Training Log Archive: Nadim

QOC: Fountainhead, VA, Blue course. I enjoyed Jon Torrance's course. Though there was some downfall, the woods were mostly nice. I was a little sore from racing the day before but more rusty than that affected me. Worse yet were errors linked to the 20-year old map. Probably affecting me most of all was that my late start coupled with warm weather orienteering meant that there was no water left for me. Normally the amounts set out (which ran out at all 3 stops) would be sufficient for a QOC meet though there was a big gap between the 4th and 12th control. See the Split List.

Blue - Splits

PGRC Age & Sex Handicapped Race. I woke-up this morning thinking I'd do a moderate run then help Heidi and Dave Onkst move but upon reading my e-mail I realized my running club was doing a low-key competition in Greenbelt Park (Sweetgum parking to the campground road and back--a hilly but paved route). Unprepared, I ran anyway. The oldest starters (M73-M74) had a lead of 10 minutes on me. Starting 1 minute ahead of the fastest group (M18-M37) and doing 5:48 for the first mile, I caught and passed most everyone before getting half way. I worried while climbing the hill before the turn around that I misunderstood where the turnaround was--no one was coming back until right at the top. At the half-way turnaround I found only Peggy, Kirk and George were ahead of me. Passing Peggy and George on the uphill part of the return, I closed and caught Kirk with half a mile to go. Being about 50, he had started 2 or 3 minutes ahead of me. Unfortunately my recent lack of training and consequent lack of being in shape showed--Kirk pushed the pace and I faded to take second. Two of three days I missed this week were due to working late.

From the parking lot of the UMD track, out and back to Cherry Hill Rd. via the Paint Branch Trail. It was wet out with a light rain and in the upper 70's to low 80's. Available half-mile splits: 322, 316, 321, 322, then to the turn-around 1:47 (21:59), to the mile marker 1:46, 3:26, 3:29, 3:22, 3:29. My legs felt heavier and heavier as cummulative effects of the last few days set in.

In Catoctin Park from the Charcoal Trail Head, practice wandering around lost. Peggy and I ran together with only a park map and water packs just wandering, field checking and in general keeping moving the whole time to get some endurance and muscle tone for off-trail running. The woods were very nice and should be mapped for an A-meet. The park had many boulder/cliff features on the broad mountainside reminicent of French Creek but with more reentrants, ditches and knolls. We spent most of the time east of the Park Central Road passing near Chimney Rock and Wolf Rock. West of the road had more downfall but visibility was great on both sides. It was warm out and briefly showered.