Training Log Archive: Nadim

Pine Grove, Prince William Forest, VA. I warmed-up to see if I'd be able to do the Summer Short Series training event setup by Michael Laraira. While mornings tend to be worse, I was in pain all down my left leg while just standing in the parking lot waiting--I sat down. The warm-up helped and after the restroom stop, I got going.

Pine Grove, Prince William Forest, VA. Michael Laraira had setup a 6.5K course with 2 loops to allow one to cutoff as needed. Just driving to the park at 9:45am it was already 88 F. At least the humidity wasn't high. I didn't need high humidity to make me sweat. Looking at the map for it, I got started awkwardly, thinking the start was at the restroom rather than at the picnic table we were at. The finish was at the restroom. Valerie Meyer had arranged for epunching! The box I punched to start was covered up the rope tying it in place, so I didn't read that it said Finish on it. I'd been told that there were mapped trail and unmapped trail versions of the map printed on either side of the paper. I'd forgotten about that as I got going and felt I was already starting late. I randomly opened the side with trails (The other side had a few trails too but not as many--only one symbol had been hidden). The map was also the old version from 2007. Valerie hadn't realized, and I had updated the map a lot just last fall or 2017.

My start was good. I went to #1 directly, descending the reentrant rather than attacking from the trail. I paused before seeing it ahead a ways ahead behind the fallen log of the unmapped rootstock. We were using 6-inch controls.

I walked up the hill leaving #1 and since it was thick, I walked a bit more getting to #2, spiking it dead on the nose. It was on the mapped ditch, right at the intersection with the unmapped trail (I'd added the trail to the map last fall).

I ran straight toward #3, walking up the reentrant after crossing the stream. I passed Mary Snieckus as she got too high in the vicinity of the control. I was again fortunate to have seen the control from far off.

I got to the road going toward #4, then got off crossing the saddle rather than go around the ridge. I dropped from the saddled and recognized the stream bend at the bottom. Kathleen Lennon had gone around the ridge and was now a little behind me. From there I went up the stream to the control at the ditch junction.

Going to #5, I did benefit from the trails. I initially got on the one above #4, but rather than zig-zag through all the trail bends, I cut the corners. I eventually left a large trail at a bend. I lost track of where I was a few times when crossing ridges and more trails. However I was reading enough to know when I was coming-up on a particular knoll before a trail. The area is vague but having been in the area for mapping/course setting enough times, I had a feel for it. I corrected my bearing a little and crossed the 2 trails close together. I had been reading the feature incorrectly in regards to which side of the hill it was on. In my head I tried to make an unmapped ditch fit the shape of the gully that the control was at the end of. Not finding the control at the top of the ditch, I realized the mental error and went on right to the control, spiking it.

I walked most of the way to #6 since it was hilly with a good amount of downfall. I pulled-up a little early on the mapped ditch, which was deep. I had mistaken it for the gully further on.

I went slowly to #7, but on a straight route. I'd lost track of which reentrant I was crossing but recovered with virtually no time lost.

I'd never been to the ditches at #8 that I can remember, not even for updating the map. It was green and relatively far away from Pine Grove. It was a good control location. Though reading the ditches well. I almost didn't see the bag hanging on the other side of the tree from my approach.

I went wide right toward #9 since it was green and hillier going straight. There was a lot of unmapped deadfall to get past but eventually it cleared enough to run. I got into the reentrant #9 was in, just about the time that Peggy and Tom Strat were coming out. They told me that the location was just ahead but that no one had found it. I went there and similarly didn't find it. There was a newly fallen tree. Steve Mones, who'd come to the Wheaton event the last week, was there, with Amy Louden. They were navigating together.

Leaving the area, I went wide right toward #10. Half way there, I thought recognized a reentrant feature running counter to the grain of others in the area--I'd used it for control locations more than once when setting here. However, leaving it I was not seeing what I expected. I I'd misread the reentrant and was actually reading the map for the next leg! There were a lot of ditches. Peggy was in the area. I felt I was too high so I dropped to the left, and went right to the control! I was lucky, but felt there was no time lost.

For #11, previously #6 and ending the first loop, I walked upward but drifted left. Things weren't matching-up. I had drifted left. I saw the saddled up to my right so I climbed. Peggy made-up ground on me, having gone more directly.

I ran straight down toward #12 and spiked it going through the mapped green. I recalled that it was old deadfall and not much of an obstacle any more. Peggy had gone around it to my right but I think I was quicker.

Leaving #12, the start of a second loop, I got going quickly but was moving in the wrong direction. I got all the way down the stream to #16, fortunately only 125m away or so. I'd heard Peggy calling me at one point but it sounded more like 'Go!' than 'You're going the wrong way'. Realizing my error at the numbered control, I corrected, crossing the creek, going around the knoll, and up the reentrants. I spiked the control though I was incorrectly thinking the reentrant would be more distinct than it appeared.

Climbing to #14 was slowish. In my head, I had the impression that I was further south and would be crossing a trail. I kept going. As I crossed a gully, I saw Peggy emerging from the other side where the control was on a ditch.

