Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd. via Greenwich Park, to Ipswich Rd. to Fleming Ave. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Northfield Rd. via Greenwich Park. I got running at dusk well after the heavy rains had stopped but the ground was wet. At least it was still warm enough for shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt. Just after passing another runner, I saw Tara Trawick walking Griffin, her dog. My legs felt a bit heavier at times--probably due to wearing my street running shoes. At times, I focused on shorter faster strides and I was able to increase cadence.

From Watkins Mill Rd. to Huntmaster Rd. and back on the Greenway Trail. It was about 50 F starting out, with a strong sun, so in the mid 50s F most of the way. I'd overslept this morning, feeling pretty tired. I'd moved up the big ridge climb pretty well. When parts of the trail past the ridge had gotten rerouted a couple of years back to get above the wet spots, it must have been done by cyclists. I was feeling the ups and downs of the regular 1 ft. dips and rises over what otherwise doesn't climb or drop much. I got over the ridge at the end pretty well and was happy to be able to descend rather quickly. I took that as a sign that my legs were getting stronger. I kept up the pace and finished well. There were more people out hiking than I expected to see. Most were wearing masks.

Black Hills Regional Park. Peggy got started before me. I headed out to do the lollipop loop that the MRRC Winter Trails group did last year. I'm still not very familiar with these trails and didn't take a map so I again had some detours. My loop used the Black Hills Trail, the Hard Rock Trail, and the Field Crest Spur Trail. I was slow on the climbs but I was surprised at some of the mile splits along the way. On the last 1.5 miles, I expected to be faster and thought I was doing so, but I was a little slower. It was a nice morning--cool (mid-50s F) with variable breezes and sunny. I was running in shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt.

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 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. I'd expected to feel much worse than I did today. Indeed I was sluggish but not sore. I was able to put more effort into the run in the last mile too. It was in the mid 50's F and I ran w/o sweats. I've always enjoyed seeing the holiday lights on this run and people have been starting to put them out.

From the spur trail intersection at Carderock, I took the towpath to the top of Lock 17, and back. This was my virtual stand-in course for the Bethesda Turkey Chase. Max started a little after me and quickly went past. I had started out going faster than I had a week ago on a 4 mile run. With it being in the mid 50s F, I ran it shorts and a t-shirt. It was also a bit humid since it had rained the night before. I started feeling the pace when I hit the small inclines along the Widewater and at the initial locks. The increases in mileage over the last month have caught-up with me as my overall pace in training runs has slowed recently. I slowed. I was originally going to turn around at the the Billygoat A trailhead but my GPS was indicating it'd be too short to make 10K--I'd miscalculated the night before. I went on to the top of Lock 17 to get the correct halfway mark before turning around. Going back, I felt weak but I did have some places where I was starting to recover. Shortening my stride helped. Sometimes I was getting warning twinges in my left hamstring.

Seneca Ridge Trail, VA. My family and I met Heidi and David Onkst for a hike. We wore masks the whole way. We started on what's called the Seneca Bridal Trail--it goes through the highlands and the southern border of the park. Taking one of the Seneca Connector Trails mostly along a ridge, we descended to the Potomac Heritage Trail. We had a few Seneca Connector Trail options to climb back. Samantha chose one for us up a steep climb. It happened to intersect with a route I'd taken a few weeks back. The hike was nice. I saw more of the forest than I'd seen before. The woods were overall good for orienteering but they were not totally open. There were some parts I'd map light green and a small area of deadfall too. It was an unusually nice day for Thanksgiving near DC--in the mid 60s F and sunny. I hiked in shorts and even sweat on the climb. Though not always distant, we had worn masks through the hike. In the evening my mom and sister came over for an elaborate dinner and we similarly wore masks most of the time.

From Northfield Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., via Greenwich Park, to Alta Vista Rd., to Locust Ave., to to W. Cedar Ln., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail along Rockville Pike to Woodmont Ave., to Rugby Ave., to Del Ray Ave., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Maple Ridge Rd., to Park Ln., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I thought that I might go a shorter distance but ultimately, I felt good enough to train-through a longer run tomorrow. I was however, fading and slow going up hills. It was warmer out than I'd expected, so I was sweating bunch.

