Training Log Archive: Nadim

At Stone Mill Elementary School, Gaithersburg, MD. I did laps around a grassy field as Max and his team played another team and won. It was a close game. The temperature was in the 70's F and it was a bit humid. I didn't feel all that strong running but I was able to run. I got a kink in my neck later on.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. My left knee was aching a bit.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. All of the pipe re-work cuts in the road combined with the potholes through the Edgemoor neighborhood are getting to be a pain in the butt.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was 57 F starting out; there was no wind but lots of moisture in the air from the rains over the last 12 hours. I was detoured onto the C&O Towpath again--it was less muddy than yesterday but still muddy. I got some help from a guy who had gotton on the trail around Massachusets Ave. and caught me at around the McArthur Blvd. tunnel. He moved us along at 25-26mph for a while, then slowed. I took over again, slower still, till we got detoured. I'd worn arm sleeves because of the coolness with the moisture in tha air and was a little more sweaty than I've been of late by the time I was done. Overall I felt stronger.

From C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. There was a lot of traffic getting out D.C. and some headwinds going back. I was detoured onto the C&O Towpath again. It was in the 70s F. I sweat a lot more than I had in a long while.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was 53 F starting out, and there was a headwind from the east. I was detoured onto the C&O Towpath again. I had a late sushi dinner plus dessert last night and hit an all-time high for my weight this morning. I think this is mostly an anomoly but it will take me more effort to not take too much advantage of tasty foods. I rode steadily and kept passing people.

From C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Bethesda, MD, to Northfield Rd. I was detoured onto the C&O Towpath again. This time it was damp, puddled, and slower from the noontime rain. I moved steadily. There were headwinds. I saw David Onkst who was on a run again. This time he was headed in toward D.C. We confirmed timing for our trip.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. It was a bit damp outside. I was tempted to ride all the way in but anticipating mud on the towpath put that to rest. My quadricepts felt sore--not used to riding a lot yet. On the metro escalator, it wasn't crowded so I launched into running down the stairs as I usually would. I'd forgotten about my calf and didn't feel it until after having sat through my ride on the train. When I walked, my calf was sore and feeling more re-injured from running down the stairs.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd., in the dark. I was trying to avoid the potholes. The air felt comfortable at about 57 F.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was 47 F starting out, and sunny--good weather for the removeable arm sleeves that I wore, plus an extra t-shirt. At the beginning, I realized I'd forgotten my helmet so I turned back--guess it was the short haircut I had yesterday that threw me off (Max was unhappy about his haircut which still left it long enough to call long). I had mixed winds but mostly a tailwind from the NW. I moved along well but felt strained at times. My quads were sore or tired. I seemed to have gotten caught from behind but instead of passing me, the guy drafted behind me. I got detoured onto the C&O Towpath again.

From C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Bethesda, MD, to Northfield Rd. I was detoured onto the C&O Towpath again. I'm getting good at avoiding the bumps with my 23mm tires, while passing other people. My quads were hurting initially. I guess they got better after warming up. I was sort of being chased by clouds and the first drop I felt was just before turning onto Northfield Rd.

Event: QOC Mason Neck
 

Mason Neck State Park, VA. Warm-up in the field before QOC's event.

QOC: Mason Neck State Park, VA. I decided to go out on the Green course so that I didn't over-extend myself. It was encouraging that I could do some running in the woods without my calf flaring-up yesterday. I recall that I had similar experiences 2 years ago.

S-1 Today I had troubles. At the start, I did a 180.

1-2 I ran a bad bearing leaving #1 and hit a road to the east that I hadn't planned on. It did however allow me a decent attack point. I ran about 20m past the 2nd control but somehow knew and turned back to see it behind some trees.

2-3 I had a rough plan on reading the vegetation to turn into #3 but again, when leaving #2, I was further to the left. I corrected at about the right time but did some more zig-zagging to get to the control. It was rather surprising that I got to it in as little time as I had considering the way I tried.

3-4 I went straight but pulled-up one vague flat reentrant before the correct one. I realized this and again was able to correct very well, all considered.

4-5 I planned to follow the marsh to the control but when I got a little higher, I suspected that I'd passed it. I turned back, then turned back again, going past where I'd been. The control was much further up the marsh than expected.

5-6 - When leaving #5, I angled over to the spur but thought I was angling more to the west to do this--that'd support the control being further up the reentrant than expected. I ran along the left side of the vague ridge. At some points I thought I was too high, and at others I thought I was too low. When I hadn't seen the marsh on the direct route, I felt I was to the left too much. At the road, to make sure I didn't miss the reentrant, I aimed-off to the left. This probably brought me further to the left than I should have. I was able to cut right when I saw the reentrant and kept going till I found the control. I think the control might have been too far up the reentrant because it extends beyond the contour.

6-7 I went straight along the reentrant to the control. Like many legs today, it seemed a long way to the control.

7-8 - I ran straight at it but it seemed like I was passing more reentrants than are on the map. Still, I spiked it running on the hillside.

8-9 - I again went straight, using the contours to figure my position. Going over other the 2nd to last reentrant, I felt I had drifted to the right too much so I made a correction to the left. Going over the last reentrant I saw Frantisek and other people hunting. I did too going right (to the west) initially. It seemed like I was getting to where the reentrant ended so I turned around going east. When I got to a bend, I turned around again, now relocated, and ran to the control just past where I'd thought the reentrant ended.

9-10 - I ran straight, going through the green. It wasn't bad. I drifted left a little coming to the trail near the bridge (I couldn't locate the bridge on the map because I'd left my glasses in the car), but I recognized the marsh and trail bend. Mark Mace was on the other side of the road at a stand still (I later learned that due to the pollen in his eyes, he was having a lot of trouble with #10 and other controls) however we both plunged in and went almost straight to the control.

10-11 I decided not to use the road. Mark seemed headed there. I was going to angle over to the trail along the reentrant but I kept drifting left and seeing the road. Even after crossing the reentrant and not seeing the trail at all, I saw the road to my left again. Finally I cut over more and got on the trail. At an intersection with a white control, I felt good enough to cut across remaining trails and use the tip of the first reentrant to attack to the control in the second.

11-F - I angled left to reduce the climb and get around the out of bounds house. After that I used the road. The heat and distance were wearing on me so I just plodded in.

The good thing about today was being able to relocate well. I'm not sure why I kept drifting left. Maybe it was my injury, the vegetation, or not using my eyeglasses. Still it was a fun day. I generally like running this flat stuff and thought Gary set a pretty nice course.

Green - Splits