Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Dr. to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. Down The Mall to the Reflecting Pool, to the Lincoln Memorial, to the Rock Creek Trail, around the tunnel near the zoo, to Tilden St., to Connecticut Ave. to the Van Ness/UDC Metro Station. As I started, a thunderstorm was just ending. That meant it was cooler for a while but it got warmer and started to feel more muggy. I kept trying to keep a steady pace and thought I was. My GPS may have had an anomaly when it recorded me suddenly 30 seconds faster for one mile. I intended to run up Olmstead Way through the zoo, but the gate was closed. That meant I had to run further--I was holding up okay so that wasn't bad. Part of the trail was being repaved and Beach Dr. had been in the process of being narrowed to one lane. I was routed onto that road for a while. I was surprised that I was able to run all the way up out of the Rock Creek valley on Tilden St., and not feel that it was really difficult or hurt a lot. I guess some training is paying off though I'm still not watching what I eat as closely as I should.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Wisconsin Ave., to Battery Ln. I took a break there for an appointment and later went on to Northfield Rd. via Keystone Ave., N. Brook Ln., Old Georgetown Rd., Huntington Pkwy., and Custer Rd. I had intended to go back to the Bethesda Metro Station but I realized that my keys were in the running pouch I"d given Peggy to carry home. Later, after getting some groceries, I drove downtown to retrieve my bicycle.

From Northfield Rd., to Norfolk Ave. for lunch, then back. I looked around a little at some other lunch options. Though some stay around for a long while, other restaurants come and go in Bethesda a lot. I had toyed with the idea of runniing after this but rainy weather and the idea of a rest day quashed that.

I ran the Seneca Greenway Trail between Rte. 355, and the parking area on Watkins Mill Rd. It was in the low 80s F starting out. As soon as I entered the forest the climate was noticeably better. I was also surprised at how open the understory looked. It was more open than I remembered and it had been a long time since I'd run here. The hillside had invasive grass growing but it was all low. If I were running off trail, it would have been easy and nice. I wasn't used to the hills. This route is somewhat up and down the whole way. A portion of the trail had again been relocated. Now just about the whole thing is on the slope and out of the bottom lands which can get wet at times. I was slow. That's partly just being out of shape, and still not running enough. I did however enjoy the run a lot. I've missed going out on runs like this and longer ones.

From Northfield Rd., to Custer Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Johnson Ave., to Heampstead Ave., to McKinley St., to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. I'd hoped to do a longer run today but I spent much more time at my mother's house with Samantha and my sister, than planned. By the time I was home it was near family dinner time. I ran short but still didn't eat with everyone (include a friend of Max's who was here for a sleepover), since I needed to take a shower. I ran in my old Nike Pegasus, which I'd considered a few years ago. There was a very light rain to start with but I didn't slip around or get wet from it as much as from my own sweat. I didn't sleep well the night before.

From near the Intersection of Connecticut Ave., and Beach Dr., I ran the Rock Creek Trail up to Clearbrook Ln. then back. With all of the rain and other issues, I hadn't run much lately. I was not up for a long run and thought it better to keep it moderate. I never felt very smooth, probably due to weight as much as anything. Going out along the creek was basically flat but upstream. I tried to keep a steady pace but felt like I was fading before halfway. The downstream return helped me not only keep pace but get faster. I put more effort into holding my pace and just didn't know what pace I was running the last 2 miles as I got faster. My shoes were sometime slipping on mosses on the damp pavement. I weighed-out at 187 lbs.

From Northfield Dr. to the Bethesda Metro Station. There was a bit of traffic along the way.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. The rains had stopped finally, but it was a longer day than hoped for going into a holiday. I was planning a run and thought I'd left my running clothes at work. As it turned out I had taken them home an earlier day this week, so I didn't even have a run option going home. It was a little windy getting home and I carried my laptop.

From Northfield Rd., to downtown Bethesda in a round about way, then back after dinner. I towed Samantha on this ride. She was able to pedal more strongly than before. We looped there after a false start, and then via Hampden Ln.,Honeywell Ln., Glenbrook Ln. Falls Rd., and the Capital Crescent Trail. We returned more directly via Exeter Rd. and Park Ln.