From Northfield Rd., to Custer Rd., to Park Ln. to Battery Ln. to Exeter Rd., to Bethesda Ave., to the Capital Crescent Trail to Little Falls Rd./Glenwood Rd., to Moorland Ln. to Wilson Ln. to Aberdeen Rd., to Aberdeen Place/Garfield St., to Northfield Rd. I took it pretty easy again today. I was going through the motions. I did feel bloated. A bathroom halfway through would have been nice. Wearing some nice new tights that were a Christmas present, I found that they were a bit too short in the inseam--though I'd pulled them up at the hip, they kept sinking. It was in the mid 40s F and I was probably a bit overdressed.

From Northfield Rd., Mooreland Dr., to Glenwood Rd., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail on 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 Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I felt okay starting out but wondered if I'd have to bail out to a shorter run. I made up this route as I went. I was feeling less energetic and it was in the mid 40s F and windy. I dressed a little more than needed later in the run. I wasn't feeling my right leg much and a slight twinge on my left knee occasionally over the last few days wasn't felt while running either. In my old neighborhood in East Bethesda, I just moved steadily on the hills. On my last stop to tie my shoe, when I started running again, I could feel my right leg hamstring/back issue shortening my stride. I kept a cautious run forward. At the end of the route, I was slightly nauseous.

QOC - Rosaryville State Park, MD. I just spent a long while writing-up what happened but literally on the write-up of the last leg, I clicked incorrectly and lost the write-up. That's about how my day went orienteering here. I went 6.35 miles on this 8.3K course. AP has me at 271m climb instead of the 180m optimal course description. I made mistakes on #1--not reading the details in the circle and not liking the mapping of the fence (better eye glasses would help), #3--getting on the wrong trail and looping extra distance, #4- just a slower route crossing the creek initially, #5--being a little left at the end, #6 not trusting my reading of the vegetation at the end caused me to make a small loop, #7-bad route choice not using the road because I assumed incorrectly that it was out of bounds, #8 reading the wrong leg line (#10-#9) about half way there, #9, not attacking from the trail because I thought I was reading the green vegetation correctly (4 minute error), #12--overshot to the right and didn't read that the trail was in a ditch (didn't like that mapping), #15 - drifted to the right and then hesitated and used the spur rather than the trails. The rest was mostly speed. A couple of good notes--my right leg held up well and I didn't re-injure myself, and my endurance held up well. I look forward to redemption at PWF.

Red - Splits

Great Falls, MD. I woke up with my lower right back being a little sore and when I walked with my right leg forward, I could feel some strain going into my hamstring, reducing the forward motion. Peggy and I started out together and I did the Goldmine loop starting out. I was going to extend it going up the old road past the loop, but at the first stream crossing, there was deadfall and no bridge across the gullied stream. I went down to the canal on the road before getting back onto the lower part of the Goldmine Loop. Once back to the parking lot I needed to add-on to get over 4 miles. I moved slowly, but more so when I put my mask on near tourists. I crossed at the Tavern lock bridge, went down to lock 18, then back up to Lock 19 so that I could loop around the Tavern and the restrooms and get back to the parking lot. This was a slow easier effort run but I still felt it. It may have loosened me up for tomorrow. I stretched a while longer than I usually have been doing after runs. I saw Ken Walker and his daughter in the parking lot when starting out.

From Carderock Park, C&O Canal Towpath north toward Great Falls to Mile Marker 13, then back. It was 63F so I ran in shorts and a t-shirt. I had a buff style mask around my neck so when I came near the many cyclists, runners and walkers, I could pull it up. Nearly everyone was wearing a mask as they passed each other on the towpath. Some were doing like I was, pulling it up and down, but others seemingly had theirs on all the time. Running in the sunshine again was nice. My first mile was faster than expected, and so were the next 2. I knew I was slowing down on the 4th. The further I went, the more my mask was getting soaked in sweat, and the more I felt the need to breath hard. It got to the point after the 2nd mile, that I'd quickly go into oxygen debt and I'd slow down. Breathing to run would pull the cloth partway into my mouth, and exhaling would blow it into a bubble--it was like getting the benefit of interval training without moving my legs fast. At the end, I was please to see that I'd run a relatively fast time. The flatter ground helped.

