Training Log Archive: Nadim

Manassas Battlefield Park, Stuart's Hill. Warm-up in the pavillion area. Some of this was running in place while in line.

C • Unfair Weight Advantage 3

QOC: Manassas Battlefield Park, Stuart's Hill. This was a fun outing. I didn't know what to wear with a strong cold wind but 50 F temperatures and some snow/ice over a lot of the ground. Driving to the park, I also got to see a lot of tree damage from recent ice and snow--I figured it'd be slower than mapped in the woods. After getting to the start, Andy Britton and I were ambivalent about whom should start first. I plowed-in and hit my first 2 controls well. Running fast in the open areas winded me (lack of training and I'm way too heavy).

Going to #3, I anticipated it being dot knoll on the side of a knoll near the road. I went straight to the road, passing the control before I got there--I don't usually complain about a mapping problem but after finishing I finally understand why I've been making errors in this area (previous 2010 race included). The mapping makes it look like a knoll near the road but that's partly because there is a tick mark on the wrong side of a contour. I should have been looking for a dot knoll on the side of a depression; additionally, the control was further east (toward #2) than is mapped. Had I been thinking, I should have realized I was going too far but a knoll further ahead had some features and was mis-mapped too. That knoll should have been mapped with scattered open or even open since it had grass and distinct trees were mapped. Leg #3 cost me about 5 minutes.

I didn't like making an error so early on but figured I could still make the best of it. I hit the next several controls pretty well and though I still felt slow at times, I was still moving swiftly at a pace I felt more comfortable with. I skipped taking water at #7 and after the short leg to #8, I headed back toward #7 a bit to get through the deadfall where I knew it was not too bad. after getting through it and over the ridge I cut back to the right. I ran along the deadfall, on the side of the ridge expecting to see the control but somehow missed it. I could see below where #6 was and I could see a ditch leading out of it. I circled a while before coming back and finding it. A couple that I'd seen at #7 was just getting to it and Andy Britton got there right behind me after making an error of his own. Leg #9 cost me about 4 minutes. Our course setter afterward told me that he had picked the location when there was more snow on the ground, himself raising the question of the location; it was at least close but there were other stoney ground areas very nearby.

I chased down the couple while going to #10 and trying to get away from Andy; in the process I got a little bit too low, perhaps drawn down by the couple's line. To get around the green, I went a bit out of the way to get into the field when going to #11. I passed Sid Sachs at the creek crossing and spiked the control. Andy was still right behind me. I saw #12 and #13 from far off, spiking those. On each control, I was trying to read ahead just before getting there so that I could exit well. On the leg to #14, I tried to get to a trail w/o finding it. The vegetation pushed me more right than I wanted and I briefly lost contact with the map. I felt assured when I hear Andy nearby again, then relocated in a field. Attacking from the pond, I pulled-up short before going further and seeing it.

I ran straight to #15 and exited that well by climbing up the ridge, left of the straight line. That got me around some deadfall. I couldn't hear Andy chasing as I descended through some deadfall. I felt I was moving well and efficiently through it. I crossed the main stream then heard Andy running parallel on my right, on the other side. I believe I turned left up the correct side stream but couldn't see the control. I must not have gone far enough. I figured I had the wrong stream so I went on down further. Before relocating between two stream junctions, I saw Andy again running on the other side of the main stream--I figured he'd found the control and was moving-on. When I went back, I finally found #16 when coming from the NE. To my surprise, when leaving I saw Andy approaching. Leg #16 cost me about 5 minutes.

I knew it was inevitable that Andy would beat me overall at this point but I felt my day would be saved if I could stay ahead of him. It was (but it was fun running with Andy too). I crossed the main stream, took a more direct line over the ridge (I had anticipated being able to contour around it but the slope was too steep), then crossed the stream quickly again to get to the GO control. I was tired but it felt good running hard for most of the way in. In fact, it felt good having Andy to push me to run harder the last 8 controls and to get most of it accurately. Of course, it would have been better without the mishap at #16. Overall, it looks like I lost +13 minutes on the course which is pretty bad.

Red - Splits

Spinning and watching a movie.

From Northfield Rd., Custer Rd. to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Beech Rd. to Heampsteadt Ave. to McKinley St., to Garfield St. to Roosevelt. St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. It was 27 F; there were some icy spots but generally it was fine for running. I felt okay and stretched a little bit afterward.

Spinning and watching TV.

Washington, D.C. From 14th St. and Independence Ave. SW, to 15th St. around the Jefferson Memorial on Ohio Dr. to the 14th St. Bridge, to the Mt. Vernon Trail, to Memorial Bridge, to Lincoln Circle, to Daniel French Dr. to Independence Ave. to 12th St. SW. I made sure to get out of work at a reasonable time and quickly got ready for this run. Though I'd have liked to run homeward, it didn't make sense to do that leaving my coat and other work clothes so I just did a loop. I felt pretty slowish. It was dusk when I started by clearly not dark. I started to feel some wetness from the sky that later turned into a light snow shower. By the time I finished the run and made my way home, the light snow had started to cover the street.

It's funny how time will make you forget the pains and plagues of the past; like its a protective mechanism. I had been tightening-up rather quickly after the run and I remembered what I couldn't (even though I gave it a thought) while running--namely that my left calf often felt like it was torn when I went for short runs. The tight feeling after this run was similar but a bit more to the right. I take it being in a different place to be a good thing.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. in the dark. I felt a bit more tired going home into a cold wind.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. There wasn't much ice left on the roads. It was cold taking Max to the bus stop but the sun was warming things fast and it felt good on the short ride.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. in the dark. I caught the traffic lights pretty well but did have stops at Wilson Ln. and Huntington Pkwy. I was feeling pretty good and was spinning well.

From Northfield Rd., Moreland Ln. to Custer Rd. to Huntington Pkwy., to Old Georgetown Rd., to Johnson Ave. to Heamsteadt Ave. to McKinley St., to Garfield St. to Roosevelt. St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. I felt the need to run and having gotten more sleep I felt more up to going out late. My motivation was helped by it being warmer. There were still a few icy spots.