Training Log Archive: Nadim

Wheaton Regional Park, MD. I went around Wheaton Regional Park with David Onkst to update the map for the QOC Introduction to Orienteering meet that will be held August 18th. The meet will only have White and Yellow courses so I went out in street shorts and Teva sandles. David pointed out some fences that weren't on the map and I spent a good bit of time doing updating for the playground that had been added a couple of years back. We also walked out to a large new rootstock to locate it. In the process, I added some other features and took tracks of trails. Some of them had moved and others weren't on the old map. In one place we realized that a mapped boulder had been taken. I guess it was removed when the did some work in the park. It was hot; in the lower 90s F by the time we finished. We didn't get to some ballfields which are in need of an update. There are a lot of things on the map that could use improvement. That type of serious overhaul will have to wait.

QOC Summer Short Series. Gary Smith and Karla Hulett hosted the training for this weekend out of their house near Fairfax, VA. For the Street-O, I had earlier opted away from the "Regular " course and against my leaning, took the "Extra Hilly " course. The area is somewhat hilly for running but compared to orienteering, the steepness wasn't terrible. I had hydrated earlier knowing that it was going to be hot--in the mid 90s F and humid. I loosened-up on the first couple of controls which were somewhat downhill. The map was suitable for cycling or better for a mountainbike. It was Gary's first and I'd helped put the initial base together over a year ago. Gary had taken the Condes default when printing it and so the route lines and controls circles were difficult to see. Most people had used markers to highlight over them. I was about the last to go out so I was a bit rushed. I missed highlighting over 2 legs/controls and subsequently misssed going to them. As I passed David Onkst after one and we'd converged, he explained to me that I'd missed #9. By the time I figured out where it was and how, I was already blocks away. With this being training, I didn't think it worth going back but later, after a long dog leg to #11, I picked-up #9 on the way to #12--this would of given me the equivalent distance had I run the full course and only missed that one control. I didn't discover having missed the other until after finishing. This was fairly fun though a bit long. Gary had estimated we'd cover 6 miles on the 7.9K course but with the dog-leggs and being limited to street or existing trail routes, it was significantly longer.

Afterward we drank and ate. My college roommate Ralph Keith was in the area and joined us. The whole group played a few games and watched Olympic competitions--the highlight was seeing a Tivo recording of Rupp's 10K second place finish--best for an American in a long while :). Max and Nicole sent the time making a music video which surpassed expectations.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arylawn Park with Max, then to Bradley Rd., Kennedy Dr. and the Capital Crescent Trail to get to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C., I rode alone and calmly for most of the way after dropping off Max--I was tired. Just before Georgetown, a posse of 3 went past but I caught-on. The group scattered after Georgetown and I resumed a calmer pace again. There were some pretty good headwinds along the water and I just finished-up easy.

From 12th & C Street, SW, Washington, D.C., to Ayrlawn Park, via Huntington Pkwy., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I was only slightly less rushed leaving work today. The tailwinds might have been better initially. I pushed at times but I was certain that I'd be slower than my ride yesterday because I wasn't trying as hard. It was quite surprising to find myself only 2 seconds slower. Max and I rode back with me enjoying the slow pace, and him struggling to get up hills.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arylawn Park with Max, then to Bradley Rd., Kennedy Dr. and the Capital Crescent Trail to get to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C., I rode alone after dropping off Max. I had started slower after leaving Max because I was feeling tired from the consecutive days of riding. It was a bit on the warm side too. While waiting at a traffic light on Bradley Rd, another guy came through and went ahead. When the light went green, using Kennnedy Dr., I got to the CCT with just a glimpse of him ahead. I gained for a while doing 23-24mph but realized that I was pushing too hard to do it before backing off. The winds were basically calm. There was a hint of something from the east but I could have just been tired.

From 12th & C Street, SW, Washington, D.C., to Ayrlawn Park, via Huntington Pkwy., then to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. As usual, I left work in a rush. A late meeting had been called and even though I was madly shutting down my computer during the call, I had to change and wait for a slow elevator; I left a few minutes later than I thought I could while still managing to pickup Max from camp his after care, in-time. The tailwinds helped again but even so, I was working it the whole way. On the CCT, I passed a lot of cyclists including a group of young teens in an orgainzed club training ride. Their strength to weight ratios were pretty awsome as is the fact that clubs around here have rides like this for their ages. I hardly watched the clock as I rode but kept hurrying and just managed to reach Max on time as they were shutting down. I did notice that had I gone directly, I would have made It ihome in 38:30. Picking Max up allowed me to meet his Martial Arts teacher--Max was given another camper of the day certificate. I had a nice slow warm-down ride with him going home.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arylawn Park with Max, then to Bradley Rd., Kennedy Dr. and the Capital Crescent Trail to get to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C., After dropping Max off, I rode alone. There were much appreciated tailwinds on Ohio Dr. from the west.

From 12th St & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I left work late again, so again I first had to ride through the courtyard and basement of the building to get to 12th & Independence Ave., SW. I rode quickly getting to Georgetown with traffic. That sure is fun getting a draft off the cars with some parts downhill, and actually passing cars moving or slowed in traffic. Like yesterday, there was a tailwind again--nice to get it both ways today. After Massachusetts Ave., I slowed again but not as much. I was already going slower to begin with.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Arylawn Park, then to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I was going to drive Max to camp but the van didn't start. Max and I rode there, then I rode into town, utilizing Bradley Rd. and Kennedy Dr. to get to the Capital Crescent Trail. I rode alone. There were headwinds from the SE. I tried not to push too much.

From 12th St & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. to to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I left work late so I first had to ride through the courtyard and basement of the building to get to 12th & Independence Ave., SW. I rode quickly getting to Georgetown with traffic and then a tailwind. The tailwind held up most of the way home but after Massachusetts Ave., I slowed more.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C. With some early traffic, I took a more relaxed pace getting to the Capital Cresent Trail (CCT). Some other cyclists converged there. My pace picked-up pulling the posse all the way to Georgetown. After Georgetown, I slowed up. There were headwinds from the E/SE. It was around 73 F starting out but with humidity and climbing temperatures, I was still wet when I finished.

From 12th & C Street, SW, washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I had a nice tailwind for most of the way. Not breaking 40 minutes (I wasn't watching the time) shows tiredness from increased cycling.

From Northfield Rd., to Lake Needwood, via Lake Frank. I rode on streets a lot trying to avoid the bumpier Rock Creek Trail. With traffic, I missed a turn. Loath to turn back, I ended up compounding the problem. Eventually back on the Rock Creek Trail, I went up the new paved trail to Lake Frank, taking a GPS track for use in updating the map. I never felt that strong on this ride. My legs ached on hills.

Lake Needwood. I went around trying to capture updates to the map that became necessary after the decherow storm a few weeks back. There were a bunch of new rootstocks, some close together. I took GPS tracks to help with the vegetation changes. Drafting in the field was more difficult without my compass; it's usually in a pouch that I keep for drafting but I think I lended it out a while back. To get rootstocks, I had to lineup with other mapped features.

From Lake Needwood, to Northfield Rd. I stuck to the Rock Creek Trail and Beach Dr. until Grosvenor Rd. and the Bethesda Trolley Trail. It was easier than going out but still felt like more work than it should have been.