From Little Falls Pkwy., the Capital Crescent Trail to Dalecarlia and the Little Falls Trail, forest trails, then back to Little Falls Pkwy. via the Capital Crescent Trail. I'd plotted out this run 2 days ago to be 4.3 miles, but past the turnaround on the Little Falls Trail, a bridge was closed. I might have climbed over the fence a crossed the creek but in the dark that didn't seem safe, and I wondered if other bridges would be out for repairs too. There was a dirt trail that allowed me to detour back to the Capital Crescent Trail, rather than double back and make my run longer. Since it was dark, I started to walk it but there was enough moonlight and the trail seemed clear of debris, that I could manage a slow jog on it. I resumed a normal effort once back on the pavement, but I was not fast on the long and somewhat monotonous railroad grade trail. Months ago, I used to be on that trail running and cycling a lot, and was mentally more prepared or just less slow on the long straightaways. Both before and after this run, my right leg and lower back felt weak and generated tolerable pain. I'm probably compensating with my left leg. I think it's what's holding me back from getting back up to the kind of moderate pace and endurance that managed a year ago.

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 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 a little above freezing when I ran. I was having a hard time figuring out how fast I was moving except at some mile marks. It turned out that I was running faster than expected. As I ran turning through the streets, I was mentally trying to figure out the rotation of the earth relative to the moon, Saturn and Jupiter which were all close together. My quads were tired and my right leg was dragging as I walked cooling down.

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 Old Spring Rd., and back. It had turned a good deal colder and was windy outside when I contemplated running--it was 41 F but dropped into the upper 30s F later. Going through the usual neighborhood routes seemed unpalatable. I drove over toward Rock Creek Park, MD to stay out of the wind in that valley. The starting point was convenient since the usual parking had been closed off for people to use both Beech Dr., and the paved trail through Rock Creek Park. It was fully dark starting out. I had to stop to tie my shoe a few times. I felt that I was running slowly but couldn't really tell. I was still tired. I put more effort into the return trip. I'd seen few people; one walker and one cyclist. I also startled the same deer going and coming as it was only a few feet off of the trail. At least I didn't have a collision with it like Peggy's unfortunate brother Paul did with another deer this same day--his car got totaled but he seemed to be okay. After the run, my lower right back and right leg were achy and feeling strain when moving my right leg forward

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Arlington Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd. to the Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. It was in the 50s F and dark when I ran. I felt good getting up the initial hill and slowly faded after that. I was definitely feeling the drag from the longer effort yesterday. Afterward, my right leg and lower right back were achy and feeling strain when moving my right leg forward.

Event: QOC Fountainhead Central
 

QOC: Fountainhead Regional Park, VA. I ran the Red course today, and that was the first time doing more than Green in many months. I felt better prepared for it today though by the end I was pretty tired. Afterward, my right leg was definitely feeling the strain. Lifting my knee took extra effort. Overall, I was on target today. I made no significant errors other than taking lessor route choices on 1-2 legs. The first 1/3 of the race was hilly with short legs that made it hard not to miss. The route choices and overall navigation got more technically challenging through to the end. The advertised climb of 265m could not have been right and my watch measured it at 399m.

S-1 - Down the left fork of the road to the parking lot, then in. The control was visible from the road.

1-2 - Straight over.

2-3 - Down to the road, then leaving from the bend I went almost straight.

3-4 - Up to the sharp trail bend, the leaving the trail just before the next sharp bend, I continued straight to the control. One side reentrant helped me keep aligned.

4-5 - I ran SE leaving #4, making my way to the parking lot. I ran into Max along the way while he was making an error. I pointed out that the parking lot was visible. I rounded the maintenance yard on road on the south side and reentered the forest part way on the road curve, to get around a small reentrant. Crossing the second reentrant, I followed along it a little too far. As I rounded the spur the control was visible a little higher up. I lost not much more than 10-15 seconds.

5-6 - Fairly straight.

6-7 - Just a little left of straight, to stay high.

7-8 - I used the side reentrants to cross the bigger one, climb the ridge, and drop into the control.

8-9 - Down the reentrant, and across the creek 3 times before following up the reentrant with the slight waterfalls, and cutting right into the correct reentrant with the control. I was walking up the waterfall reentrant.

9-10 - With the criss crossing course legs it wasn't obvious which circle was #10. I largely went straight, using the reentrants to keep me aligned. The climbing was slow.

10-11 - I ran around on the trail, cutting off some of the curves. I attacked from the north.

11-12 - I went out to the powerlines before cutting in above the stream NW of the control. This leg was easier than it would have been without the water being such a catching feature.

12-13 - I ran straight initially to get around the first bay/inlet. I cut more to the right after that to save climb. Sidehilling into the big reentrant that dumps into the second bay/inlet, I ran up it to the correct side reentrant. Along the way, Max came in from behind me, almost catching and overtaking me before I cut off to attack my control. He was on the Green course and needed to go further to his control. Several people were converging on the control from above as I got there from below.