Event: QOC Fountainhead
 

QOC: Fountainhead West. I enjoy this area with its challenging terrain and increased technical requirement for navigating. I'd been worried about being tired a lot, going into this. However when I got started, my feet felt relatively light. I moved well, but not strongly, for a good while.

S-1 - The first control was a very short leg in the same area that I'd started the US Ultralong Championships from in 2015. I got sucked into the reentrant that I'd started people from in 2015, rather than the larger one, further down the larger reentrant. The map didn't show the upper one (close to the road) very distinctly. I think a few others did the same as I did.

1-2 - This was very close to a leg I'd set in 2015 so I had no problem with it. I stayed on the road side of the stream until crossing the power line ride. Reading contours as I jogged and walked up the steep ridge, I hit the diagonal ride a little past where it intersected the trail on the ridge, so I was sure about coming down to the control on the correct spur.

2-3 - I started well crossing the bridge and sticking to the trail until it bent back east with the creek. I hopped over to the main trail again to get me up the hillside. From there I got on the ride. It was messier than I remembered it. Deadfall kept forcing me left or right. I'd come back only to find more. As I hit a good speed on an open stretch, I should have read my map and compass. I was under the memory impression that the ride too me to an inlet but it bent left as I followed it. Nearly getting to the water before realizing it, I had to cut right sharply. This cost me about 90 seconds or more. From the inlet, I ran up straight and spiked the control--it came up a little sooner than expected so I'm glad I saw it.

3-4 - I ran straight at it and recognized the correct spur. It seemed hung in a flatter place than expected but I was happy I found it.

4-5 - I thought for a second to go around, having remembered the reentrant before but then I thought that'd be silly. Some deadfall did get in my way though.

5-6 - I ran to the trail and only stayed on that for a brief moment. Going further, I lost contact with how high and low I was, but now which reentrant I was crossing. I could see the reservoir too close on my right so I cut up a little. Recognizing the light green helped me zero-in on it.

6-7 - I got a little too far right but corrected without much lost, if any.

7-8 - I ran straight and eventually planned and executed well, coming up the reentrant south of the control. I wasn't sure getting into that reentrant, since I had to climb before seeing it--the formline helped.

8 - 9 - Straight, and it was visible from a good distance. Some trash was distracting me but I kept going where I needed.

9-10 - I went straight but used a gully and ditch while climbing to keep me on track. With the slope change after crossing the trail, my tendency was to be off-line but a compass check and visual inspection of the reentrants ahead kept me true.

10-11 - I backtracked to the main trails, then turned left. I turned left again and eventually left the trail to be on the ridge all the way to the control.

11-12 - I dog-legged rather than cross the reentrant--I was already tired. As I got near the top, I kept to reentrant tops but came over too far left. I got close to one reentrant I hadn't expected to see so my count was off. I hadn't seen the ride to my left but in the next reentrant I stopped short and started searching. I realized that I hadn't crossed the main trail yet, so I went on and hit it well. The time lost, looking early was probably 2:20.

12-13 - Straight but I paused at the trail intersection where there were several other orienteers. I followed more a short distance to the control.

13-14 - As I was running, I read the map poorly. I expected the control to be lower and was familiar with this reentrant from setting a control in it earlier myself. I lost time climbing back up.

14-15 - crossing the hill, I went right over the dot knoll so I thought my line was going very straight. However I ended up having to cut left at the end.

15-16 - I got to the trail and followed it from intersection to intersection. I left it at a bend but ended up much more to the right of the ditch. Fortunately I'd stopped at the right distance and didn't have to climb back. I just had to cut over and did so.

16-17 - People were ahead of me and I was catching them. Seeing the big reentrant, I paused when it seemed like others hadn't found it. I looked a bit more to the right and saw the ditch.

