Capital Beltway bridge and back. Despite being heavier from eating cake, I felt better running today, right from the start. Though the first mile wasn't so fast, I picked it up as I went along. At the turnaround in the dark, I stepped on a bridge joint crack and had a sudden ankle twist that I needed to walk off for a while (off the clock). Once I got going again the pain from that went away quickly and I continued to speed up the pace finishing-up. My right ankle was a little sore from the twist. It was about 70 F during this run.

From Northfield Rd. I ran up to Custer Rd., to Park Ln. to Battery Ln. to Exeter Rd. to Elm St., to Glenbrook Rd., to Cornish Rd., to Burning Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Brite Dr., to Radnor Rd, to Oldchester Rd., to Aberdeen Rd., to Aberdeen Pl./Garfield Rd., to Northfield Rd. I was tired today, both before running and during it. It was however, a rather nice evening with room temperatures outside.

Event: (Cancelled) QOC Great Falls
 

From the Muddy Branch Trail head on American Way, just off of Rte. 28 in Gaithersburg, MD, I went south about 2 miles which was around a stream crossing and at a trail intersection. From there I looped back using a low route along the creek mostly. Unlike last August, when I last did this run in 80 F weather, it was around 60 F starting out. I'd started out with Peggy but she was power walking so I pretty much ran alone. On the way back, I saw Evgeny Tsypnyatov, from QOC. He was hiking with his better half. Peggy went farther than intended so I was back before her with a lot of time to stretch and cool off.