13-14 - I walked up the reentrant toward the trail. Looking back, Dave Pruden was closing-in. He'd been running the Blue course and said he'd run the first part of it too fast; he confided that he was paying for it now. As Dave passed, our paths crossed. I'd thought he was headed toward my Red course control but after crossing the ridge, I thought otherwise. I descended the right side of the reentrant and spiked the control.

14-15 - To save climb, I almost doglegged on the spur, then contoured across. As I'd left #14, I saw Dave Pruden attacking it. I was losing count of the small reentrants I passed but kept going figuring that I was not far enough yet, and that the slope was at the wrong angle. Getting to a ridge, I figured I'd see the control ahead across a reentrant, and I did. As I punched, I could hear Dave coming from behind.

15-16 - Leaving #15, I decided to save climb by going around to the north. As I did this I got concerned that there was still significant or equivalent climb, and it was too long. I executed the route well, but as I was making the final attack, Dave Pruden was climbing back up in a dogleg, having already been to the control. I told him I should have gone straight.

16-17 - I doglegged, the same as Dave Pruden had, and got on the trail. I passed one guy who was perhaps on the course, and others on the trail I could see Dave a few times. Attacking from above, my aim was a little off to the right, and once again, I could see Dave climbing back out the way he'd come, having already been to the control.

17-18 - This leg was hard to read due to the criss-crossing of other legs. I went kind of straight, crossing the first trail and going near #10, without necessarily seeing it. Once to the trail, I descended straight, rather than switchbacking. I paused after the bridges and decided that staying in the valley was best. I left the big reentrant for the side reentrant with the control, coming into it from the NW.

18 - F - I used the trail for a short way, then kind of stayed straight across the deadfall to the side of the parking lot. I could see Dave Pruden walking away from the finish as I ran in.

Overall, I felt I navigated pretty well, and ran well considering that I hadn't been this distance in a while. It was also a hilly course on a day in the upper 60s F. A breeze was bringing in-rain. I was 5th on the course. The course was 7.3K and I did it in 5.62 miles.

Red - Splits

From the Nature Center parking lot in Wheaton Regional Park, I ran to, then down the Northwest Branch Trail, taking the upper trails on the way out, turning around where they join, and taking the original/older lower trail on the way back. Peggy walked while I ran. The first mile went by quickly and easily, whereas the second seemed and was slower. I thought the third on the way back would be faster since it was less up and down (generally just a gradual grade going along the creek up) but was much slower than I'd thought. Maybe some of the puddles and downed trees slowed me. It was in the upper 40s or low 50s F, and sunny through the run.

Seneca Regional Park, Potomac Falls, VA. After visiting my sister and fixing the gate at my mom's house I got over to Seneca Regional Park. It's sometimes or used to be called Seneca Tract. It's along the Potomac River across from Blockhouse Conservation Park. It's also right next to Trump National Golf Course (which the Heritage Trail still cuts across). I hadn't been here in a few years and I may never have run there with the leaves off like they were today. The area is not large--about 1.75 miles long and 1/2 to 1 mile wide. From earlier runs, I knew that there were nice areas and a greener lowland, but with the leaves off, I could really see just how open the area is--virtually all of the uplands were very open. The area near the small parking lot had the greenest bits, probably imported from people coming and going. There seemed to be more trails than there were before; especially right around the parking area where informal trails were being discouraged with natural fencing. Like River Bend Park, Blockhouse, and Great Falls, there were enough ditches, gullies, dot knolls and occasional rock features to be interesting. The contours were dominated by rather simple parallel ridges. The bigger cliffs tended to be low at the ends of the ridges and above the Heritage Trail. Some features and trails exist along the flat lands between the Heritage Trail and the intricate river rapid causeways. I had fun running but my route seemed short. I tried adding on turning away from the parking lot near then end to climb and run one of the ridges. I my GPS track showed more wavering in the last half mile than I actually did--it should have ended where I had started.

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 Swansea St. to Ridge Rd., to Ridge Pl., to Greentree Rd., to Garfield St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. It was much cooler but damp after the rain had stopped, when I got out. I wore a long sleeve t-shirt and shorts but rolled-up the sleeves pretty quickly. I didn't feel very strong, but not too weak either. The climbs took the strength out of me. After the run, my left hamstring was sore where I'd injured it earlier in October.

From Northfield Rd., to Georgetown Pike via Greenwich Park, to Beech Ave., through North Bethesda Middle School to Bradmoor Dr., to Folkstone Rd., to Hartsdale Ave., to Heampstead Ave., to McKinley St., to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. It was raining lightly while I ran, but still warm outside--about 68 F.

