Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: QOC Seneca Creek
 

QOC: Seneca Creek State Park, MD. We started from the Bluejay Pavilion today. It was in the mid-40s F and raining. There was a surprising amount of snow around the parking lot but none in the woods that mattered for me. The trouble I had was with foggy eyeglasses and I think that was the main cause of a mispunch. Many controls were set close together. 'd just read the feature incorrectly on the one I'd missed, and there happened to be a control where I'd memorized the control to be.

S-1 - The forest near the parking lot seemed to have gotten greener so I ran around it to the right, rather than try to go straight. I spiked it.

1-2 - I was glad to see that the power lines had been mowed. There were some nasty looking thorny vine stalks where I ran across, just below the power lines. It was greener getting into the forest, but not hard. Next were what looked like unmapped long depressions filled with rainwater. I ran around them, saw the biggest rootstock and found the control there.

2-3 - I went between the power lines and was glad to see that a path of sorts got through the green. Staying low in the forest, I ran around deadfall and adjusted bearing after the creek bend to hit the control. I struggled to read the map in the circle but the control was pretty visible.

3-4 - I started climbing steeper than straight to get around the green. It seemed that I had to adjust a bit more to the left to get to the visible control

4-5 - I ran and walked up the hill to the reentrant and the road intersection.

5-6 - I took the road over the dam, left it from the curve, and crossed the reentrant to the visible rootstock.

6-7 - I ran up to the trail, but rather than go over the hill and through the forest, I used the dam spillway and trail along the lake. I'd misread the leg, and went almost directly to control 8 (I had let myself get distracted with a new rootstock near 8, but I should have known it was too far off to the right). I didn't realize I'd missed #7 yet. Next I ran directly to #7. Michael Stasiowski was just coming to it as I'd punched, and yelled out that I'd taken #7 and #8 in the wrong order. I probably lost 3-4 minutes.

7-8 - I ran back to #8 and punched. It helped that I'd been there already.

8-9 - I reversed most of the route I'd taken to #8 from #6 earlier, past the lake and dam spillway. However once overt the road, I was more to the right. I did use the trail for a short while but departed it when I thought I'd gotten high enough. A rootstock close to the trail ahead was distracting me. I couldn't see the one lower where I thought it'd be. Somewhere along that point, I saw Michael Stasiowski coming in from my left. He'd been on the trail longer. He got there first.

9-10 - I took off, as much as I could waddle up the hill, and crested it first. I hesitated, not seeing the control ahead. I read the map and realized more about where it should be. By that time, Michael had gotten ahead and again reached the control before me.

10-11 - I discounted the left route across the bridge over Seneca Hwy. due to the extra climb--I feel slow on climbs. In retrospect, that might have been a better route. Going down through Long Draught Branch and under Great Seneca Hwy. I lead Michael for a while. I thought he'd pass me on the climb on the trail, but he didn't. I kept going and only cut across the last tip of the disc golf course. As I was doing this, I saw Michael ahead and higher to my left. I got back on the trail but cut down quickly to the creek. I hit it at the crossing point for the Seneca Greenway Trail, and Michael was just ahead there. I passed on the other side, already having decided to stay low along the creek. I was surprised to find the trails. It wasn't there when I'd mapped the area. I used the trails to get to the big reentrant leading SW to the power lines. I climbed there with Michael behind me nearby. I walked up to the power line ride at the spur and reentered the woods at the trail head there. Going on bearing, I spiked the control. Michael was nearby just behind me.

11-12 - Though I suspected Michael was running Blue, I still felt the pressure to keep ahead of him. I left #11 quickly but still having a good idea tto double-back the way I'd come, and into the power line clearing. I think MIchael's Blue course finally took him elsewhere, after 5 controls together. I had run well using a different trail to get into the powerline ride. In the ride I was running fast and my glasses were still foggy. I read the control to be in the reentrant so when I saw a control there from the edge of the field, I didn't think anything would be wrong going to it. Other people were nearby and I didn't look back to see if Michael was still on my route so I moved-on without checking the code. I'd been checking most if not all of the codes earlier. Checking would have kept me from mispunching and the control I should have gone to was so nearby, that there would have been virtually no time difference.

