Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: Susquehanna Stumble IX
 

SVO Susquehanna Stumble IX. I went in with no real expectations but came away with one of the better results in a long while. Mostly, I was happy to be able to finish without dieing too badly; due to my generally poor fitness level. The early pace was quick as is with most mass start events. By around the 5th control Ted Good and I started running together and stayed that way until just after control 24. I pulled away mostly because Ted was slowing faster than I was. I'm sure Ted and some others kept me from making errors at times and I hope I did the same. My window choices were: [B, C, A], [G, D, F, E, H], [K, J, L, I], and [O, P, M, Q, N].

I had intended to go [C, B, A] on the first window but Ken Walker Jr., Eddie Bergeron, and Chris Gross (Short Stumble) were going [B, C, A] and I wanted to maintain contact. I was planning to do [H, E, F, D, G] for the next window but Ted and I discussed it on the run and did [G, D, F, E, H]. I almost missed seeing control L on the map but being with Ted helped out there. Going to #24, I started to pull away from Ted but I missed seeing an attack point and ran almost 400m out of the way. I did pull away on the way toward #25 but saw Ted again leaving control P as I was coming into the area. I probably took a sub-optimal control order in that last window but stayed ahead of Ted to finish 4th overall.

My overall endurance was okay. I slowed when needed to keep from cramping badly.

Long - Splits

From Mark Twain School in Rockville, fieldchecking in Rock Creek Park. I got into the woods somewhere around 8:45am on Saturday; pretty good for me lately. I rechecked some areas mapped earlier but spent most of the time north of Rte. 28 mapping technical areas and fixing some point features not very close to other things. It started raining steadily, then lightly. It stopped just about when I left. The park has many nice areas. I happened to see a fox and many deer. As I got further north, the base map contours got steadily worse. At one point, I could see no evidence of an entire reentrant that was transferred from the USGS map. I'm fairly sure that another is shown much further south than it really is. All this problems make it much harder to map. I'll have to go back to fix it. I did find many neat features elsewhere including some ruined cairns, several depressions close to each other, a large group of rocky dot knolls, linear marshes with some muddy depressions, some odd rides, and sewer manholes in the middle of nowhere. There were some really open fast woods on a ridge where many deer were hanging out.

From the Medical Center Metro Station in Bethesda to Rosedale Ave. Going home from work I got to the top of the long escalator and found a cold wet wind. I waited out the worst of the thunder storm, then ran in my work clothes (dress shoes and tie) with a backpack through the rain. I arrived home wet in front and dry on my back and feet.

C • wet! 3

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD, to Montgomery Ave., back to Rosedale Ave., back to Montgomery Ave., then to 12 & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I had towed Max 3/4's of the way to his new daycare when I realized that I left his lunch at home. I continued to drop him off, went back home to pickup his lunch and drop off the trailer, dropped his lunch off, then proceeded to work. It was about 57F when I started; perhaps cool for Max but nice later going in. I was a bit tired and was only doing 19mph down the hill. I felt it in my legs, and arms; my left hamstring was feeling tight. At Fletcher's Boathouse, I got passed and caught a draft to Georgetown doing about 21mph. I took the shortcut up Independence Ave.

From 12th & C St. S.W., Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. It was great weather out. I was surprised to have a tailwind for at least part of the way which helped me keep a steady pace.

From Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD to C St. SW, Washington, D.C. I rode over to Max's new daycare with the thought that in the future, I'll be able to tow him there in a trailer; it was Max's first day there so since we were all going, Peggy drove him. He seemed to enjoy things (a bit clingy when he realized we'd be leaving) but we both got out without a fuss. It was a fabulous early Autum sunny morning. I cut across town on sidewalks to the Capital Crescent Trail as usual but made some stops to take pictures. I also got on the C&O Canal Towpath for a ways (bumpy). To make-up for lost time, I cut up Independence Ave. and surprisingly got nearly the same distance that I usually do.

From 12th & C St. S.W., Washington, D.C. to Rosedale Ave., Bethesda, MD. I certainly didn't feel very strong. Strong initial headwinds made it worse. I worked on spinning again. After heavy traffic in Georgetown, I passed and picked-up in tow an older woman cyclist who drafted me all the way to Bethesda. Though the commute time was slow, all things considered, I was pleased.