Training Log Archive: Nadim

SSS Squirrel Kill Map Sprint, in Ft. Meade, MD. After not doing so good on the written test, I went out on the sprint event, using the piecemealed together by other participants and set by them too only minutes earlier. I started out just fine then going from 9-10, things got very confusing as I went around some unmapped green. I ended up at 11 and thought something was wrong but wasn't sure because we didn't have clue descriptions. I hunted for the next one in the wrong place because of this, then found #12, just after Dave Onkst caught-up on his run. I miss interpreted a solid rectangle on the map for a building, and missed #14. Dave found that before I did and finished ahead of me. The exercise was to show people how hard it is to map and how different things can be interpreted differently.

SSS Squirrel Kill in Ft. Meade. On the score-O, I made the mistake of beginning by trying to get some nearby controls that involved going through the green. At frist, I didn't know what I was looking for in the forest. The controls were not the normal bags but pink streamers with a picture of a squirrel tied to them. There were lots of other streamers in the woods and the areas I went through were bad. The 1:10,000 distance contrasted sharply with the 1:750 scale used for the collectivelty made map sprint so I kept oming up short. Using some new trail shoes, I was less steady too. I found my first two controls okay, but had trouble reading the map for my 3rd and 4th controls. Using the contours, I figured that I'd gotten to control 5 when I was really at control 4--I don't think they were numbered so when I left what turned out to be #4, I went through a long section of really bad thorny forest. I came out to Frontier Rd., then back throught the start to get others. I was navigating better after that but still had trouble running. The stilt grasses hid fallen limbs and I ran into other green forest. The only time I was really running was on the way back. I ended-up being overtime and taking a penalty. This was the least fun part of the Squirrel Kill events for me.

SSS Squirrel Kill at Ft. Meade, MD. I guess there were close to 30 controls with epunching. Max Lennon had set the 600 ft. course around Ted Good's house. It involved looping a tree, ducking under a fallen tree, and darting around other obstacles. I bashed my left knee on a boulder after getting out of the fallen tree control. The string-o was fun and tiring.

SSS Squirrel Kill at Ft. Meade, MD. Running the same course, I was looking to better my time. Kathleen Lennon and I had tied on the first run. I flubbed punching some early controls, did not bash my leg on the boulder this time, and then pushed into the finish. By the end I had improved my technique and shaved 2 seconds for the fastest run of the evening.

We had lot's of fun doing the events and playing games in the party afterward. The day raised a lot of money for USA O-teams.

I intended to ride but was running late in the morning. Dinner plans and rain in the evening gave me a rest day.

From Northfield Rd. to Arlington Rd. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. I was feeling a bit tired this morning. This just puts me over 1,000 miles for the year--not a large amount but I believe it's more than at this point last year.

Washington, D.C. From 14th and Independence Ave., SW, down the Mall past the Lincoln Memorial, onto the Rock Creek Trail to National Zoo Dr., up Olmstead Walk to Connecticut Ave, NW. to the Cleveland Park Metro Station. Starting out, it was mid to upper 80's F, with thunderstorms visible but not doing much where I was. I felt slowish with heavy tired quads from cycling. Passing the Reflecting Pool, I was surprised to see that the construction was still continuing. The pool was still completely dug-up but the wooden pilings that they'd been driving into the ground to support the new yet to be built bottom were all sunk and mostly cut off; hardly visible. Some tourists I passed mistook the Korean War Veteran's Memorial for the Vietnam Memorial which is on the other side of the pool. Later the breeze blowing off the river from the coming storm felt good.

At the last bend in the C&O Canal as it leaves Georgetown, I saw a Great Blue Heron fishing just yards away from the Rock Creek Pkwy. and the very busy Pennsylvania Ave. Once past the P St. bridge, my running became more smooth and relaxed but the thundering was louder. I soon passed several bucks hanging out right next to the trail, still close to the parkway and the large DC population, with multiple, and nearly fully pointed racks. A light rain became steadier. Underneath the Calvert St. bridge, but very visible to the cars passing by, someone had written in big lettered graffiti: "Those who trade freedom for security deserve neither". I climbed the Olmstead walk slowly seeing no animals at all, as they were safe inside. It was all good for a stormy run. In the metro system that I took to get back to Bethesda after the run, I again astounded many who wondered how I got so drippy. I think there was more sweat from being in the 100% humidity than the light rain.

From the Bethesda metro station to Arlington Rd. to get Max's trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd. The rain had fallen harder in Bethesda but was finished when I came out. I rode slowly and like Spike being wet a few days ago, I was pleasantly chilled for a little while.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Ave. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was another fine day to ride for any month, let alone August. It was around 70 F. I cruised by myself keeping a comfortable pace and cadence. The one thing I like about my commuter bike compared to my road bike is the steadiness it rides with--it's heavy enough to make it feel like it goes over bumps without as much bouncing in the wrong directions.

From 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD, to pickup Max's trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd. I was pleased at lunchtime to see the flags on the Washington Monument. It wasn't for the remarkable sight it is, I see that about 5 times a week. I noted the winds blowing north. I hadn't noticed them in the morning as a headwind but this meant a tailwind going home. There was plenty of trail traffic and passing on my slower commuter bike took extra care. I was just over 40 minutes at Arlington Ave.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arlington Ave. with Max on his trail-a-bike, then to 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. Since I had to drop Max off on my way toward DC, I rode my slower commuter bike the whole way for the first time in a long while. It felt slower but I seemed to be going as fast or faster with a tailwind in places. I also had help from a guy I got behind at Falls Rd. I had switched-off leading before getting to Fletcher's Boathouse but he was rather much stronger and took us the last 3/4 miles into Georgetown. I think he stopped there because I went on past on Water St. I pushed a little on Ohio Dr. to make sure to get under 40:00 minutes.

From 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD, to pickup Max's trail-a-bike, then to Northfield Rd. The headwinds were blowing pretty well but with the shelter of buses, trees, and some drafting, the ride home wasn't so bad. Before Fletcher's Boathouse, another guy with really thick calves but who otherwise didn't look that fit, went by me. I stayed with him till he stopped for a drink at the fountain near the water treatment plant. I worked on cadence

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 Greenwick Park. It was a very nice night for August in this area. The temperature was around 70 F. I had intended to do a run of this sort yesterday but got thunderstormed out. The threat of rain and a new schedule for getting Max to camp kept me from cycle commuting so I was glad to have done it today. I felt fine through most of the run and wasn't trying to run fast. I mainly wanted to maintain a pace and sometimes I worked on the back stroke of my stride. It was still fairly humid so I got soaked and still got tired. I've been eating too much and staying up too late lately. It was mostly fun. I hadn't been out on a run like this on a quiet night in a long while.