Training Log Archive: Nadim

Great Falls, MD, at the Angler's Inn parking. I went to most of the locations that I had been to on Wednesday to check codes and make sure there was a streamer on each one. I went to new control locations too. I had also gone to the remaining reflectors that I'd set out last fall. They were all there this time. I moved okay at a walking pace but a few times, I aggravated my right knee injury. One time was when trying to go up a steep slope. A few times were when my right foot got caught on something as I was walking forward. It hurt sharply each time. Going down or up steeper slopes got harder after that.

The forest was pretty good. Despite walking, I missed on 2 controls. Both involved approaches through long sections of saplings with no nearby attack point. Neither will be in a course planned for Saturday. Going earlier and having better light helped me do some map updates. Most of the updates had to do with vegetation changes. The saplings have grown and spread in most of the updates. I did get at least one more boulder. I found a new social trail too.

Great Falls, MD. I got out after work and it was already getting late when I left home. About half a mile away, I realized I'd not brought my roll of streamer, but I didn't want to waste any more time, so I didn't turn back. I had some markers. I both set controls and picked-up controls, often moving the ones I'd just picked-up. The controls being picked up were reflective, and had been out since last fall. They looked to be in good shape. Most of the streamers were gone. One reflective marker was gone too. I did some updating of the map as I went along on legs. There were several new trees down in the southern end of the map. Saplings had filled-in some places too. Despite cooler temperatures mosquitoes were out for a while. Though cool, it was rather humid and I sweat a bunch. I didn't finish, so I plan to be back.

I did try running a few times. The ground was soft. Paces mapped wet on the map were wet, and more. I was able to run okay but one time crossing a big log and jumping down, my right knee didn't like that. As it was getting darker and I was less able to do fine navigation, I decided to head in. I jogged an easy downhill section off trail and for some reason, I tweaked something in me left hamstring. It wasn't bad but trying to run some more didn't really work. Eventually I walked back and did so quickly. I even had another hiker just about behind me when our trails merged and both of us were pushing to get back. I left the parking lot at 8:32pm with a little more light in the sky, but not in the forest.