For #15, I chased Peggy back across the gully the knolls and saddles. The 2007 map in this area incorrectly showed half contours, making it appear twice as steep as it was. Finishing up, I realized I'd climbed a contour too high since I descended to the control.

For #16, I was trying to use the reentrant to take me to the stream. There was an unmapped stream near the bottom and I started to mistake this for the mapped stream. The 2 form a junction lower down, where the control was on a ditch on the other side. Peggy had gone more on bearing and was faster.

For #17, I just ran up along the stream that I'd run down along earlier when starting out this loop (with an error). It seemed that I made up only a second or 2 on Peggy.

I had a straighter line going toward #18. I made-up ground on Peggy.

I went straight leaving for #19, and I passed Peggy. Peggy seemed to go to the left behind me, so she could use the trail. I did a lot of walking up the reentrant, and near the trail crossing, I picked the correct left reentrant ahead. As I got to the trail, I saw Peggy on my left running toward me. I went on up confidently and saw the control further up.

I went almost straight going to #20. My aiming off got me to the road and then I ran along it to the control. I was worried that Peggy would catch me, so I was moving about as quickly as I was going to, being tired in the heat. The control was easy, just off the road along a depression.

Going back to the road, I ran toward #21. I got to the curve, and then went in. I thought I might aim-off and then turn left or right to the feature on the small ridges perpendicular to me. I went straight and was happy to have spiked it dead-on!

Out to the trail, I mustered a jog back, I realized the finish wasn't at the picnic table but was still confused about the start where I'd punched the finish to start. I hesitated in the field, then punched where I had started.

This was a nice training event! The woods were not so bad. Michael didn't have the benefit of having the green mapped very well. He used terrain features well and in ways previous course setters here hadn't--that was nice. I know what I'll need to do next time I update the map.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I was feeling sore and tired starting out but got moving pretty well. I'm not sure if I passed someone or got caught but I pulled a guy for several miles to Fletcher's Boathouse. He pulled for me into Georgetown. The winds seemed calm, but riding up 15th St. NW, which is somewhat against the general direction, there was a headwind.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I had to go home early to pickup Samantha, who had felt ill. As I started out, I got behind an older rider at the light on 15th St. He pulled me around the Tidal Basin until I got onto the Rock Creek Trail. That was nice since there was a headwind and I felt I wasn't rested since riding in earlier. After that there was a lot of cyclist and runner traffic on the trail, but almost all of it was going the other direction. I took my time, spinning more. It was in the low 80s F when I finished with low humidity.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. There were headwinds. I rode alone.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Edgemoor Ln., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. There were mixed winds. After Georgetown, I picked-up a trail of cyclists but as I tired after Dalecarlia. I got passed by them and cruised alone into Bethesda. There I picked-up dinner and rode home slowly--I was carrying it with one hand in a paper bag, and riding with the other.

I had time to run but when it came down to it, I decided that it wasn't wise. I'm feeling radiculopathy down my left leg. That makes it feel like I'll pull something extending my leg forward when running.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I had a tailwind and rode by myself. It was humid; a little of the trail was still damp from an earlier rain. I was carrying my laptop and felt tired.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I carried my laptop. It was good to have a tailwind. I pulled another guy for a few miles.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. A forecasted tailwind was as predicted. Though a guy passed me on a hill before I'd even gotten to Huntington Pkwy. I loosened up and with the wind at my back I got moving on the downhills. I slowed a little on the flats after Fletcher's Boathouse, then with a mile to go into Georgetown, a trio of riders, making a lot of excited noise, passed me an others. I kept a strong pace up to about the Jefferson Memorial. I was most happy that my back held up through the ride. I had some aches later but was okay. It''ll be a while before I know if it's still degenerating or settling-in.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I knew I'd have a headwind going home so I set out. At first, I hardly felt it. I rounded the Jefferson Memorial pretty quickly getting around the cars and other riders. I intentionally let up on Ohio Drive where I expected the wind to be the worst. It wasn't so bad. The trail was busy getting to Georgetown, prompting some stops and slow-downs to pass or get through tunnels. I caught some people in and outside of Georgetown and pretty soon was leading at least 2 other riders. I faded going up to the MacArthur Blvd. tunnel. A young woman whom I'd passed took over. I stayed in her draft until Dorset Ave. where she broke-off. It was nice chatting with some other cyclists at a long light at Bradley Blvd.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. I ran out to place a control for the Summer Short Series training event this weekend. I'd forgotten to place it yesterday. I wasn't watching the map closely enough so at a trail bend, I found what looked like a trail that I planned to take but it was closed off. I took it but soon realized, I left the main trail at the wrong place and I was on the beginnings of a ditch. I corrected and got to the control that I needed without further incident, then I ran back on trails.

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. After lunch with Peggy, Samantha, Gary Smith Karla Hulett, and Francis Hogle, I went back to the park to pickup controls and streamers. It was very humid though not too hot. I sweat a lot. I was able to jog through most of the legs. I was worried about that with my back but it held up pretty well. My right leg was feeling tired or sore. I didn't have the extension problems (due to lower back issues) with me left leg that have been bothering me the last several days. Right as I was finishing-up, I got passed on a paved trail by what I would guess were 1 of 2 hispanic soccer players.