From Northfield Rd to Norfolk Ave to pick-up lunch, then back. The wind had started to pickup a bit. It was blowing in more warm air rom the south. I'd changed into wearing shorts before I rode since it was sunny and in the mid 70s F. The wind helped me on the way back.

From Northfield Rd. to Greenwich Park to Old Georgetown Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail at Charles St. to the Capital Beltway bridge and back. Despite being heavier from eating cake, I felt better running today, right from the start. Though the first mile wasn't so fast, I picked it up as I went along. At the turnaround in the dark, I stepped on a bridge joint crack and had a sudden ankle twist that I needed to walk off for a while (off the clock). Once I got going again the pain from that went away quickly and I continued to speed up the pace finishing-up. My right ankle was a little sore from the twist. It was about 70 F during this run.

From Northfield Rd. I ran up to Custer Rd., to Park Ln. to Battery Ln. to Exeter Rd. to Elm St., to Glenbrook Rd., to Cornish Rd., to Burning Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Brite Dr., to Radnor Rd, to Oldchester Rd., to Aberdeen Rd., to Aberdeen Pl./Garfield Rd., to Northfield Rd. I was tired today, both before running and during it. It was however, a rather nice evening with room temperatures outside.

Event: (Cancelled) QOC Great Falls
 

From the Muddy Branch Trail head on American Way, just off of Rte. 28 in Gaithersburg, MD, I went south about 2 miles which was around a stream crossing and at a trail intersection. From there I looped back using a low route along the creek mostly. Unlike last August, when I last did this run in 80 F weather, it was around 60 F starting out. I'd started out with Peggy but she was power walking so I pretty much ran alone. On the way back, I saw Evgeny Tsypnyatov, from QOC. He was hiking with his better half. Peggy went farther than intended so I was back before her with a lot of time to stretch and cool off.

Cabin John Regional Park, MD. From the playground parking lot off Tuckerman Rd., I went north and did a trail loop. On the way back, I ran in the central section of the park by following the trail parallel to the power lines, and the loop up besides the kiddie train. To make sure I'd gotten 4 miles, I added on almost 3 loops around the picnic area. There were people practicing Tai Chi there. The conditions were good. The temperature was around 60 F. I'd started out with Peggy but we quickly separated so that I could go further.

When we'd gotten home we'd heard the great news regarding the Presidential election. Later we visited my sister's, father's and uncle's gravesite and had a picnic lunch in Algonkian Park where there were many other happy picnickers. The roads were busy coming back and it all seemed reflective of the happier mood.

From Northfield Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., via Greenwich Park, to W. Cedar Ln., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail along Rockville Pike and up to Maple Ridge Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I wasn't feeling as strong as the day before. It was a nice time to run; clear skies, during sunset, and with temperatures in the low 60s F. I stretched after the run as usual, but did one I haven't been doing along my hamstring. that felt good but later when showering, the area I'd injured in October was sore. It hadn't been sore for a while.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Wilson Ln. to Glenbrook Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to Arlington Rd., to Old Georgetown Rd. to the Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I was surprised and relieved that I was feeling better. In the first half mile, a guy appeared ahead of me and I slowly gained ground before nearly passing him and heading a separate way. Maybe that set me up. The next mile was much faster and I didn't struggle too much the last mile.

From Northfield Rd., to Georgetown Pike via Greenwich Park, to Beech Ave., through North Bethesda Middle School to Bradmoor Dr., to Folkstone Rd., to Hartsdale Ave., to Heampstead Ave., to McKinley St., to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. I ran after dinner again. I felt better than yesterday, good enough to do an extra mile, but I still was weaker in my right leg.

From Northfield Rd. I ran up to Custer Rd., to Wilson La., to Exeter Rd. to Glenbrook Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to the NIH grounds, to Maple Ridge Rd. to Georgetown Pike, to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. I ran after dinner. After taking a day off because of my back hurting from yardwork, I still wasn't feeling that well. As I ran, I struggled. My right leg was much weaker than it had been feeling and that's reflected in my slow pace.

I did happen to see Max and Miles running over and into Battery Park, coming from NIH--I was going to other way. They'd stopped to hit the pull-up bars and to get a drink at the fountain, which surprisingly was still working.