17-map exchange - I had a good line on getting to the trail at the reentrant before the map exchange "control". I was getting excited about finishing the main course, and getting sloppy, partly because I was too tired. I got right to the control but I was a little unsure it was the right one since I hardly used the trail at all. I also didn't understand why there was no epunch box at the control I found. I concluded that it was a White or Yellow course control or something else. Just about any other map exchange I can remember had a control that one had to punch. I t concluded this wasn't the map exchange when it really was. I went on looking for a control with a punch but got confused as I ran off the fold of my map. I turned back and as Peggy came through, she confirmed that there was no punch at the control I'd just been to. My question was bad and she wasn't sure what my course was doing anyway. I went further back where Craig Sheldon and companion were, and had caught up. Eventually, with them I understood that there was no punching needed at the map exchange and I went on sheepishly. With the "Connector" map looking so different (vegetation on the regular map was not shown on the Connector map) I got more confused. I did go directly to the control but did so very slowly, trying to match contours with the formline hill. At the end, I expected the control to be on top of the knoll instead of the side as indicated in the clue. However with the numbering being off, that only further confused me.

Getting to the Go control, I went on and off trail. I felt really slow on the steep parts but did manage to be going faster than others who stayed on the trail. I came to the control going across the hill rather than attacking from where the trail is nearest. I spiked it.

I used the trail and took the second right turn. There was un-mapped deadfall so I thought I'd be slower than going left, but it worked out well. Somehow I'd passed Peggy.

QOC: Fountainhead West. After my run, Samantha was game to go out so I walked part of the White course with her. She was having some trouble with orienting the map but did seem to get the direction right most of the time when I helped her.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. via Woodmont Ave. It was the annual Bike to Work Day in the metro area. I detoured to the Bethesda pit stop to get my free t-shirt. I scanned the swag that many vendors and service groups had brought out but I didn't feel like waiting around for discussions or to enter raffles to get any of the items. On the trail, I rode alone and steadily. I passed A lot of other riders. There was a slight headwind with grew stronger. I felt tired but much better than I had when running yesterday.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to the Bethesda Metro Station, then to Northfield Rd. I had a nice tailwind heading home and got through most of the traffic efficiently. I focused on keeping a good cadence and that worked well. No on passed me, even when I slowed down. At Falls Rd., I stopped to talk with David Onkst, who was running the other direction. I also stopped in Bethesda to get dinner. Rain had been approaching and it broke just as I was inside getting dinner for Peggy and Samantha. It was still raining when I left to finish-up but that was much lighter. Our dinners were in a paper bag, so I wondered if I would have a minor disaster. After getting home safely, we did discover that the paper bag had been starting to break. I'd just made it home without losing dinner on the road.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. There was a lot of traffic along the way. I had to detour onto Lambeth Rd. since a heavy crane was blocking Custer, presumably to remove some large trees.

Washington, D.C. I fretted about what to run today. I found out yesterday that it was Bike to Work Day on Friday. We also have a slightly unusual orienteering event on Saturday so with all of that I was worried about having no rest. I ran 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., to the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. I felt tired early on this run and it was mostly likely from increased training the last 2 weeks, and a lack of recovery time. I was worried that I'd end up running the slowest ever on this route. It turned out to only be the second slowest. I'd run slower under similar circumstance, including no lunch today, at the end of last August. Today was warmer at about 89 F starting out. Still, it was reassuring that I was going faster than the auto traffic on the Rock Creek Pkwy.--I actually caught and passed cars that had passed me earlier. As I ran down Independence Ave., I could see storm clouds fanning out across Maryland and Northwest DC. This got me cloud cover and it cooled a bit. There was a nice breeze keeping things comfortable. Samantha had called me during the run and told me that our male indoor cat was missing. In my tired slog, a young woman passed me just before turning off toward the waterfront. I made it up the hill at the end okay--when one is hurting on the flats, going uphill doesn't feel a lot different. My sweaty self scared people on the train on the ride homeward.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Dr. I was relieved leaving the station to find out that the rain had held off. As I got closer to home, I started calling for my cat in case he was lost. I thought I'd be slower on the ride bacl. After a bit of calling and searching inside and outside for my cat, I called through my bedroom window to the outdoors. He had come searching for my call, and was found in the backyard where I'd been shouting. My weight after my working out had gotten down to 182.5--probably a lot of water loss.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. The weather was very comfortable this morning. It felt cool without being cold. Willow trees along the river in West Potomac Park showed I was riding into a very slight headwind and I wasn't sure about it until I saw the trees. I rode alone until the last 3/4 mile going into Georgetown. A roadie passed me and I drafted off of him on the trail before passing him when he slowed on Water Street. Traffic was pretty good throughout with only a few brief slow-ups.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd. I got a good start with traffic and a tailwind leaving work. In Georgetown, there were many crew boats being loaded and other traffic which slowed things down. At one stop, a guy on a mountain bike caught and passed me as I kept guessing the wrong direction to go around the slowdowns. I passed him back and pulled him until the trestle bridge. He returned the favor until the long straight stretch toward Massachusetts Ave. I pulled again until we broke off at Falls Rd. I was getting pretty tired, partly from working out relatively a lot over the last several days. It was about 93 F starting out but that didn't bother me.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, East-West Hwy, to Chelton Rd, to Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS, to Lynbrook Dr., to Sleaford Rd., to the Georgetown Branch Trail. I was planning to do some fartlek running on the BCC track, but when I got there, I found out that the track was gone!. Instead, there was a big catch pond, piles of dirt and sewer fixtures. The high school is undergoing renovations. Steel girders were attached to the school and extending toward where the track had been. I moved on to do fartlek on the trail. The trail is a railroad grade surfaced with bluestone and I was tired going into the run. I was looking to use the track because there's less traffic and it should have been easier.