12-13 - I stayed low, crossed the creek a few times, and to to the parking lot near Riffleford Rd. I used the trail along the main creek, and left it from a bend. I struggled to cross the smaller side stream because the far bank was steep and muddy. I saw the control on the spur, a family, and others closing in on it.

13-14 - I went mostly straight, and again saw many people coming and going from the spur with the cliff.

14-15 - I thought to go left and use the bridge, but once low, the creek looked not to bad to cross. I got to the observation tower and ran around the right side of the marsh. The trail had been improved with a new boardwalk. I should have stayed along the fence where there is a ride of sorts, but I used the trail until getting past the crescent formline. I did hug the fence approaching the control and attacked/saw it from the small ridge.

15-16 - I struggled with the mud but slowly got under the bridge and into the ditch on the other side.

16-17 - I went straight, staying on the right side of the fallen trees. The light green expanded slightly but was fine going through, especially as I walked uphill. The finish was placed in the wrong spot from how the map was printed but that didn't seem to matter.

I enjoyed going out this day. I wasn't cold when running, and each time I crossed a creek or splashed through icy water, my feet warmed-up again. I wasn't fast running but felt I did okay physically (5.36 miles, 230m climb). The mispunch was disappointing, and again a combination of my glasses fogging in the cold rain, and controls being close together.

Red - Splits

Event: Cancelled - QOC Patapsco Granite
 

From the Bethesda county pool parking lot, the Capital Crescent Trail to the Little Falls Trail, to Massachusetts Ave., to the Capital Crescent Trail, to Dorset Rd., to the Little Falls Trail, to Willet Pkwy., to Hillmead Rd., then back to the Bethesda county pool parking lot. I got a late start, after doing work earlier and then giving Max his first driving lesson. It was dark when I started. I tried keeping an easy pace starting out. In the second mile, I picked up the pace not knowing it. The construction on the Little Falls Trail in the 3rd mile was the same as it had been so I moved slowly on the dirt and rough mulch in the dark. From there until the end it was generally hillier and uphill. It was 46 F when I finished. Since I wore full sweats, I was fairly sweaty when I finished.

From Ray's Meadow Park and the Ohr Kodesh Congregation parking lot (near East West Hwy in Rock Creek Park, MD), I ran up the Rock Creek Trail to the trail intersection with Kensington Pkwy., then ran back to East-West Hwy., then back to the OHR Kodesh Congregation parking lot. The sky had darkened early due to imminent rain clouds. I wanted to get going before it started, even with Max wanting to try out his new driver's learner's permit that he got this afternoon. It was 46 F. I ran in shorts and a sweat jacket, but had no gloves, and was comfortable. My running was not smooth. I felt sleepy tired starting out. That got to feeling a little better but by the last half mile, I could tell my left leg was more tired than my right leg, and I was sleepy tired again--odd. I pushed more with my right leg which is weaker, and that seemed to rest my left enough to rest it and speed up. As I started driving away, the first rain drops fell.

From Northfield Rd. to Custer Rd., to Wilson Ln., to Maiden Ln., to Whittier Blvd., to Woodhaven Blvd., to Bradley Blvd., to Valley Rd., to Temple St. to Ridge Rd., to Ridge Pl., to Greentree Rd., to Heampstead Rd., to Sonoma Rd., to Grant St. to Northfield Rd. It was in the low 50s F, starting out and in the upper 40s when I finished. My arms were a bit cold in a t-shirt and shorts again, but I was dressed appropriately otherwise. I even sweat a little. This route is hillier than most that are local. It may even be understated. Most of the time I moved okay but never felt strong.

25 sit-ups.

