Training Log Archive: Nadim

Lake Clopper, Seneca Creek State Park, MD. From Kingfisher Overlook, clockwise around Lake Clopper on the Lake Shore Trail. The trail had some parts relocated again for erosion management, but overall these don't make much difference in distance. The trail is heavily rooted across many areas so I was careful to step high. Though in the 30s F with a steady breeze, I still sweat a lot. I took it easy to not overdo it after my run yesterday.

Afterward, I went to the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College. I'd hoped to be able to do some field checking but it was getting too dark and with the campus empty except for security guards, I felt too self-conscious. There is more vertical relief than I envisioned from the contours of the map that I've been drafting. I want to keep up my running and to not forego the training while trying to get maps made. A good aspect of the pandemic restrictions has been that I've been able to focus on fewer projects including various chores around the home.

From Blockhouse Conservation Park at River Rd. (main parking in the pipeline ride), I ran the Muddy Branch Trail upstream (NE) to the second intersection with Query Mill Rd. and back. It was about 42 F starting out. I paced myself well, keeping unexpectedly smooth mile splits despite some big hills. It had been a while since I'd run this section. As I drove out, I could see a parking lot for Cabin John being busy and sure enough the parking lot on River Rd. for Blockhouse Park was about as busy as I'd ever seen it. I hadn't expected to see anyone on the trail heading NE since it was rare to see people on it before. This time, people could be seen just about every half mile. The vegetation in Blockhouse Park has gotten to be more open than when I'd mapped it. Most of the way upstream of where I'd mapped was very open too. Pacing myself easy where it was less hill let me be able to climb when needed. I didn't push much so this made for a pleasant and confidence building run. As my route passed Esworthy Rd., and Query Mill Rd., I saw some potential alternate areas to park, that would cut out the bigger hills on this route.

From Cedar Ln., to Knowles Ave. via the paved Rock Creek Trail, then back on Beach Dr. Since the Beach Dr. has been closed during these COVID-19 times, I could use either the paved trail or Beach Dr.. It was around 40 F with a wind from the north. I ran out on the paved trail to avoid the wind but didn't mind it at my back returning. My quads were tired and I felt slow. I started okay but felt like I was tiring before the first mile mark. In the second mile I caught a woman who was alternately walking and running but she passed me back. Working on my foot strike on the paved road helped me to gain speed and finish faster.

Rock Creek Park. Starting from the DC/MD border on a flat portion of the Valley Trail, I turned off up the Pine Trail to the eastern top of the park, then looped back to the Valley Trail via the Holly Trail. I crossed the creek on the Sherrill Dr., NW bridge, then used Beach Dr. to reach the connector trail to the north to get to the Western Ridge Trail. I knew I'd be short of 4 miles if I returned directly so I looped on a social trail to the paved Rock Creek Trail on the western edge of the park. That and another unpaved trail got me back to the Wester Ridge Trail and the DC/MD border parking lot, but I was still short on distance. I went north in MD on the Rock Creek Trail to the first bridge over the creek, then took unnamed dirt trail on the eastern side of the creek, to the Valley Trail, and to the DC/MD border parking lot. Having the day off from work made this possible but with rain moving in (it had already showered in the morning), I wanted to get done early. The trouble was that my body wasn't quite awake. Even the first mostly flat mile was slow. There were several steep climbs but when I climbed I sometimes moved at just above a walk pace. Going down was slow too, where too steep or tired to be safe. By the end of the run, I felt I was wearing too much clothes--it was 46 F. After finishing, as I was driving away, raindrops started falling.

It was in the upper 40s or lower 50s F. I took off my jacket but kept on my gloves at about 2 miles into the run. I was sore and a little like it'd be good for a rest day so I started out easily. There is a fair amount of climb on the route so it was good to not push. From Northfield Rd., I went into Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Alta Vista Rd., to Locust Ave., to Acacia Ave., to Chandler St./Benton Ave., to Cedar Croft Dr., to Rockville Pike. to the NIH Trail to Maple Ridge Rd., to Goddard Rd., to Lambeth Rd, to Moorland Ln., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. There were not a lot of Christmas lights put out but I did see a blue inflatable hippo which Peggy tells me is worth 30-50 points.

From the intersection of Elmhirst Ln. and Elmhirst Dr., to Elmhirst Pkwy. to the Elmhirst Trail, to Cedar Ln., to the Rock Creek Trail, to Old Spring Rd., and back. It was 40 F starting out. I ran there again since the day had been windy. There were a few runners and walkers out on the trail. I tried to keep decent running form and to not overstride. I ran negative splits and tried pushing it in the last mile.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to the county pool parking lot to the trail into Norwood Park, to Wisconsin Ave., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. It was in the 40s F and there was some wind. In the tall building canyon on Wisconsin Ave., it funneled so much that it was hard to go forward for 100m. I felt pretty good the first mile but was tiring afterward. I dragged on climbs and was not energetic finishing. We celebrated Max's birthday at home.