I started out doing fartlek on the Georgetown Branch Trail. I first headed downhill toward Silver Spring, but quickly turned around. Most of the sprint intervals were 100-150m long. I felt okay doing this and continued until I exited the tunnel before Woodmont Ave. From there, I'd forgotten that I'd already run almost a mile warming-up; I wanted to get at least 2 miles for this easier day so I ran around Bethesda (Bethesda Ave. to Denton Rd., to Edgemoor Ln. to the Bethesda Metro Station) until I had 2 miles.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Dr. I was carrying donuts for the kids (I ended up eating one when they accidentally charged me for 3), and double my usual work clothing.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. I probably had a tailwind but I was also a little tired.

From the Silver Spring Metro Station, Colesville Rd., to N. Portal Dr. to E. Beach Dr. to Kalmia Rd., to Beach Dr., to the Valley Trail in Rock Creek Park, to Candycane Park via the paved Rock Creek Trail, to Ellingson Dr. to the Georgetown Branch Trail via Susannah Ln. to Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda, to Edgemoor Ln. to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was cool and will be turning hot later in the week, so I thought it best to take advantage of it, and run. I started well but for as fast as I felt, I was still slow through the first mile, at about 8:20. As I was climbing gradually, and almost constantly after that, the rest of the miles were slow. My legs were tired.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Norhtfield Dr. It was still cool. I hit the first 2 traffic lights but got past the rest quickly.

Event: QOC Rosaryville
 

Rosaryville State Park, MD. I headed to the start triangle after registering (and forgetting to register my epunch). I went back for the restroom and returned. I didn't feel so good physically but was feeling better than I had started on my return trip to the start.

QOC: Rosaryville State Park, MD. Driving into the park I could see that the leaves were at their fullest. Even in the summer, they seem to thin out a bit with droughts after the kind of lush rains that we've been having. I predicted a lot of errors for all, including myself. Francis Hogle reinforced this thought after telling me he'd missed on every control on his Brown course. For others however, the day would prove to be just fine as they didn't seem to let the vegetation affect them. I figured I'd get what I needed just by doing some running with the map and getting the physical training. True it was that I made some bonehead errors. I also had a hard time getting into reading the map. It may have been the contrast from the open forest in NY last week and running faster with a pack, but other times it was the minor bends in trails not being shown or the trail alignment to north that seemed off. I also had a hard time at some trail intersections which had become vague, the streams often being in gullies, and changed vegetation mapping that threw me off.

Thankfully enough, I spiked #1 going through the field and coming off of a field edge and onto the trail.

Going to #2, I got back on the trail, but first turned left at what seemed to be an unmapped intersection. I corrected by cutting across the woods and found them to be as thick as at #1. I took the trail again but coming on where I did, I left the trail at the wrong bend. I eventually got to the road but if I'd left the trail at a later bend it would have been much faster. Once on the road, I ran to the end, and attacked from the restroom building. I felt I had a good bearing but I was south of where I eventually found the depression. I lost a lot of time--5 minutes?