From Northfield Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd. via Greenwich Park, to Cheshire Dr.. to Grosvenor Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail at Fleming Ave. to Old Georgetown Rd. to Northfield Rd. via Greenwich Park. Like most everyone else around here, I enjoyed the warmer weather today--54 F as I ran in just shorts and a t-shirt. Almost all of the snow and ice was gone. I felt that I was moving okay most of the time, and not slowing too much on the few hills. I was going to do a shorter route but when I forgot to take the long way around to start it out, I figured I'd make it up on the far end. I lost some time turning around twice when I realized I'd missed the turn. More people were out than usual even though it was dark. I have been feeling some lower back pain again yesterday and today, on my right side, and felt it toward the end of this run.

25 sit-ups.

Samantha and I went for a walk. From Northfield Rd., to Aberdeen Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Moorland Rd., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Kennedy Dr., to Dorset Ave., to the Little Falls Trail, to Hillandale Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Arlington Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. It was in the mid-50s F when I started. There was a tiny bit of running on leftover ice in places but more wet spots. I still wore sweats but not the gloves or hat. I felt sluggish and weak for the first 2 miles. In contrast to when I ran this route with a tailwind last week, I'd been about a minute faster for the same 2 miles. However, I started feeling better after 3 miles. A few times as I hurried to scoot between pedestrian and/or car traffic I felt my old stride kick-in and it it didn't hurt. I finished 10 seconds slower overall.

25 sit-ups.

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., to the trail along the middle school to Ridge Pl. to Greentree Rd., to to Bradmore Dr. to Ewing Dr./Roosevelt Rd., to Garfield St., to Huntington Pkwy., to Hampden Ln., to Lambeth St., to Moorland Ln., to Charlcotte Rd., to Northfield Rd. Resting my legs above my head last night helped with the blood flow and made my legs feel better after the orienteering, but I was still tired today; even while starting out. I was slowed down by ice and old walked on snow in places. The worst was along Old Georgetown Rd., again, but I did get to use the bike lane eventually, and that had been plowed. It was in the upper 30s F.

25 situps.

Event: QOC Hemlock
 

QOC: Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, VA. We started from the Kincheloe Soccer Park - grassy but muddy fields that I'd only run through when doing an EX2 race a long time ago. I ran the Red course which unfortunately, was still about the right distance for me. The hills took it out of me this day. I felt about as tired at the beginning of course, as at the end. The early part involved more climbing. I made one big mistake and that was one I shouldn't have.

S-1 - I mostly ignored the trail, cutting above the first reentrant but over the one before the control. I wasn't sure I was reading the contours well. They seemed more generalized.

1-2 - I stayed to the right, using the ridge. Going right past #14, I cut through the green which wasn't bad. I descended a reentrant, crossed a large one and went over a spur to drop right in. I might have gotten a little to the left if the greener didn't encourage me.

2-3 - I went over to the right of straight, using the reentrants. Going over the ridge, I was a little to the left at the end, but close enough to see it.

3-4 - I went just right of straight at first, passing near but not seeing #7. I gained on another guy ahead of me by not having to go as far down, and climb back up as we crossed reentrants. I did the same attacking, and spiked it, ahead of the other guy.

4-5 - I ran straight but came left of the control. I didn't see any of the other mapped rootstocks and was left of where the control was. The guy I'd seen at #4 started left of me but when he didn't see me finding it, he cut right, behind and above me. I had cut right by that time too, and saw the control. I was able to get there first.

5-6 - I went straight, but I read the contours wrong. The other guy passed me along the way but was more to the right. Reading them backwards, I was anticipating a spur, not a reentrant. I hit the trail beyond, and climbed more heading to high ground. I then read the control to be in a reentrant. This didn't make sense so I turned back, almost hit the trail again before dropping down to finally hit it. I'd lost about 4 minutes. My GPS track shows that I was incredibly close when I'd missed initially.

6-7 - I tried to go straight. On the last reentrant, I couldn't see a ditch ahead of me, except off to the right. I went there and it was it. I'd drifted left.

7-8 - I went fairly straight until past #3 which I did not see. Afterward, I dropped and contoured around the reentrant system. Popping over the spur, I spiked #8.

8-9 - I went right of straight, using the reentrant system to get to the trail. Crossing the trail further to the right, I made my way slowly to the saddle above. Descending a big reentrant, I went past some mapped boulders, then crossed the stream. From there, I angled up and spiked it.

