Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: QOC Combat Village
 

Quantico Marine Base, VA, on the Combat Village map. I circled the field at the start of QOC's event 5 times. Just before going out, I heard that Valerie Meyer had gotten hurt (injured or broken ankle?) and needed the help of an ambulance--ambulances are not usually waiting at QOC local events but because we were on the base, there was one waiting this time.

QOC: Combat Village on the Quantico Marine Base. This area was great terrain for orienteering. The woods were rather open with just a few exceptions. The hills were mostly moderate with several wide and flat areas of to be crossed. Though the map was old (US Championships were held here 1997) it was fairly accurate. The contours were just about spot on. The scale was 1:15,000. That threw me off for one leg--it was #6. It should have been short and easy with a road or direct option. Going directly, I pulled-up short circled back, got caught in some scary concertina wire w/o injuring myself much, then had to go to the road to relocate (about 2 minutes lost). In another area (I missed the map update that had been posted near the start so when I came off a small field that had been enlarged, I had to circle back to the control--I actually recovered from this very quickly, losing only between 1 and 2 minutes. I did blow 2 controls that others had trouble with too--I missed #2 and lost 3 minutes coming back to it, then I lost a minute by going right past #10, a pit on a hill top. The rest was good running. I was kind of tired, not feeling nearly as well as at Cabin John Regional Park last week, nor when at Little Bennett 2 weeks back. I made a smaller error trying to stay ahead of David Onkst; when i passed him at #18, went around unmapped green vegetation getting off-line and had to correct. Dave got to #19 before me but that got me riled in to running harder into the finish ahead of him again. It was a fun day.

Blue - Splits

From Northfield Rd. to Heampstead Ave., back to Northfield Rd., back to Heampstead Ave., and then back to Northfield Rd. I had rode with Max to his soccer game and realized that I hadn't brought a water bottle for him. Just before his game started, I went back home, and then back to the game. Finally, we rode together home. Max had scored 3 goals and gotten an assist that was practically a goal that bounced off his teammates shin guard and in. He was pretty happy.

From River Rd., out and back to Seven Locks Rd. via the Cabin John Trail. I had intended for a longer run and almost set out to do that when my old college roommate Ralph Keith had called to stop by in an hour. I was planning for a leisurely run but with being rushed to be back home, I only had a little time to do this. I felt a bit tired from recent running and the hills on this section of trail, though short, are often steep. The temperatures were around 70 F and it was sunny. That made for a beautiful day but the warmth may have affected me too. Going down the hills, I was not feeling so strong. I felt the need to slow to keep from losing balance and falling--with more strength, that wouldn't have been an issue. After the run, my left knee felt a bit bruised and that was perphaps something from going down a hill or two too fast. Callus on my right foot bothered me some too.

Bethesda, MD. After flying back home, I got out for a short run. I felt tired starting out--I'd been eating too much all week and. It was much warmer around 60 F, but also damp from an earlier rain. I picked-up the pace while heading into the end of the first mile (7:38). I also pushed it in at the end.

Lawrence, KS. On the West Campus of Kansas University, I joined the growing Orienteer Kansas club for some training. I had gotten out my work meetings late so I was late arriving. People had already done most of their workouts or were finishing up. Seeing Mary Jones on the way in, she directed me to the parking area. I got changed and went out in a rush (needing a bathroom but foregoing that). We were to do interval training on Ulrik's Hill. I hadn't done any interval training for years, having shied away from it to avoid injuries. I definately need to do that more. As I jogged down the hill I jogged with Ulrik himself, a student from Sweden who has been here temporarily. Ulrik started the actual interval behind me to get a longer length and said he was going to give me a head start. I needed it. Ulrik passed me not far after rounding a curve or two and just as we had really headed up the hill. I tried to keep him in sight and was mostly successful but he probably finished close to a minute ahead of me anyway. I had finished in 4:31.94. Ulrik was completing his 5th interval. I remember feeling like that long ago. Spike was recording all of this. I actually felt a bit more out of synch with not having warmed-up enough. It was windy and cool too. After the first interval, just about everyone else was done. One of the other OK guys thought he'd like to do another so I went with him (after a 5 minute rest). He was completing his 4th or 5th to my 2nd. After the jog down, we started together. I fell behind a bit but caught-up an passed the other guy. Interstingly enough, my second interval (both went to the stop sign where Ulrich had been stopping) was 4:31.67--I didn't do as many intervals as others but I was very consistent.

After the run, a few of us met downtown on the main drag in town and had a nice dinner with great company. It was kind of cosmopolitan with two unrelated Swedes, a guy from Kansas, a gal from NY, and me, a guy from DC.

In Overland Park, KS. From Dearbom Dr. and Indian Creek Dr., the Overland Park Trail to the Indian Creek Trail to Leawood City Park. There I did the loop around the pond then went basically back with a slight additional detour in Roe Park. I had started out feeling kind of funny and tight from sitting all day in a somewhat crowded office meeting. I thought I'd do 3-4 miles but at one mile out, I was surprised that it had passed so quickly. I felt fine after 2 so I set out to loop the pond. The trail followed the creeks slightly downhill on the way out but on the return, a slight breeze was at my back. Storms threatened to the west but they only made it a little more humid--it was around 62F. With the mostly flatish trail, I focused on running form and again this got me going quicker. I pushed in the last quarter mile.