My misadventures at #2 made me shy and so I opted the easy but a little longer field-road route to #3. I spiked it from the road west of #3, but I felt slow in the field, and even when getting past others including some horses on the road past the mansion.

3-4 - I got on trails and eventually to the east-west trail midway to #4. Coming off a trail bend almost due north of #4, I found myself running up a spur and being a little unsure which reentrant, left or right was correct. I checked out the right one first and corrected to the top of the left and correct one. I didn't see the control so I went further and saw a distinct trail bend. I had to come back down the reentrant to find the control--it felt a little low to me but without taking time to pace count and check it from other points, I can't be sure of it. I lost another almost 2 minutes.

4-5 - I went straight and spiked it.

5-6 - Starting out, I used the trail to cross the ridge and avoided the grass in the power line cut. at the next reentrant, I followed the trail through the bend east, to get around the green. I may have gone too far doing this but eventually, I crossed the stream and went west on the trail on the other side. I took trails to attack from the grassy areas SE of the control and hit it well.

6-7 - Leaving #6, the trails didn't seem to match what I was seeing but I did pop out onto the road where I had intended. I went down the road to the second trail intersection, the own NE of the pond. On the trail for a little while, I came up the reentrant. In the reentrant, I felt I was too far left(south) so I went more to the bottom of it and followed it up. This got me too far right of the control. I hit the ride near the bend and had to go south on it to the control. I probably lost +1 minute.

7-8 - I stayed on the ride for a while as that is where my bearing pointed me. However, following a bearing should have taken me off the ride almost immediately. I actually got a little too far left and had to adjust right to go through the saddle and down to the control.

8-9 - I ran toward the stream intersection and crossed near it to hit the road about where the trail comes out. I was on the trail a bit, but ran the hillside, just trying to contour. I didn't see it, got past the control and too high. I could see the trail ahead so I corrected and lost about another +1 minute.

9-10 - I curved my way in, trying to keep climbing a little the whole way. This took me to some small bits of deadfall.

10-11 - I crossed the road and ran parallel to the ridge. Crossing the diagonal trail, I kept straight and saw a reeentrant on my left. I figured I knew where I was as I kept straight and climbed the ridge. I got to where I could see a trail ahead and read wrong reentrant on the map, thus mistaking myself to be past the control. I came back and slowly got due south of the control where the diagonal trail intersects the one that get close to the control. I hit it fine from there but probably lost +3 minutes.

11-12 - I ran straight. The woods were better for this on this leg. Once across the gully/stream, I could read the 2 reentrants and got into the right one that took me to the control.

12-13 - Startingdown the spur, I cut more right to avoid thicker woods, and to hit the trail. I didn't want to end up in the north part of the grassy fields--those were lower in elevation and I'd already been slowed by tall grasses elsewhere. I tried to go a straighter route over the ridge but my initial cut right had gotten me too far south. When I went straight from there, I got into the green above any of the white woods on the ridge. I realized this but had to commit to the route by then. I popped out NE of the mansion, and took trails until due east of the control. There was a pretty good set of elephant trails going across the grasses. I just had to pick the most efficient ones and I think I did that. In retrospect, I should have run this harder, but I was tired and felt I'd already blown my chances for a good run.

13-14 - I passed a family group of Yellow course walkers, and gave a decent effort. Again, if I'd pushed harder, I might have been able to edge Dave Pruden who it turned out was only 10 seconds ahead of me. My run did at least keep me ahead of Yuriy, but only by 10 seconds!

I wasn't that happy about my run but I was glad to get the physical training. I'll need to get more used to the leaves being on again.

