Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: QOC Oregon Ridge
 

SLOC: US Relay Championships, Creve Coeur Lake. With QOC's Valerie Meyer matched-up against RMOC's Sharon Crawford in the 12 point category, we were very close after the first leg. Kathleen Lennon captured and got a good lead over RMOC's second leg. Greg Lennon extended this. I went off with at least a 6 minute lead and was hitting controls well. However at the spectator #6 and #7 controls, I went to #7 first--a slight loss of concentration as I'd gotten ahead of Anna who was running another course with all the same legs so far. Anna followed me to the wrong control but corrected faster.

The next couple of controls were okay. I'd caught Anna but slowed with tricker navigation. Trying to get ahead again, I left #10 or #11 and hurt myself while jumping a log. It was wierd. My left foot had tagged the back of my right calf slightly but it resulted in a pull. The pull was much like injuries on my left calf that have kept me with low running mileage the last 2 years. I slowed and was concerned about finishing at a walk. I kept a slower pace and let Anna get ahead.

Unkownst to both of us, our next controls were different; Anna was running the Red course and being on a 12 point team, I was anchoring on a Green course. Anna moved right and I kept my bearing to the left of her. Mike Minium had been at the same last control but was going to the one Anna had too, not far behind me. I saw the root stocks and then punched the control as Anna went on to the right. My injured calf was tightening so I slowed more. Crossing the cinder block-like causeway, I went extra slow. Fortunately, the end was on clearer ground. I passed by Dan Menehan, a.k.a, Snorkel who was warming-down; first time I'd seen him in the woods in many years. I finished up steadily and our QOC team "All Scratched-up" won; that was a nice birthday present.

Later-on, after lunch, Peggy, Max, and the Lennons all went to the City Museum--it was our second time this weekend (got caught in World Series Celebraton/Parade traffic) and we still found many interesting, very unique things to explore. There was a rather large spiral slide considered the largest in the world and most of us went down it in the dark. It was a neat place with lots of wild nooks for kids and adults to crawl through. They sold shirts saying "No Map" and "Get Lost" to inspire adventuring.

Relay Green 1 - Splits

Cuirve River State Park, MO. Warm-up jog from the parking area, to the start. There weren't any streamers; though I'd passed something that looked like it'd be the start, I wasn't sure of it toward the end. Fortunately it was about where I thought it would be and I got plenty of time to be ready to run before my start.

SLOC: A-Meet Middle, Cuirve River State Park, MO. With better sleep, a later start than most, nice sunlight, and reports of more open terrain than the night before, I went into this feeling better. I ran better too though much of the way I felt more out of breath and tired than I felt appropriate. My result was pleasing, even with some room for improvement. See the Split List.

Middle Red - Splits

CMOUSA Middle Champs - Splits

Event: US Night & Relay Champs
 

Cuirve River State Park, MO. Warm-up jog from the top of the hill near the parking area, to the start. This was essentially in the dark and trying to follow a few glow sticks. I was trying to conserve the batter power of my headlight for later. It was hard to see the glow stick and I think I only saw one of the streamers but I eventually got there.

SLOC: Night-O Championships, Cuirve River State Park. This wasn't a great run for me. I had some mistakes and places where I lost track of where I was. The terrain was greener than I would consider to be white with lots of somewhat low scratchy vegetation (my upper thighs resembled the results of a self-flagellation). In the daytime I probably would have found a way around the vegetation but it was hard to do that at night. I was using an extended cable from my headlamp to a battery in a belt pack in the small of my back like I've done in the past. However this time, the cable kept disconnecting. It happened at least 8 times and each time it took me about a minute to fumble in the dark to locate the cable and orient it into the battery correctly. I finally wasn't able to get it to go in correctly at all, just about 400m before the end. This area happened to be the worst of the green encountered on the map so far. I resorted to my very small backup LED headstrap light. I could barely see the map with it but I did get out of the green and eventually found the finish after punching a randome control along the way (because I couldn't see the map very well). All in all, it was a somewhat disappointing outing for me. I like night-o more than this. See the Split List.

Red - Splits

45 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's trail-a-bike then to Northfield Rd. in the dark

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to 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. Since Max was already asleep when I got home, I forewent dinner and got out to run before I was too tired. It was damp from recent rains and in the mid 50's.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. A busy and late work day is anticipated so I didn't ride all the way in. Max rode vigorously.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's trail-a-bike then to Northfield Rd. in the dark.

It was mostly a travel day. My ankle is much better already. I mowed the lawn and accompanied Max on a trip to the playground. After that, I was probably more lazy than anything else so I didn't run as I had earlier hoped.

Middlesex Fells Park, near Woburn, MA: Warm-up from the Sheephold dog park field to the start area of the US Long Championships hosted by Cambridge Sports Union (CSU). It was around 50 F and sunny this morning.