9-10 - I started out straight, past the training equipment, the power lines, and then down to cross the big reentrant. As I climbed out toward a saddle, I confused myself thinking I was heading toward the saddle to the east. I cut left expecting to have to cross a hill and another small reentrant, but seeing the green of the mountain laurel, I followed the edge and it took me right to the control. In other words, I'd executed the route efficiently but didn't realize I was doing it--that was somewhat lucky.

10-11 - I ran straightish, but contouring a little. I went past the lodge that we'd hosted many winter events in, but I did that on the right side of it. It seemed more efficient to not drop down and have to climb through the green, so I used the parking area to drop in from above. That route wasn't so good either. Some ropes above knee height were in my way that I had to cross multiple times. The green wasn't so easy to get through either. Once at the powerline ride, I could run again.

11-12 - I used the power line ride to get to the road. At first I wasn't sure how to do the rest. Rounding the out of bounds corner I stayed on the leg line until the first reentrant system, then climbed the longer straighter reentrant towards #8. I got on the ride until I crested the hill. From there it was a nice run downhill on the flattish ridge. I paid close attention to my compass. The snow may have helped me see the shape of the hills better than I otherwise might have. I passed Francis Hogle, and Hideharu Tanaka, before pausing above the control. I couldn't see it ahead despite good visibility the recognizing the bottoming-out of the hill. Going a little further, I saw it just to my left.

12-13 - This was mostly straight. I did aim-off a little to the left to save climb, but the unmapped deadfall forced me back to straight. I spiked it.

13-14 - I climbed up to the trail, turned left, but then veered off to the ride. From there I went to the reentrant junction and then attacked to spike it. I saw Mark Mace along the way who asked me how I was doing. I was tired but said okay, thinking that the finish was near.

14-15 - I used the ridge that I had between #1 and #2. Crossing a reentrant and then the trail I drifted to the left side of the ridge. That took me into the deadfall, which wasn't bad. I hooked right at the end and spiked it. Like at #5, I wasn't sure that the control was on the mapped rootstock. It seemed in the center of the circle on the formline.

15-16 - I debated dropping right away but the vegetation didn't look so good. Going straight, I crossed the little stream with a splash that got both feet wet for the first time. I was pretty slow crossing the hard frozen snow at the end. This was mostly being tired.

Red - Splits

From the intersection of Elmhirst Ln. and Elmhirst Dr., to Elmhirst Pkwy. to the Elmhirst Trail, to Cedar Ln., to Beach Dr., to Stoneybrook Dr., and back. It was 28 F. Since it was still icy, even the wet places I saw the night before, I ran in Rock Creek Park again. The temperature was in the upper 20s F. and there was some wind sometimes. I was tired and had stayed inside all day, finishing the making of a video from our summer vacation. I wasn't looking forward to going out when I did. A part of my apprehension was the Achilles cramping that I felt after my run yesterday--I had none of that tonight. I kept a comfortable pace, even when two other runners passed me in the first mile.

From the intersection of Elmhirst Ln. and Elmhirst Dr., to Elmhirst Pkwy. to the Elmhirst Trail, to Cedar Ln., to Beach Dr., to Knowles Ave. and back. Once again, I thought that this run would be a little shorter than it was, and coincidentally, the out and back route measures right at 5.0 miles on GMap Pedometer. I picked it to stay on the road as much as possible, and to avoid the snow and ice. The first and last miles were a little slow because of snow and ice on the Elmhirst Trail. The closed-off Beach Dr. was basically dry with a few wet places. It was 34 F when I ran but later this night all of those wet spots turned icy. I ran okay, but was feeling tired at times. Starting out, I'd felt bloated and I weighed-out heavy. I've found that running on ice and snow or frozen streets can sometimes affect my knees. I felt some of that this week but not during this run. Instead, after finishing I felt something new in my right Achilles tendon which is worrisome. After stretching and starting to drive, I had involuntary contractions in that tendon, like a cramp does. I was able to head off what seemed like some real pain by relaxing, pulling up my toe, and adjusting my foot, but I felt if more later at home. I could have been dehydrated but that'd be odd since my larger muscles didn't cramp.