Blue - Splits

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., to the trail along the school to Bradmore Dr. to Folkstone Rd. to Hartsdale Ave. to Heampstead Ave. to McKinley St. to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to the trail at Jefferson St. to Northfield Rd. It was about 52 F. I headed out into a cool, almost cold wind. I felt pretty lousy and heavy plodding my way along.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Wisconsin Ave. to Battery Ln. where I paused for an appointment, then to Cedar Ln., to the Elmhirst Trail., to the Rock Creek Trail, to Kensington Pkwy. to Connecticut Ave., to the Georgetown Branch Trail, to Woodmont Ave., to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was in the 60s F; very comfortable. Unlike last week, when I started this time, I felt a bit spritely. That was surprising since my left quadriceps were a little sore still, from bashing it into a metro station gate that suddenly closed when I was walking through. After my appointment I focused on using good running form. I felt stronger and more able to use good form. Going up the hills too work but it wasn't laborious. I look forward to loosing more weight and having more spritely days.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. in the dark. My headlamp battery had died but I had my flasher.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was about 43 F when I started. I wore a jacket and had a tailwind. Besides my clothes, I carried a laptop. As soon as I hit the CCT, I had a guy right behind me. He stayed with me all the way to Georgetown. There were many other riders out. One other guy passed us.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd. The conditions all around were favorable. Winds were blowing at my back a lot. I got passed at a stop sign in Georgetown, and got a pull to the Trestle bridge until I felt it wise and had to let go. A guy whom I'd passed when getting a pull came up and drafted off of me until Dalecarlia, and then he took over up to River Rd. Even then my strength held out most of the way home. It was in the 60s F too.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. There was a little bit of traffic along the way. I was able to ride okay with my shoulder hurting. I actually felt more spritely than expected after running the Billygoat. I'll probably feel worse tomorrow.

Event: Billygoat 2017
 

39th Annual Billygoat at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, NY. I flittered back and forth with different people and had a fun run. I was pretty tired and feeling like I was struggling early on. My quest for speed got me into a lack of concentration and loss of time in a few places. Several decisions were influenced by others being nearby and I wonder if I'd gone my own direction then, if I'd have been better off. Sometimes on my own, it helped. I did mess-up the long leg on my own, by missing a trail intersection that I was generally aiming for, coming off the first ridge. At least 3 times however, where I'd lost precise navigation, others being near me helped me out. Overall, I placed 32 in good company with better navigators nearby, ahead and behind. I had at least one fall, and after the race my upper body was feeling it without localizing it very clearly--it's my right shoulder and it makes it painful to lift my arms. The pain is tolerable.

S-1 - I read ahead on the map and identified #4 and #10 as possible skips. Later I overheard the suggestion of skipping #14 so I kept that in the back of my head for a look as I chased a group. I felt confident climbing past the rock walls that we were getting to #1.

1-2 - I was still chasing the crowd through a lot of this and checking off some things. Getting close on the climb, I wondered about the lower rocks which were less prominent on the map than they appeared to me in reality. I noticed that people were climbing better than me. Carrying 10 lbs. too much will do that as has my weakened right leg.

2-3 - Bernie was just behind me and Stephan not far ahead as I dog legged a very short bit to get out of #2. There were a lot of people around.

3-4 - This was a straightforward leg. I just felt weak going up. Some were going in from the right side but I saved a bit going straight.

4-5 - I found myself amongst Stephan, Glen Tryson, Bernie, and a few others. We moved well following the green to get near the marsh, then through it before we got too low. Mainly we followed the big cliff line into a reentrant and to the control.

5-6 - People started pulling away a bit. I made my way to the trail and started gaining some ground on Stephan. I left from the bend to the reenrant, and went right to the nice boulder.

6-7 - I was passing some slower runners and wondered how they'd gotten ahead. They probably skipped an earlier control. On the downslope, I felt much better so I got ahead of others and led a group around the green to the control.

7-8 - I was impatient and let my momentum into #7, carry me down around more of the green. In retrospect, dog-legging it is what I should have done, but I was too excited. I went through the green with others not far behind, including Izzy. Stephan caught up from further below and crossed my path behind me. I spiked the control but I could see Stephan come in from above on my left a few seconds earlier.

8-9 - I went down the reentrant, crossed the stream and took the trail briefly. I saw Stephan on the trail. I thought to save time cutting left contouring across the white woods. I climbed a bit too. I could see Izzy running faster on the trail below. Dropping at the end through some light green, Izzy went by ahead of me. I did see her chasing Stephan and leaving the trail where the marsh started. I stayed on thinking I'd be faster on the trail this time. I crossed the marsh quickly in a narrow spot but I don't think I made up much ground. It turned out to be farther than I thought it would getting to the control so I was glad to still have Stephan and Izzy in sight.