CSU: US Long Championships at Middlesex Fells Park, near Woburn, MA: It was a much better day for me today though I made a fair number of errors. I started out over thinking the route to #1 and changing my route 30 seconds into the course. Instead of a trail run most of the way, I cut across forest and got hung in some green. I was fine going to #2. I ran well to an attack point but let myself get distracted by other orienteers and missed. I made a quick recovery. Going to #4 I went around to the right a bit more than planned, then going left I overshot the control. That lost me about a minute. I forewent the trail to the left and went right again going to #5. Along the way I stumbled and bashed my
left shin on a rock, hopped around and got going again to spike the control. The short dash to the water control next was fine.

For the long leg, I went straight on the main trail for most of the way, going straight at the second big intersection. I cut in from a trai bend and planned to follow a reentrant to the next trail. I over thought what I was doing again and cut back when I thought I was going the wrong way at a reentrant junction. I thought better of it after losing a minute, then went on to spike the rest of the way to the control.

I dog-legged back toward #8 but at the next trail, I missed a trail intersection. I corrected after not so long by doubling back then crossed the next ridges hesitantly. I was much more confident getting to #'s 9 & 10. I stayed on trails for #11. Going to #12, I chased and passed a NEOC runner but screwed it up when I mistakenly started running to # 2. I got there too in not the best way, before realizing the error. I was shaky and hesitant going the rest of the way.

I was much smoother the rest of the way running on trails. On the run-in I sprinted down the grassy slope. I stepped in a hole along the way, then 4-5 steps from the finish as I was focusing on the punch box, I twisted my right ankle in a rut. Subsequently, I flubbed the punch. That was one of my worst twists in a long time. Immediate swelling occured.

This was a decent run for me though I left a lot of room for improvement. I may have had more fun doing the longer Red course but I placed 3rd in M50+. That's a rare event for me in this part of the country.

Green-X Long - Splits

Lynn Woods Park, MA. From the assembly area I ran the model event on the way to the start. Leaving the parking lot, it took a while for my eyes to adjust to the 1:10,000 map that was printed on a 3"x3" square. However I adjusted pretty well and found things pretty we'll despite there not being any actual controls or streamers in the woods. Only the largest boulders were mapped and the vegetation was about what I expected. Along the way, I saw Janet Porter getting helped back after she injured her hamstring. Despite not being able to run theough the terrain well, doing the model well helped get me more confident for the race.

CSU: US Championships, Lynn Woods Park, MA. I started cautiously and then made a simple parallel error mistake leaving a trail on #2. That led to a 5 minute error and some less confident navigation for the next several controls. I started to get over it by #7 though I made some more errors after that. I finished well on the easier last several controls.

Green-X Middle - Splits

Event: US S/M/L Champs 2011 & WRE
 

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max and his trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. I was tempted to ride all the way in but with a long busy day ahead and already being late, I didn't.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's trail-a-bike then to Northfield Rd. in the dark.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was in the low 60's F wtih no winds. I started feeling good. I had a slight detour when my cycle computer fell off on Arlington Rd. and I went back looking for it. Later, myself and 2 other cyclists converged on the CCT. I moved to lead but not being that strong on my commuter bike, I got passed on the downhill of the River Rd. bridge. A commuter on a mountain bike set a blistering pace and I just hung-on. We dropped the other guy and passed others all the way to Georgetown. There he slowed and I went on--I certainly wouldn't have made it there that fast without him. There were a few other cyclists out along the river. I had to estimate time since my cycle computer wouldn't register. I had a hard time getting to sleep the night before; lots going on.

From 14th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Arlington Rd. in Bethesda, MD via the National Mall to pickup Max's trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd., I started riding through the inner courtyard and basement of the building, where I work. I had anticipated late from work again like last week, but this time I brought my headlamp. I got through Georgetown before switching it on. I made better pace than I thought I would. The helmet felt heavy and slid around more with the light and battery on it.

Event: QOC Hemlock Overlook
 

QOC: Hemlock Overlook Park, VA. It was a great fall day with temperatures in the 60s when I was running. I got off to a decent start.

On #2 I took the safer way to the right to get down to the bottom and hesitated seeing Marit struggling taking the more direct drop down. I yelled up but am not sure if she heard me. She was near the bottom after I punched so I went on. I committed early to climb over on #3--it just looked too messy to go around the ridge.

Going to #4, I was moving well and concentrating on rock-hopping across the trail. I saw the reentrant I should have taken on me but was expecting a more pronounced trail there. I didn't see a control for another course there that I must have passed. I realized my error soon enough, and then just climbed more-or-less directly up the steep slope to the control.

