Training Log Archive: Nadim

QOC: Lake Accotink Park, VA. We got to the park late and had only a few minutes to get ourselves ready and out onto the course. It was a score-o. Peggy set out a few minutes before me. The course was not that complex and it seemed to make sense to get the higher-up controls first. They were ones on the south side of the main trail. I was surprised to see her at my third control. I headed to the 4th one ahead of her but let myself get drawn-off when she cut in early while still a bit behind me. That let her get to our 4th control right after me. We split apart from there with me going north, downhill using the big trail to get into the fenced-in area--that should have been a mistake for me since I didn't realize it was a fenced-in area until already committed, however there was a break in the fence in a convenient place that let me get in and another convenient break that let me get out on the higher southern side. From there things went a bit wrong for a while. I missed #136 which was somewhat obscured in vegetation as I found out later. I hit #134 instead. Going for #128 in the field, I made a horrendous error. It was probably due to an extra mountain bike trail somewhere, and not watching my compass well enough. I mistook the large fenced-in compound with buildings for the much smaller grassy area at #128. The buildings were not on the map, as that area was completely left off. I went around the compound hesitantly, passing #128 as I did. I realized where I was when I saw the twisting road near #124. I got #124, #119, and then came back for #124. I found it hard for not the first time this day, to keep a straight bearing when going to #137. Fortunately I could read the trails that I hit. I picked-up #144, and #138, then went back up for #130. Since I'd missed #136, I had to go back up further, before coming back down to #105. I saw Peggy as I hit the trail and even predicted it before I saw her. She chased me toward #132 and #125; partly helping by indicating that we should cut in off the big trail later than I was thinking about. She trailed me again through #143 and #102, where upon I opened a bit of a gap. I had been getting tired for a while already by then and was not running well. As I passed the start/finish, I had about 8 1/2 minutes. I figured I might get 2 more controls. My downfall was going for #131 and getting in the circle somewhat slowly due to the thicker vegetation I went through. Not finding it in the expected place I looked at the time and figured I had no more time to lose. I headed back without getting it punching with just about exactly a minute left on our 75 minute time limit. Peggy was wiser and picked-up the control closer to the start, #140, so she beat me by 10 points. Though I moved slowly through the thicker vegetation, I felt good in not being slowed too much by my cycling. My race-pace through the still summer vegetation led to more navigation errors than I have been doing when running more slowly in other races this year but I think that will improve. Even with glasses, I had some trouble reading this map in places and hope that isn't repeated.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. After loosening-up, I moved well down the trail. I caught one person who passed me back for a while. After drafting on him down to Fletcher's Boathouse, I passed him again. The weather was probaby slightly cooler than yesterday. There was a trace of a tailwind along the water after Georgetown. I once again got a little tired in the last half mile.

From 12th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Rock Creek Pkwy. up Beach Dr., to Grosvenor Rd., to Rockville Pike, to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to Old Georgetown Rd. to Huntington Pkwy. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. We were supposed to get off work early but I had a lot to do and left not long before my usual time. I must admit having wanted to get over 100 miles cycling for the week, and thus wanting to extend my commute--I haven't ridden much this year and I usually have several weeks above that amount plus at least one week where I commute 5 days in a row. Given the weather and other demands, this could have been my only chance to break 100 miles. I rode nicely and more easily than the morning. Initially I made good time going up Rock Creek, but I hit the usual traffic--this time I didn't try to weave my way through and the result was about 3/4 of a mile in 14 minutes. The rest wasn't bad except for one woman who for no apparent reason started yelling at me. I guess she thought bicycles didn't belong on the road. I struggled with hills toward the end. My riding time is an estimate. In the evening, we went out to celebrate it being one year since we adopted Samantha.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I woke-up late so I rode a little harder. Initially, it seemed that there were no other riders on the trail but I started catching-up to a crowd of them at Dalecarlia. I had a slight tailwind along the water after Georgetown. I suddenly tired out just before finishing and shortly after turning away from the tailwind. My back was also aching the last couple of miles.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I left just before 6pm. A small thunderstorm had just passed so there was some dampness on the ground and higher than usual humidity. Though the temperature started out about as warm as expected, there was a nice tailwind going into Georgetown. I had spun quickly. There was some traffic in Georgetown where part of water street was closed near the Rock Creek Pkwy., but after that it was nice again. I moved steadily catching a lot of riders. One roadie got on the trail a little ahead of me. After passing him, we traded leads several times. He would draft on me, then move ahead much more quickly such as at the overpasses--I just wasn't climbing that well. Instead, after getting behind, I'd slowly catch and pass him. After finishing, I was a little surprised at how fast I'd ridden. Maybe I'm starting to get used to cycling and am getting in better shape.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I left just before 8am. There were a lot of pedestrians near Bethesda. It was warm (79 F) by the time I was at work and also humid. I felt pretty tired the last few miles. That doesn't usually happen since most of the ride is downhill. My heel still hurts in the mornings; I stretched it a few times.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I left just before 6pm. There was a warm headwind getting to Georgetown but I seemed to get through it easier than expected. I rode my own pace, feeling better than the morning but still trying not to push too hard. I still managed to pass and pickup two drafters.

Max was sick so I stayed home with him. I got a bunch of outside-of-the-house maintenance chores done, some picture work, and some work work done and before I knew it, the day had gone by. When I did think of running, I felt that my legs were pretty tired from all of the working out that have been doing lately.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was the first day of school so there was a mix of things to do that the kids didn't get to the night before, to get ready. I got them to their new before-care room, then got the rest of my stuff ready, including putting my laptop into my backpack. On the road just before 8am, there was a light shower. On the Capital Crescent Trail, a guy who looked fast got on the trail just ahead of me but he was taking it easy enough that I passed him before River Rd. and never saw him again. There was another light shower on the flats before Georgetown. With the humidity and active weekend, I was feeling tired. I took it easier finishing up. While getting dressed, I realized that I'd left my work shoes at home! :( At least bare feet on the carpet feels good.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I rode okay, getting passed by one guy along the way. Though he moved by me quickly, I kept seeing him about 100m up for a few miles. There was a lot of cycling and running traffic in DC.

Patuxent River Regional Park, MD. I didn't get started quite as early as I would have liked to have done but I got-in some good work checking control locations for QOC's celebration of National Orienteering Day (NOD) on 9/27. I thought the woods were pretty nice considering it is still technically summer, and the unofficial last day of summer break for kids in our area. Marshes were wet in areas, but not as bad as they could be. There must be a lot of deer in the park these days. Where there wasn't much deadfall, there wasn't much vegetation on the ground. I actually felt good running to most controls. For the area I covered today,the ground was mostly flat so that helped. I used my old Integrator shoes and I thought they might have been part of the reason, however, as the sole started to separate on my right shoe, and flopped about, I was still feeling pretty good when running. There were several trucks parked on one road who appeared to be there for running scent dogs. On another road the vegetation had been cut back for a buffer but the result left a good bit of a deadfall barrier that wasn't there before. I felt fortunate to find a new trail in a somewhat useful area. I had forgotten to wear my GPS watch so I took a good bit of time mapping it out manually. I vaguely remember a very old version of the map that might have had a similar trail once.

I was rushed at the end so I ran harder. I got back home just minutes late for a movie that I planned to take Max and a friend of his to (traffic contributed to this). We caught a later show after Peggy had her run, though we had to rush again.