25 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., to the trail along the middle school to Bradmore Dr. to Ewing Dr./Roosevelt Rd., to Grant St. to Northfield Rd. Sleet and freezing rain had fallen the night before along with some snow. Streets had been plowed but virtually all the sidewalks were not cleared. To make matters worse, plows on Old Georgetown Rd. had thrown the snow onto the sidewalks. I moved pretty slowly in the first mile and eventually decided to cross all 6 lanes to run on the others side. That part is considered a part of the Bethesda Tolley Trail and the walkway/path was cleared by National Institute of Health (NIH). After passing W. Cedar Ln., I got onto the new cycling lanes they'd added in the last year (after a boy had died cycling on the busy road). After getting off of Old Georgetown Rd., I was mostly on plowed backstreets and I could resume a better pace. I wore my Ice Bugs with the nubby spikes which helped me in the snows and on occasional ice but they were less necessary elsewhere. They felt like they lacked shock absorption on the pavement, even if they did give me steady foot assurance of not slipping and falling. It was just below freezing starting out. I felt weak and took it easy.

The snow on our driveway and walk was really ice, or in some places, slush. I couldn't get under it without first cracking it up. Max finished it off.

25 situps. Afterward, I had spaghetti which Samantha made for us.

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Alta Vista Rd., to Linden Ave., to Pooks Hill Rd., to Rockville Pike. and the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Maple Ridge Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I felt tired starting from the first mile. I didn't feel better during the run, however, I ran a minute faster on the same loop than I did 9 days ago. It was in the mid to low 30s F and well past sunset when I started.

25 situps

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Kennedy Dr., to Dorset Ave., to the Little Falls Trail, to Hillandale Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Arlington Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I worked late so I got started running late. Though the wind had slowed by that time, it was still going well. It was at my back as I was going downhill for 2 miles, then I ran into it the whole way back where not protected. As can be expected, I was fast for the first 2 miles but slow coming back. I was partly sore from recent runs. It was in the low 40s or upper 30s F during the run and it was nice to have on lighter clothing.

25 situps.

Deerwood, MD. From the southern parking lot at Lake Needwood, I ran clockwise around the lake 2 times. I took differing parallel routes in some places. Rain had been predicted, and the whole day before I'd gotten on the road, it had not happened. Peggy had warned me to get running before it came and light showers started not long before I drove into the park. There was ice and mud. The west side didn't have a lot of it, but the east side was pretty much either muddy or snowy. I had to walk in a few places despite having my Ice Bugs on with the small spikes. My legs were a little sore from the run last night. I need to get back into the park to update the map--a project I've been putting on a lower priority while mapping other places.

Vienna, VA. After visiting my mom and helping her with her tax return, I made my way out to the W&OD trail. The Vienna Community Center that I started from had been rebuilt and looked pretty new. The W&OD Trail was about the same. I started from where the trail intersects Park St. SE. The run was almost all gently downhill on the way out. I didn't know my pace until the first mile mark. I turned around at Hunter Mill Rd. and was glad to learn along the way that I wasn't slowing too much. The long straight stretches sometimes seemed grinding as I made my way up the grade but other times I was in the zone moving past powerline tower after tower consciously like my head was moving the towers. That's saying a lot for what is a historically slow pace but I haven't been running this pace for this distance for about a year. It was 36 F. The trail was mostly dry. I saw a few people on the trail and others back inside restaurants that were along the trail, eating. Today was the first day in a while that they were open; having been closed to slow the COVID-19 pandemic.

Freezing rain was falling starting right from the morning when Max and I had an appointment for his driver's learner's permit test. Though we'd gotten to the MVA, unfortunately he couldn't take the test. A certified translation of the adoption documents we'd brought was required so it'll be rescheduled. I worked on updating some maps and later helped Max hang a dartboard and a cabinet for it. It didn't seem to make sense as late as it was and as slippery as it was to go out for a run after that.

