Training Log Archive: Nadim

Prince William Forest, VA. From Warm Springs and Bowmans Folly Dr., I started out walking into the park and later jogged. I needed to walk to warm-up and try to prevent further injury to my calf. This was a scouting outing for new terrain to map. Greg Lennon had prepared the base map with mostly contours and the major creeks. He also threw in a few areas he and I guessed to be green, based on satellite imagery. My guesses tended to be as predicted, but that didn't always work for where Peggy ran.

Before I got started, I dropped off Peggy at Cabin Camp 1, further SW down Rte. 243. She ran back while scouting new terrain to meet me at Warm Springs Rd.

Peggy and I had a similar experience getting started. Our base map didn't show exactly where we were starting from so we eventually had to locate ourselves on the map with primarily only contours. Given that there were lots of parallel contours, it took us each a long time to be sure of where we were--about 30 minutes for Peggy, and about 38 minutes for me.

Both of us found various things and most of it was nice. Where there was green terrain, it wasn't so awful to not want to get near it. I often found distinct edges to dense vegetation or deadfall. If mapped well, one could see the ways through most of it. The areas I got into were flatter than what we often are racing through. That made it extra hard to stay on track. I thought I'd hit a stream confluence just perfectly once, when I later found that I wasn't where I thought I'd been--I found myself going downhill when I should be going up. However, streams did help me to relocate pretty well. I think this terrain would be a great addition to what we've already got in PWF. Some might consider the lack of contours and not so many point features close together to be bland, but I think it reflects a legitimate challenge in navigating. The later half of my run was through a lot of very fast open terrain where it's tempting to overrun one's navigation ability. I messed-up even though I was going slowly, but I was glad to be out and moving again. My right calf did get a little sore again during the run but it held up. I just slowed down and walked more when I felt it.

Event: QOC Rosaryville
 

Rock Creek Park, MD. From Viers Mill Rd., to Avery Rd., and back. I was out with Samantha so that's why this is so slow. I chose the route since it is pretty flat, but there were some rises. A bit over 1/4 mile into it, a runner passed us while we were going up ramp to cross Viers Mill Rd. Samantha was slow and had to walk up several hills; she was slower and fearful of going down them. One time I even held on to her handlebars going down--that worked for a while before she panicked and slammed the brakes. We almost crashed. We did have a nice ride. The tree leaves are all still not out. Flowering trees were in full bloom, and the carpets of floodplain flowers were blooming too.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. Nice weather was predicted for today so I made sure to ride in. It was 48 F and wearing removable ankle tights with my shorts, a t-shirt, and my light riding jacket, was just right. There was a bit of a headwind too--as always it was more intense along the water and past Georgetown. A construction detour at the Kennedy Center had me on the road, but in a good lane. There were oddly few cyclists to be seen until the last 2 miles before Georgetown. There, they were bunched-up. I passed about 10 in a minute. The famed Cherry Blossoms were getting ready to peak along Ohio Dr. and extra police were ready. I tried to keep a light pace but still was tired and somewhat sore near the end.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I left work late, but that let me get through the crowds that were around the Tidal Basin and on Ohio Drive along the river, much more easily. Of course, the crowds were there to see the Cherry Blossom trees. The temperatures were nice--probably in the upper 60s F. I also had a slight tailwind. I caught-up to a guy on the Capital Crescent Trail just leaving Georgetown, and I pulled him up past the Dalecarlia Reservoir. He passed me finally, and pulled me up to River Rd. I'm just too heavy to climb well, so he pulled ahead, but it seemed that he slowed up enough after that, waiting on me, to pull me further. I passed him back on Glendale Rd. and lost him at the Bradley Blvd. traffic light. Overall, I think I moved pretty well for it being my first day cycling all of the way into and out of DC.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was 30 F this morning.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. It was much nicer in the upper 50s(?) but still cool enough to keep from sweating with a mid-weight jacket. I had a few stops but felt strong. There was likely a bit of a tailwind.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. There was a bit of a cool headwind, and stopping for traffic.