I was wishy-washy heading out of #4. I was thinking I'd go to the right along the shore but by the time I got to the top of the reentrant, I realized going left was better. I passed the start and headed to the intermittant trail leading south away from the winery but I somehow ran over it. I was worried about going more east on the ridge that would have taken me to the control; my memory of that area was that it was greener than mapped so I cut back up to the intermittant trail. That was slower than expected with lots of deadfall and I soon left it. In a way, this was not a bad thing for me. It forced me to be more careful about reading the map and I got into a good rhythm staying in contact. I hit the control well, coming to it from high.

I headed around the first hill toward #6 but the next reentrant was wet. Crossing that higher to the north, I then again was planning on using the mapped trail. It was barely visible and seemed slow with deadfall. I went to the main trail, and found the other trail that from the map looked like it'd take me to the control. It was slow too with deadfall but I was able to read and follow it to spike the control; somewhat slower than others who went more straight.

Going to #7, I saw one of the younger Blue runners looking for #6, then I saw Ken Walker climbing near #12. I was happy to find good running by staying low for most of the way to #7. I never used the trail.

I climbed okay to #8, spiked #9 by going straight, and did the same for #10. For #11, I think went around some initial green. I hit the trail at an odd angle and concluded that I needed to turn left. This was mostly because I recall a similar error in this area last year or the year before. Perhaps something is wrong with the map or there's a magnetic anomoly? I hit the control okay.

For #12, I went straight and spiked it. I did the same for #13 and #14 but for #14, I had to cross 3 ditches when I expected to cross only one. Perhaps the reentran before the control counted as one. I came to the control contouring after not seeing it on the ditch that I expected it to be at.

For #15, I attacked off the field/trail intersection. Crossing the reentrant where it was steep, I concluded that I only needed to contour to the knolls. Seeing the knolls but no control, I climbed the ridge further and found it 40m uphill. Lots of people had trouble with this control.

I Ran the reentrant and intermittant trail toward #16. I attacked once I lined-up with the barn in the field. I flubbed #17 a bit. I'd seen it when arriving at the meet site and had even joked that it'd be a Blue course control. I had pulled-up a little short, not reading the control description, and having difficulty focusing on the center of the circle. Once found, I was slow starting to the finish, then decided to run it harder.

This was a fairly decent run for me. My errors were kept low. With several controls being at the bottom or tops of lanforms, it wasn't that technically difficult. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

C • Slope around #2 2

Hemlock Overlook Park, VA. I got 4 controls including one water stop. I kept forgetting to remove the streamers (large fat yell caution tape), and had to go back twice after leaving controls when I remembered it. I did get to control #11 on the Blue course, coming to it from an different angle and this time it was right in line. I noted the double-ditch at #10 from the Blue course that Dave had mentioned. The one without the control was about 15-20m away.

I had a nice time stopping at the garden center to get some pumpkins with Max, Peggy, the Onksts, and Lennons afterward. Dinner was nice too since we'd completely missed lunch.

Blue - Splits

From Northfield Rd. Custer Rd., Park Ln., and Exeter Rd. to Bethesda Ave., to the Georgetown Branch Trail, to Connecticutt Ave., to Jones Bridge Rd., to the Bethesda Trolley Trail., to Maple Ridge Rd., to the Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I cruised thorugh most of this again not really knowing my pace. I was around 7:12 for the first mile, and a timed measured mile on the Georgetown Branch Trail was 7:17. I did get slowed on Bethesda Ave.; there was some of the usual foot traffic but the road was also closed for an art festival too. It was a rather nice sunny 72 F and breezy day.

Another busy, but better day. Dinner with my old college roomate in the evening discouraged training again.

Very busy and a rather awful day all around.

45 situps.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was a pleasant cloudy morning wtih no winds. I started feeling good and taking it easy. I pushed in the middle when a roady passed, and took it easier after Georgetown.

From 14th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Arlington Rd. in Bethesda, MD via the National Mall to pickup Max's trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd., I started riding through the inner courtyard and basement of the building, where I work. I had anticipated leaving a little late but not as much as this. It was already dusk when I started. I opted to use the Mall since traffic was bad on Independence Ave. I got through to Dorsey Rd. in Somersett before it was really dark. I didn't have a headlight but had a tail light.

From Northfield Rd., to Arlington Rd., to Bethesda Ave. for lunch with Peggy, then back to Northfield Rd. through the neighborhood streets.