From the intersection of Elmhirst Ln. and Elmhirst Dr., to Elmhirst Pkwy. to the Elmhirst Trail, to Cedar Ln., to the Rock Creek Trail, to the I-495 underpass, and back. It was 28 F. I didn't feel very strong but I was moving better than other runs this week, on this flatter ground. I felt somewhat winded. Coming back, I worked on my stride and that kept me moving well. On the run I'd seen 2 runners and at least 2 walkers. The rest were in cars.

25 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Moorland Ln., to McKinley St. to Old Georgetown Rd., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, around the south side of NIH, to Jones Bridge Rd., to Maryland Ave., to Fairfield Dr., to Lynbrook Dr., to Chestnut St., to Kentbury Dr., to Chelton Rd., to East-West Hwy., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Moorland Ln., to Charlcotte Rd., to Northfield Rd. I'd been in all day teleconferences again today and got out late again too. It was around 34 F and I was worried that there'd be ice from snow melt and un-melted ice in shady areas. There was none. With frequent hills on the route, my quads were tired.

25 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., to the trail along the middle school to Bradmore Dr. to Ewing Dr./Roosevelt Rd., to Grant St. to Northfield Rd. This evening, there had been some snow falling before I got outside but it was a light sleet while I was running. The pavement was not slippery but because it was wet, I work my old Nike Pegasus. Being somewhat worn-out, the shoes made me feel a bit flat footed. I wore my Gortex suite too and felt very comfortable. It slows me a little bit by constricting my legs a little. The shorter strides were okay. My quads were at times not so strong but I was okay finishing-up. There were few people or cars out. My other scale weighed me in at 193 lbs.

25 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to the county pool parking lot to the trail into Norwood Park, to Wisconsin Ave., to Woodmont Ave., to Battery Ln. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Maple Ridge Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. It was in the mid-40s F, More people were outside all over. My old scale recorded me at 193 today.

25 situps.

From Northfield Rd., I went into Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Alta Vista Rd., to Linden Ave., to Pooks Hill Rd., to Rockville Pike. and the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Maple Ridge Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I started out thinking I'd do a loop I'd done before, but since I had to add on-last time, it made sense to turn and follow a part of the Bethesda Turkey Chase 10K course over Pooks Hill. I wasn't far from the top when I made the decision and I hadn't been in the area for a while. Before going out, I wondered how I'd feel. The extra rest day seemed to work. Though I didn't feel strong, I didn't feel terrible on the hills. It was 36 F when running. I'd setup our new Garmin S2 Smart Scale and comparing my weight to my old scale, I'm 4 lbs. lighter. I'm not sure which is correct but since the Garmin scale is newer and I like the number better, I'm going with it for now. Weighing out by it, I was 189.1. The slight increase in weight is somewhat concerning but perhaps it's due to not training 2 days, and the gain in water weight post recovery from the race.

25 situps.

Since I'd raced yesterday and it was snowy/messy this day, I figured another rest day would be good. I didn't step outside once and instead worked on making a home video from one of our days on vacation last summer.

Event: QOC Hoyles Mill
 

QOC Bumble at the South Germantown Recreational Park (Soccerplex) and Hoyles Mill Conservation Park. The Bumble is a mult-windowed event in which each window is a mini-score-o and each window must be completed before going to the next. It's also somewhat handicapped for competition between age groups. That's done by the number of windows each person need to complete, being established by age group. I chose to run the Red course grouping which is a younger group by age. I had a good amount of other advantage by being the mapper for the parks. There was some soft, melting snow on the ground in places.

I took 50 seconds at the start line to plan my way through the first 3 windows. After getting to the first mandatory control, I ran to the NW window first. I took these in order of N,O, L, M, K. I just about spiked all the controls--this window was not very difficult. Going to N, as I looked in to the areas mapped as scattered open south of the power lines, I could see that the thorns had really grown-up since I'd been there last spring. I would have added vertical slash for them based on what I saw today. I ran freely there before. Getting to N, after the power lines, I ran inside the small open forest which was much nicer than the surrounding scattered-open field. I used the road between N and O, but left it from the bend. Going to L, I took the ride over the hill and left the fields from the bend where the fields end. It was much nicer in the actual forests. From there, I went straight to L. I ran pretty much straight to M. I though I was going a little left of straight towards K, to reduce the amount of mapped deadfall that I'd have to cross, but I drifted right, and ended up at the right edge of the circle before going in.