9-10 - I started reading the leg from #10 to #11 and climbed north, almost like I was skipping #10. I realized what I was doing and stopped. Bernie came up behind me and we'd already talked about skipping #14. We went straight and got sight of a young guy (Max's age?) doing some excellent navigation. Bernie said the kid was in his first year of orienteering! As we got to a trail, we could see him go straight up and we concluded that we needed to do that too. I came in a little from the right.

10-11 - I left #10 going straight since others were doing that. Stephan wasn't far ahead and moving downhill I was gaining. Suddenly a foot caught on a root or a vine and I fell forward. It didn't seem to be that bad of a fall. I got up quickly partly to ensure myself and others that I wasn't hurt. Only an hour or 2 after the race would this come back to me as a good bit of pain around the neck and shoulders. Moving again, I got across the marsh and to the long marshy reentrant with cliffs on the east. I stopped thinking about going down the linear marsh but visual inspection showed too many un-mapped trees fallen across it. I thought about running along the west side of the reentrant and before I finished, Bernie was caught-up. I laid out options and went with his veteran navigation to go across the reentrant and straight up the rocks. We could see others going south to get around them where it was less steep. Bernie was climbing better than I but we were moving pretty close to the same. Over the top we got on the trail just after Alex Jospe-- I was surprised to still see her at this point but she'd been gaining since #5 where she'd made a big error. The other people who'd gone south were still coming up the hill behind her on the trail and they'd lost time to Bernie and I. On the trail and moving downhill, I was feeling better. Alex went past a bend and I could see the control from there. I made up a few seconds catching her at the control.

11-12 - I was feeling energized by the run down to #11, so I carried that on up toward #12. It felt like cycling or when I run up the escalator after work. I went around the spur and thought it'd be closer.

12-13 - I moved okay at first, but slowed. I was expecting the control to be in the reentrant but I wasn't reading a small ridge right before it. Alex Jospe passed me and went right to the control.

13-15 - I started out of #13 pretty quickly. I only had a general idea of wanting to use the trail on the other side of the ridge I was on; the one that didn't go over the big hill near #1. Getting over the ridge, I wasn't disciplined. I ran north to get past the cliffs and cross without having to climb much. I needed to turn right more than I did. When I dropped to the trail I was past the intersection I wanted, but I didn't know it. I knew something was wrong when I hit a second trail soon afterward but I was really running to get away from others at that point. I stopped dead with the low vegetation in front of me, but I still thought I was south of the trail intersection I had aimed for. Glen Tryson came up from behind and assured me we were okay. I figured going straight I'd hit the hill near #1, but I didn't want to go that way. Unconfident of where I was, I did it anyway but pushed right a bit to reduce the climb. Glen was on my left and we diverged as we both got within sight of #1. I tried to correct my earlier error by getting on trails taking me due south of #15 and executed that well. I ate some endurance beans, ones I'd never used before, along the way. However, this involved more climbing along with more distance. When I finally got to the control, Glen, Bernie, and Daniel Schaublin were converging. I figure I lost about 3-4 minutes.

15-16 - We started mob orienteering leaving #15. I finished my endurance beans (sugary, and they jelled in my mouth tasting pretty good). I knew Glen, Bernie, and Daniel were all better navigators and in my current physical shape, they were climbing better than me too. Instead of taking the trail, I followed them down the cliffs and probably lost some more time. As it flattened out, I moved ahead and punched #16 first.

16-17 - I drank some kind of power aid twice and ate something before rushing out ahead of Daniel. I was a little torn between trying to leave the group behind, and running with a pack that I knew would do well. I pushed ahead, pausing right before getting to the control. I think Daniel almost passed me there.

17 - 18 - I went left around the knolls and felt like I knew what I was doing. I saw the control 50m ahead but had to cross some wet spots right before it. Daniel, Bernie, and Glen got there just behind me.

18-19 - I went straight at it but got a little to the left. I realized it and corrected after the marsh.

19-20 - I ran straight out thinking initially to go left around the knoll and along the marsh. That didn't make sense a few seconds later. I was still focusing too much on the group right behind me as I got to the intermittent trail. I even left that trail too early, at the first reentrant and apologized as I came running back. I still led going up but I wondered if I needed to be on the left or right side of a spur. I went left. Glen and Bernie came w/me but they realized very quickly it was to our right and higher up. Daniel had taken a more direct route so he got there first.

