Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: US Classic Champs
 

U.S. Classic Championships, Buena Vista, CO. I felt the 10,000ft. elevation. The early part of the course was fast and it winded me. I ran after all the other men in M40+ and M45+ and then all the W21 women had started. My start time was pushed back half an hour because there were two Red runner scheduled for the same slot. I caught an traded leads with Kesenya Popova through #7 as I made mistakes at #5 and then #6. I then got ahead of her on the hilly and technical areas. My total error time is estimated at 5.5 minutes which historically is not bad for me. It was fun and I think I was the 4th fastest in the M45+ category. See the Split List.

Buena Vista, CO in the San Isabel National Forest. Warm-up twice for the start of the U.S. Classic Championships. My start time was moved back due to duplicate with another runner.

Red - Splits

Buena Vista, CO. After catching a ride from the airport rental car area with Tom and Karen Strat, I ran the model event for the U.S. Championships through the 5 controls; 550m in about 9 minutes. It was mostly rocky downhill and controls were arranged almost in a linear fashion. I took my time after that going to different features. The map showed rock and contours mostly as I expected to see them though there was some variation in how boulders and dot knolls were mapped. Where there was lots of rock, some boulders weren't mapped. Were there was little, the same size boulders were mapped. The vegetation mapping was not what I expected. Scattered trees often appeared white and scattered tree areas were printed very lightly. Gullies and ditches were not mapped with the symbols for these. Rather they were often represented with contour lines or formlines. After finishing, a storm came in and hail covered the ground.

Buena Vista, CO. After hooking up with Ted Good, we went back to the model area for the U.S. Champs and went through the area. We discussed the mapping with others that we encountered and mostly walked back up to the start. This area is around 10,000 ft. in elevation and I felt much more winded than earlier in the week. The model event was just a bit east of the areas where the Red course last year finished. Sam Listwak had brought along the map from then and it was clear that much field checking had been done. Many people were still less than completely happy with the mapping.

Fort Collins, CO. From S. Overland Trail at Cottonwood Glen Park, into Pineridge Natural Area, once around on the trail and back. A few prarie dogs barked at me.

45 situps. After a full day of meetings and a dinner with others here from work, it was late and I was full. It seemed like it'd be a nice night so I feel like I missed out on a run.

Boulder, CO. From Chataqua, I hiked with a work colleage (at his pace) up next to the Flatirons. We went after work and it took a while getting there. Headed to Royal Arch, we ran out of daylight just before acquiring the ridge and had to turn back. It was rather nice anyway. We watched thunderstorms flash across the front range all the way to Fort Collins as we walked back.

Event: US Night Champs
 

U.S. Night Orienteering Championships on the Lights of Cheyenne map which is east of Laramie, WY. I flew out in the morning having the fortune of a work conference scheduled in Fort Collins, CO. I didn't expect much knowing my lack of training and poor physical shape. Surprisingly the 7,700ft. altitude didn't phase me much. I guess I was already anticipating just having a nice time and didn't push much initially. I didn't even warm-up, wanting just to conserve energy. A coldish wind had everyone seeking cover while waiting to go (first starts were a 9:00pm and I started at 9:58pm) but was fine while running--eventually. On the way to #2, still not warmed-up, I ran harder in the open fields, to warm-up and ended up with a bad bearing. It lost me 10 minutes. I made similar boo boos at #4 (3 minutes lost) and #5 (4 minutes lost). I feel very silly for the error on #5 since I got drawn-off by what seemed to be another control. Finally from #7 onward, I started spiking controls and running a decent pace to them. It was too little, too late but I enjoyed the event. See the Split List.

C • enjoy 2

Night-O - Red - Splits

Blockhouse Conservation Park, Potomac MD. Max (in a backpack) and I hiked around this nice park off the Potomac River to do some mapping. Max was pretty patient and even fell asleep for a while. He observed the sights and sounds of the forest commenting with gestures at times at the birds, large rootstocks, big drop-offs and water sounds (he liked these the best). At times he wanted to direct me to go hither and thither. He laughed when I stumped my toe on unseen fallen branches and rocks on slopes, not realizing that he'd tumble too if I fell. I got a nice amount done with him and might have gotten more if not for leaves brushing against him awakening him. It's a very nice park with lots of great orienteering features. The open woods are the best. The hills are steep, and the green areas manageable. It's still great weather for August with low humidity.