Training Log Archive: Nadim

QOC Summer Short Series (SSS) at Fort Hunt Park, VA. I walked around setting out controls and 3 streamers. I used streamers in the more visible places. Not long after starting out, I wished that I had brought along a pencil to record some map changes. There were mostly minor vegetation features which could have been better laid out on the map but at one control I realized that I had made a drafting error by having an extra copse in an area where there were several. In another area I could have captured the trails better as they were just a slight bit off. In two other areas, some very large picnics were going on but fortunately I didn't have to skip putting out these controls. The SSS was run by 7 people and I think it was successful. The orienteering was pretty fast. When people returned I learned of a few places needing some map review but mostly the map seemed to be on target and people seemed to have fun. A thunderstorm rolled through and cleared out most of the park.

C • No SS for me... 8

Fort Hunt Park, VA. After the thunderstorm, I jogged along picking up controls. This went pretty quickly. Along the way I ran into Keg Good. She had been stuck out in the rain while going through her course. We stopped a short while and she then helped me pickup a few controls. While headed to the last one, I ran into Patti Mace and then Mark Mace; both had helped after they finished their courses so it was pretty quick to clean up.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. via Independence Ave. I rode in at a moderate pace. I hadn't been sleeping much since I've been staying up late to get the Fort Hunt Park map finished. This and the lack of doing much other training made me feel rather weak. I was also late and I took Independence Ave. to cut off some distance. It was less busy than normal. I rode on the sidewalk but it was still dangerous crossing through the Main Ave. intersection.

C • Was that in downtown DC? i... 2

From C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. After rounding the Jefferson Memorial, I had nice strong tailwinds much of the way home. While queuing through Georgetown, I got hooked up with another rider who was willing to go faster than I. I hung on, once again reasoning that it'd be easier for me in the long run but we were moving along pretty fast. How fast, I don't know since I left my cycle computer at work. All together it was at a faster pace than my downhill ride to work this morning. The trail was about as busy as I remember seeing it. As the other rider and I moved along, it was like passing one long continuous pace line. Not since a July 4th holiday had I seen so many on the trail at the same time. I noticed seeing a lot of cyclists over the last week in Bethesda, even at night. I think it's related to the $4/gallon price of gas. The crowd thinned out a bit before Fletcher's Boathouse. Eventually the other guy pulled aside and let/made me lead. I went a bit slower but made a good effort of it. We repeated our switching leads until Bethesda. A few times I thought I'd have to let him go. I was getting cramps in my calf. The last few miles on the Capital Crescent Trail climbing into Bethesda were more than likely to be exceeding the newly posted 15mph speed limit (Massachusetts Ave. to Woodmont Ave.) which a newspaper article indicated the police plan to enforce. I was 37:06 reaching Max's day care which is the fastest in a long while. Perhaps I should take time off and match my heaviest weight ever, more often.

Fort Hunt Park, VA. I drove out after work to try to record the shade of green in some areas of the map I'm making and to go through some areas which I rushed through last time. The problem was that I didn't get into the field until close to 7pm so I was a bit rushed again. I was surprised a little bit by how some of the field edges had changed since my last visit. There were some newly fallen trees and at least one that had fallen had been cut up and removed. Fortunately the mapped root stock for that one remained. I mapped some of the vegetation transitions with GPS but for the changes from light green to green, and green to fight I was more apt to use dead reckoning. I was able to locate and map additional copses, locate and map some old fire rings and make some corrections to a few items. The grass was well mowed but in some places, I did step into hidden holes in the fields. The walking felt good since I hadn't done much lately. I should be able to get the updates into the map and be ready for the 4pm training session tomorrow but it looks like there will only be a handful of people able to come.

C • Saturday 2

Event: QOC Jug Bay
 

QOC: The Chase at Jug Bay. I was on travel for work earlier this week so I didn't do much. Since the US Team Trials (and a little before perhaps from the cycling) I had been feeling more pain in my knee. I hoped some of the time off would help but it hadn't. I've been feeling some slight pain even when sitting. I decided before the race that I wouldn't run. Pulling my back slightly the day before while holding Max and trying to open a store door that was locked, sealed it. I walked around carrying a camera backpack with lenses and video but I only used the DSLR. While walking, in the +95F heat and humidity, I was constantly acosted by mosquitos. I had to slap at them about every 5 seconds, even timing my photos of people running between the slaps. I hope I got some good shots. However, it was fun seeing the runners come through. After getting back to the finish area, it was much cooler and without mosquitos. A breeze off the water kept it nice on land but the fun was in splashing around in the cool water with the kids. Many runners took the plunge after finishing. It was high tide when Eddie finished (first by a long way) but near the end, the later runners had significantly less water to wade in and more mud. Despite the heat of the day, people stayed long (in the microclimate along the water) and had fun. A surprise for me was getting the 2008 QOC Volunteer of the Year Award. The club had so many people do spectacular things (new maps, club uniforms, Junior training programs, club license plates, string-O, and more) throughout this year so it was quite an honor. Tom Strat, a previous winner, gave me a very generous prelude in describing my accomplishments however much of my success was the result of the hard work of so many others in the club during the 2007 US Champs. The leadership and dedication that the Lennon's provided for all was quite a big part of everyone's success. Having been a past winner, I don't think I should have gotten the award again but it was a very nice thanks.