My next window was done in order of F, G, H, J, I. I knew this window would be the most difficult and went slow once across the power lines. I saw Ken Walker crossing the power lines going the other way. I hit F just fine but knew the greater challenge was ahead. I wanted to go around the green forest so I headed a lot towards H initially. I read my way within 150m of H okay and reasoned that hitting G and coming back wouldn't be so bad. I turned at a boulder where I knew where I was and headed straight towards G, but part way less than half way there, I feared I had drifted right too much. I turned left sharply and started going down a broad reentrant. I turned more for some reason thinking needed to be on the other side of a linear marsh--maybe this was fatigue. As it got greener, I realized that I'd gotten into the big green area west of G. I estimated a correction in direction and broke out of the greener area (the green area turned out to be not so bad and I found some unmapped boulders in it and my error cost me around 3-4 minutes). I stopped shortly afterward where there was a small rise, basically standing on the formline within the control circle, but it took me another 10 seconds to realize the pit was in front of me. As I went in to punch, I'd given away the location to another orienteer approaching from the NE. Going from G to H, I steered right of the greener bits and ended up at a rock and a rootstock that I knew well. Attacking from there, I hit H dead on. I ran a little left of straight going from H to J, to avoid the mapped green. At the streams and marshes, I made minor course corrections and I saw Chris Gross running well going the other direction. I ended up spiking J, and was happy about that since it was a longer leg, yet still technically difficult. Going to I, I decided not to use the fields and trail to the right. I stayed on the left side of the creek until I could see a rootstock on the right side. Crossing just before there, I attacked from the rootstock. The pumping station being visible ahead helped me at the end since I had to make a small correction to the right before I saw the control.

It probably would have been faster for me to take the 2 Soccerplex windows to finish-up, but I was more interested in doing the more technical northern window that I'd only mapped in the previous month of January. After crossing the bridge, I went to D first. That was a change in plan since earlier I'd thought to use the road longer and hit B first. I reasoned that I was close to D and that it'd be harder to hit coming from E. I did the window in order of D, B, A, C, E and spiked every control. I was surprised at how short the legs seemed, since when mapping the area, I'd been walking. The woods were open enough that I almost only needed to go half-way before seeing the control from a distance. I did read things along the way which helped me to make course corrections, or just confirmed I was on target. From E, I thought to cross the creek and save distance. However, I was a bit careless leaving E and drifted right too much--I knew I'd have to go to the right to get around a bigger area of mapped green. since I realized I was too far I went to the bridge and happened to pass E along the way. I tell myself that it was probably best because crossing the very cold creek would have left my feet numb and hurting the rest of the course.

Once over the bridge, I saw Angelica Riley going the other direction. I didn't go up to the trail but cut in to the fields before the trail. I took the next window in the heart of the Soccerplex in order of P, R, Q, T, S. Navigationally, it was very easy. I crossed the creek on the trail in the forest and left the forest to run the fields north of the soccer play fields. As I approached P, I realized that this was an area I had spent little time on when mapping it. The vegetation mapping was largely from aerial imagery. It had been getting too overgrown when I got into the area last spring. P seemed a little closer to the trail than I expected but that made it an easy choice to go up and use the trail getting to R. I passed Alexis Merkova for the second time this day on the trail as she headed the other way. Dasha Merkova had gotten to Q just ahead of me and ended up taking my picture punching. I went between the fields toward Q next. As I turned the last corner, my son Max was just ahead of me, heading the same way. He said he'd just had one more control, which struck me as odd being how Q was in the middle of the window. After we punched and split, he headed to the last control in what was a mispunch--he had taken some of the controls in this window earlier, went to another, then came back. Had he only ran with me as I finished out, he'd have had a legal finish. I guess I hadn't emphasized this rule enough before he'd started. I hit T easily and saw Howie along the way. I saw Dasha again as she punched S. I was moving slowly finishing but moved a little faster than I was.

