Training Log Archive: Nadim

George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. For the Summer Short Series (SSS), Tom strat set 2 sprint courses. I started with course B, which was not the recommended order. The map had not been updated to ISSOM 2019, but there were some multi-level controls. These would not all be legitimate in a formal competition, but they were fun. The instructions were to not open any doors, however it was stated as valid to use elevators. I did pretty well. I read ahead and kept in good map contact. I went right to all of the controls in the parking garages and on their roofs. I took one elevator down too far, and had to go up 2 flights of stairs to get out on the right level. It was a nicer how humidity day and a good number of QOC people particpated.

George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. In between Course B and Course A, I walked to the garage where we had assembled. I got the Course A map and. I promptly made on mistake on #1, thinking that I could get through an area which turned out not to be legal. I had to go all the way around a building to correct this. I wandered into an area marked out of bounds, that was undergoing construction. Covering some ground a 2nd time from doing Course B earlier, I went right to a control and found the ribbon for it. I'd failed to realize the this was actually to be a different control on the other side of an uncrossable wall After this I settled down and stopped making mistakes. Near the end, I almost caught Howie. It was overall a fun day and much better than courses I'd run here earlier.

I got my bicycle back from the shop and they were able to fix the rear brake. Because I had them put new handlebar tape on it, they tuned the front brakes too! To top it off, I replaced my seat. I finally have one with a hole in the middle. It seemed to fit me well in width and length. It may be softer than my old one but it doesn't seem bulky or over-padded. That meant I should test it all out and I did.

From Northfield Rd., to Moorland Ln., to Glenwood Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Kingswood Rd., to Hurst St., to Grosvenor Rd., to Beach Dr., to Broadbranch Rd., NW, to Ridge Rd. NW, to Military Rd., NW, to 27th St., NW/Utah Ave., NW, to Tennyson St., NW, to Summerfield Rd., NW, to Oxford St. NW, to Broad Branch Rd., NW, to Brookeville Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Glenbrook Rd., to Wilson Ln., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I started somewhat late and getting up Georgetown Rd., I hit a lot of traffic lights. I moved better afterward, including the climb up Ridge Rd., out of the Rock Creek valley. I had headwinds coming back. Overall it was cool and less humid today. Unexpectedly, this was my fastest time on this loop this year.

From Bradley Blvd., I ran southward on the Cabin John Trail, and turned around at River Rd. Once at Bradley Blvd., again, to get similar miles to what I'd run previously, I ran west on Bradley Blvd. 2-3 telephone poles to the base of the hill and back. It was 86 F; cooler than around our house. The forest felt good--better than elsewhere which wasn't that bad anyway--about 80 F. The trail had some muddy and overgrown/storm damaged spots but I could get around or over the mud without getting wet. I sweat a lot, but using shorter steps, I moved confidently and with good energy throughout the run. It's evidence of the better strength that I have from cycling.

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Johnson Ave./Hempstead Ave. to McKinley St. to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to the trail at Jefferson St. to Northfield Rd. An early evening thunderstorm had blown through and was lingering. The radar looked like the worst was past, so I went out. The air was good and the rain felt cool. My knee only hurt in the first half mile but I was less than smooth with my stride later. I did work on using my right leg more and it helped.

I felt pretty good this day and wasn't affected by my longer ride yesterday. However, I'd planned for some rest and needed to take my bicycle in to get the rear brake fixed. It's been locked-up for a couple of weeks. I've been relying on my front brake. The repair guy at the shop was telling me to expect the worst--he thinks there is rust in a frame lug. If he can't free the cable from the lug, he also can't replace the lug. That might mean not having a rear brake on this +20 year old, beloved bicycle again. It's a carbon frame bicycle and this shop doesn't do frame work--few do. An alternate solution would be to get a new bike--I've got mixed feelings about that.

Starting from Davidsonville Elementary School, on Rte. 214, east of Bowie, MD, I did a counter-clockwise 9 mile loop using Davidsonville Rd., Governor's Bridge Rd., Patuxent River Rd., and almost getting back to the school. After that, I mostly followed the "A New Deale" ride from the Chuck and Gail's Favorite Bike Rides guidebook that I've used for many years. This was a clockwise loop. I used to start this ride from my old home in Greenbelt, MD +22 years ago, and later from Bowie--both farther away. I'm not at all in that kind of physical shape now of course. The ride goes past Harwood, and West River (old Owensville) to Deale, a mostly pleasure-boat town on the Chesapeake Bay. I stopped there for some cold Poweraid drinks and to look at the docks. Bald Eagles and gulls flew overhead

I also looped near North Beach, seeing an Osprey sitting on it's nest built on a man-made platform. The route would have taken me right past the part of Patuxent River park where we have the annual Beverage (Beer) Chase on the Jug Bay map. However, as I was barreling down a hill and looking at a sharp turn ahead, I missed seeing a different turn that I needed; I ended up doing some more unplanned miles and hills. That was too bad because I have a lot of fond memories of riding thet stretch past Jug Bay. Given how I was feeling, it just didn't make sense to add miles going back. I used to have the route memorized but I couldn't remember many of the details. In that way it was kind of good--to see a place with new eyes again. Today I had a tick-sheet that I had to use a lot. Unfortunately, I didn't keep it safe in a plastic bag like before, and it deteriorated into pieces whenever I would pull it out of my sweaty back shirt pockets. After crossing Rte. 4 the second time, I stopped for more cold drinks (Gatorade this time) and an energy bar.

I got started at about 10:15am--not so early for a long ride in August in this area. As I was doing the first loop, I wasn't sure what way the wind was blowing. It seemed to aid me part of the time on that loop, but I didn't seem hindered either. The temperature at the start was 80 F but later on, I think it hit 90 F. Getting past Deale, it was clearer that I was heading into the wind when going SW--not a prevailing direction. That was fortunate because the way back was more west and north. It really helped me in the last mostly sunny 10 miles which were were also less steep overall.

This route mostly keeps off the busier and better graded roads. I saw a few individual cyclists and one large group that was partly spread out. None of the hills are very difficult but they do roll. The ride required more work than my last 50 miler. The list of what was nice about it is not short but it had multiple shady sections and went on nice stretches where the paved road was little more than 1 lane, and was generally quiet. The views of the farmland, the bay, forested lands along the Patuxent River, and the many well kept rural homes stood out. I'm glad that I got to do this again after what seems like decades.