20-21 - We went around the rim of a reentrant and that got us slightly off line. Daniel led. I was thinking to take a straighter route so when we went down a rocky reentrant, I got confused and said so. I didn't realize we were much further right--just brain dead and racing more than navigating. We cut left but could see others below to our right. We ended up dropping too low and getting too close to the marsh before coming back up at Glen and Bernie's recommendation.

21-22 - All 4 of us had thought going straight (the left leg of the fork) would be best. Daniel and Glen led. Daniel was pulling right a bit, especially near the top. Glen and I got very close to the marsh tip after getting over the ridge. I moved ahead from there but once again stopped just before seeing the control. Daniel came in from my right and punched ahead of me. Bernie and Glen had drifted further left a little more behind.

22-23 - We were headed downhill through some really nice open woods. It seemed that Daniel had picked up the pace a little. I initially chased but somewhere along the way, I went faster and pulled ahead. I felt like I was reading things okay but I wasn't careful about it. This time at least, it worked. I got in sight of the control just before Jeff Saeger was leaving it. I felt a bit guilty leaving others but mostly, I was trying to make up for lost time and just do the best I could. I figured Daniel was close by at least, and would keep up. It reminded me of many other races in years past, running with Daniel and Bernie. It was nice to have Glen in the group too.

23-24 - I thought there was a chance to catch up to Jeff so I pushed on. This was not a good way to go about things. I couldn't settle my head on reading and seeing very much. I thought to stay high, thinking that what were rock walls on the map, might be trails--my eyes wouldn't focus that well. I ended up going south along the rock wall like Jeff did. Daniel passed me briefly, until I cross the wall. We ended up on the trail along the stream. Jeff could be seen further ahead than he was before, crossing on a bridge, and I wasn't reading that so well. At least once across, I could get myself up the hill to the right place. At the end I seemed to make up some time on Jeff and Daniel was close by.

24-25 - We ran along the wall as Jeff disappeared. I contoured a little and hit the trail. This was confusing since it was so much like the finish from the US Champs, but in an entirely different place. Once to the road, I could see the control, with Jeff being uncatchable.

25-F - I ran with some pushing but didn't go all out. I didn't see the finish and was distracted by people in the parking lot; just me rushing too much.

Billygoat - Splits

Event: QOC Patapsco Granite
 

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. My backpack was full with dinner. I had intended to run a little but ran out of time. I've been pretty tired so doing less is probably good too.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Wisconsin Ave. to Battery Ln. where I paused for an appointment, then to Cedar Ln., to the Elmhirst Trail., to the Rock Creek Trail, to Kensington Pkwy. to Connecticut Ave., to the Georgetown Branch Trail, to Woodmont Ave., to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was around 60 F and windy when I started and I felt tired and weak. After my appointment it was less windy and I found that I felt better. I decided not to bail out, and to do my planned route; a route I had done about a month ago, and feeling similarly. My left foot felt like I'd been running more lately; the ball of that foot didn't feel good when I landed.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. in the dark. I had a few traffic stops.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I wasn't sure at first since I had some resistance early, but by the time I was passing Fletcher's Boathouse, it was clear that I had a tailwind. I rode alone passing others quickly. It was cooler (low 60s F) with less pollen in the air and in my eyes.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd. Winds were blowing pretty hard at times. I was +3 minutes slower getting to Georgetown and I wasn't obstructed by traffic much. Oddly, there were some places where it was at my back or side, and thus negligible or helping. Mostly though I was riding into it. Trees and hills provided some protection. I got passed not far out of Georgetown and at River Rd., but I also pulled another and dropped him before Fletcher's Boathouse. I rode harder than I planned. This was partly because when the wind wasn't obstructing me, I felt I needed to take advantage of it.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Wisconsin Ave. to Norwood Dr., through Norwood Park on the trail to the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT), to Woodmont Ave., to the Bethesda Metro Station. A storm had just missed Bethesda but it was windy still. I got off to a faster start than expected since my legs felt tired. My right leg was feeling dead when I lifted the knee but I could use the hamstring to pull me forward. It was also humid with dusty pollen in the air, so I sweat a bit.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. It was a little windy and my legs were tired.