It was fun running the Bumble. I hope others enjoyed the terrain and didn't run through too many thorns. I hardly had any trouble with them after the first window. David and Heidi Onkst did a great job getting permission to use the area (with Mike Newman's expert help), and they did a ton of work right up until late the night before the event. They deserve a lot of credit and thanks. I enjoyed making this map--it was my COVID-19 escape and creative outlet in 2020.

C • Thanks for making the map. 3

25 situps. I figured with a longer day on Saturday that I'd be better off taking a rest day. My left knee was also hurting in one spot around the end of my run on the 4th so it seemed best to be safe.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Kennedy Dr., to Dorset Ave., to the Little Falls Trail, to Hillandale Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Arlington Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd.. to Northfield Rd. Though I went to bed earlier the night before, I didn't sleep well the last 2 hours. My left knee was a little sore too so I considered taking time off or going shorter. When I got going, I didn't feel my knee at all. It was about 46 F starting out and I was happy to be wearing less. The ground was about like yesterday since the snow hadn't fully melted. Roadways were generally good but sidewalks and the Little Falls Trail had icy spots. Trying to avoid a puddle on the sidewalk in the last half mile, I stepped into another next to it that I couldn't see due to oncoming cars. I suppose I'll get more of that on Saturday. I didn't feel strong at any time but I did move okay going up hills on the return homeward. It was 39 F upon finishing.

25 situps.

From the Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center on Executive Blvd., to Nicholson Ln. to the Bethesda Trolley on Woodglen Dr., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Maple Ridge Rd., to Park Ln., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. Peggy dropped me off at the start after meeting my sister and doing a long awaited errand. The wind was blowing hard but luckily, it was at my back. More of this run was downhill than up, but it didn't seem to make much difference, my legs felt pretty dead. I was cautious about there being black ice from the melting snow, but few places were icy or snowy. I only saw some and didn't do any slipping until I was in the last half mile near home. I saw a few people on the trail including one old and one young runner. The young runner coming toward me was running faster going into the wind than I was on a downgrade with it at my back.

25 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to Singleton Dr. to Bulls Run Pkwy., to the trail along the middle school to Bradmore Dr. to Ewing Dr./Roosevelt Rd., to Grant St. to Northfield Rd. Snow had been melting off of the roads during the day, though there was more on sidewalks and other ground. A strong wind had started before I got running. I wore regular shoes--my Nike Zooms and they worked well on the wet roads. Sidewalks that I had to run on, on Old Georgetown Rd. were often as not, not yet cleared. I ran on the ice and snow going into the strong wind. Perhaps that's why I was so slow starting out. I felt slow too. It wasn't until I was past 2.2 miles, heading down Bulls Run Pkwy., and with the wind at my back, that I started feeling better. I was dragging myself along. I weighed out unexpectedly at 195.5 and ate normally during the day. For some reason I seem to be retaining water.

25 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Maple Ridge Rd., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail east of NIH, to Jones Bridge Rd., to Maryland Ave., to Pearl St., to East-West Ave., to Wisconsin Ave., to Woodmont Ave., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. It had been snowing lightly most of the day. The streets had frozen sleet on them but mostly weren't slippery with my Ice Bug shoes with the small nubby spikes. I didn't push the pace. I saw a lot of people on the Trolley Trail but not many elsewhere. I ran through my old neighborhood, right past my old house on Rosedale Ave. It was nice to see how the shrubs I'd planted had been maturing nicely, and someone had made a small snowman. Like in December when it snowed, the sidewalks in downtown Bethesda were in good shape. Leaving the downtown, most walkways hadn't been cleared and I was running into a headwind. I ended up running a little shorter than expected, but had thought I had gone further. As I finished I saw Max beginning to make his snowman---that ended up being a sort of ice cairn but got to 3-4 feet.

20 situps.