From Nortfhield Rd., to Norfolk Ave., via Charlcotte Rd., and back. I went to get lunch for myself and the kids. Due to repaving of the replacement gas line road cuts, I went the long way there. However after climbing the initial hill I realized I'd left my mask in the car--I'd meant to grab it on the way out but I'd gotten distracted by the construction activity. I looped back via Huntington Pkwy., picked-up my mask then started again with a detour on Charlcotte Rd., and Huntington Rd., I returned that way too. It was very windy. The wind helped some of the time but mostly made me push my sore legs harder.

I had taken the day off from work. After lunch I spent a while cleaning out a tool shed. I had to open a lot of old cans of paint that the previous owner had left in the shed about 20 years ago. The county requires the cans to be dried out before they collect them so I opened a bunch. About half were dry and half still wet. Opening the cans required a lot of bending over. It made my back ache so I'm likely to not run today.

Event: QOC Balls Bluff
 

QOC: Balls Bluff Regional Park, VA. I started after the rain had stopped. It was around 50 F. I was a little tired from increased training this week but held up okay.

S-1 - I went somewhat straight, going above the first 2 ditches but doing so a little late. I crossed the large reentrant as it curved SW.

1-2 - I ran a little left of straight. I paused above the reentrant, thinking at first the control would be in it. I didn't see it so I looked across and saw 2 guys who'd started before me nearby a rootstock. It looked plausible so I went on to it.

2-3 - I started straight and found a small trail taking me into the reentrant. Crossing the bigger reentrant. I climbed the big spur and rounded a more shallow one on my right. I used a trail a little but left it quickly, eventually descending with a smaller one on my right to spike it.

3-4 - I climbed right away, keeping the reentrant on my right. I used a trail a little but left it at a bend. I'd gotten too far left, trying to save climb but used the open park terrain to correct. There seemed to be an unmapped trail in this area. I crossed the next reentrant staying above the unmapped greener parts and dropped into the control well.

4-5 - I stayed low in the reentrant, and used a trail. Leaving the trail, I crossed a reentrant and followed another to the control.

5-6 - I climbed to the road and got on the trail that parallels the green to the west of straight. With my glasses foggy, I never saw the extension of the trail along the green. Instead, I followed the one I'd already gotten on, down to the reentrant where it bends east. I made my way up to the field in the side reentrant. In the field, I started to pass the control, then I hesitated on where to cross the fence before reaching the control.

6-7 - I ran out to the road rather than cross the fence and run cross wet grass again. I left the road just before the field ended and rounded the reentrant ahead to drop into the control from above.

7-- 8 I went right of straight, hitting the gap in the mapped green, then I dropped into the correct reentrant, following it to the control.

8-9 - My foggy glasses led to small error. It didn't seem right from my bearing but I let myself get sucked down the small reentrant that was in between #8 and #9. On the map, the contour doesn't shown enough of it being there and I was reading it as just one reentrant over. I corrected well before the field but I'd still gotten past the control when I crossed to the correct reentrant.

9-10 - I was getting tired. I drifted a little left where there were other depressions.

10-11 - I ended up going straight but had thoughts of using the trails to the right. There was more ditch detail just before the large reentrant with the stream before #11 and so I wasn't 100% sure when I turned left to get into the right one. The leg line also hid the smaller reentrant that I climbed initially.

11-12 - I went across the top rather than back down the hill I'd just climbed. I came down a small reentrant past the cliffs and that allowed me to see the control better than if I'd come from below as the leg line was drawn. The leg line should have been shown straight, not favoring one side of the cliff or the other.

12-13 - I stayed low leaving #12, and turned west up the stream. I crossed quickly however. It wasn't clear to me which trail I got on and my compass didn't seem to line-up with the one that took me to the saddle. Coming down from the saddle, I crossed the small reentrant and could see the stream junction with the control from above.

13-14 - I went up the side of the reentrant still heading SE through the first intersection. I followed the next reentrant down to the stream and ran over the small spur. Goiong up the stream past #3 (which I didn't see again), at the next junction I headed south and got on the trail where I saw David Onkst on the Blue course. I criss-crossed the streams through the reentrant junction and slowly climbed the spur to the control. Kathleen Lennon was there having just left after punching, as I approached.

14-15 - I was surprised to see Kathleen walking tried to spur her on by telling her she needed to move faster to beat Peggy, but I later found out that she was out with a bulging disc. Kathleen had crossed the first reentrant and I ran around it. I was slow climbing back and wondering why I wasn't seen the control as I kept going but I didn't lose any time.

After finishing the Fab 4, spouses and others got to chat a bit which was reminiscent of older days.

Green - Splits