Carderock Park, MD. Up the C&O Towpath to the Billygoat Trail Section B, to the towpath, to the observation platform at the Great Falls dam, to the tavern and restroom, to the Gold Mile Loop, to the Angler's Spur Trail to the Berma Rd. to the towpath, to Carderock Park. I was tired starting out. I'd worked in the yard for a while before going. I started comfortably and moved steadily up the Billygoat trail. It'd been a long time since I had run it and I re-learned how scenic it is. The problem is that the trail is so rocky that it takes a lot of concentration to keep from falling. I was successful at that today :). It was at least in the upper 70s F. when I ran, and there was a lot of sunshine. I sweat a lot. On the towpath along the Widewater, I saw Lisa Beck from QOC going the other way with a water pack and looking like she was out for a long run. I was feeling slow but passing people. When I used to run the towpath in the 70's, I was always doing this part of the way in the 6 minute/mile range and that memory still stays with me. I crawled up the Gold Mine Trail steadily without getting overly tired. Mentally, I was saving something for the climbing and once I was past it, my pace speeded-up a lot. When I hit the C&O towpath going back, I quickly caught one runner, then set off on a steady quick run. I timed the time between the last mile markers at 7:18. I passed some cyclists and was drenched when I finished.

Great Falls, VA. Greg and Kathleen Lennon had arranged for some ad hoc training. Fortunately we were able to meet in a park where it allowed us later to see my ailing dad afterward, and then to meet some friends for dinner. The training was fun. We did a Map Hike with biodegradable markers (mostly fruit) set out by most of the participants. It was hilly. I felt I moved well but getting very much in the circle wasn't enough. Within the circle I often had to hunt around for the fruit. In one marsh, I hunted around and was pretty sure that I had gotten to the right clearing without ever finding the marker. I caught Greg who had started earlier and tried to get ahead on one control that I messed up a lot on. I should of taken the trail from the road but coming more directly I mistook which trail I was on. It was a difficult area and my relocation attempt was slow, still confused by the trails. Greg messed up too but got ahead. I later caught him again when startrting a long leg. it was a fun enemy on a great autumn day.

45 situps. I woke up a little late and we did a lot of errands. I had a nap in the afternoon and never got around to working out. I did however make a lot of drafting fixes to my Bethesa map.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was about 53F and I rode my road bike. I got some help after Fletcher's Boathouse. Overall, I felt tired and strained to keep up the pace. I did slow it down the last couple of miles after Georgetown.

From 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. It was a nice sunny day today and rather pleasant going home. At first, it felt like I might have had a tailwind but that wasn't the case. I was just moving well. It didn't last and by Georgetown, I slowed a little; keeping a good pace. I geared down going up the hill.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's trail-a-bike then to Northfield Rd. I left too late to run on the way home.

From Northfield Rd., Greenwich Park, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Beech Dr. to 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 much cooler than late July when I think I ran this last. However I was more tired from last weekend and lacked speed/spring. I netted about a minute faster. My endurance felt good.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was about 56F starting out and I wore long sleeves for the first time this year. The winds were calm. It had been a long while since I commuted all they way downtown so I felt awkward and in poorer shape. Some of it was still recovering from the Highlander but I also rode my commuter bike which is much slower. It was Max's National walk/bike/carpool to school day or something to that effect. I got passed at Fletcher's Boathouse but I caught back up with the guy before Georgetown. Lots of cranes were dismantling the Solar Decathlon competition houses along the Tidal Basin.

From 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's trail-a-bike, a little loop ther, then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I had a slight headwind and it was 75F. Once again, I just made it out of the building before getting my bike locked into the courtyard. I felt fortunate that the headwinds that I'd seen when walking with Mark Mace at lunchtime, had died down. I took off well but quickly settled into a slower pace than I had been riding. There was some construction crew traffic on Ohio Dr. again where dismantling of the Solar Decathlon continued. I rode a steady pace and passed people slowly, the whole way to Falls Rd. Hand timing because my bike computer wasn't working, I was about 42:30 to Arlington Rd. My timing was such that I got to see the end of Max's soccer practice after picking-up his trail-a-bike. It was getting dark for the last part which I mostly took easy.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. Starting, I felt fine but after going most of the way up the initial hill, I felt tired fast. The was a residual effect from running the Hudson Highlander. I was fine going up the next hill.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Arlington Rd. to pickup Max's trail-a-bike then to Northfield Rd. I left too late to run on the way home.

45 situps. It was a busy day with no time for much else. I was appropriately sore in places from the Highlander yesterday with no real health issues.

Event: Hudson Highlander XVI
 

HVO: Hudson Highlander. Lots of fun running and some somewhat intimidating technical parts of the course. I ran most of 19.56 miles. This was a pretty good run for me despite errors on some controls before the last sprint loop, and cramping-up on the last loop for a while. More on this later...

Highlander - Splits

From Julius West Middle School in Rockville, MD, to Rte. 28, to Fallls Rd., to Julius West Middle School, and once around the soccer fields. While Max was getting started with his team's soccer game, I got in a little run. I was exploring a cut-through road and just loosening-up. It was rather windy and cool with some slight rain falling. I hardly sweat wearing long sleeves and sweat clothes.