Training Log Archive: Nadim

Cabin John Park, MD. From the Westlake Dr. parking lot near the power lines, I covered most of the remaining areas around power lines and the parts between it and Tuckerman Rd. I found substantial features though none are still very difficult with so many roads and trails carving-up the land. One unmapped feature was a complete deer skeleton. The temperature was around 40 F most of the time. The first time I crossed the creek, I got my drafting paper wet. Fortunately the breeze and sunshine dried it out again. On my return crossing, I had planned to use the bridge in the power lines but I discovered that the concrete bridge had been washed away. Hopping rocks I only got one foot wet. It was nice to have the day off.

Event: QOC PWF Happyland
 

QOC: Prince William Forest at Happyland. This was at the Day 1 sight of the 2007 US Championships that I was meet director for and which I had vetted courses. I still enjoy the area though there is some green to get around. Chuck Ferguson was the course setter and he'd gotten us over the creek without needing the bridge. This was a concern voiced before the start but it turned out not to be that bad for me; just thick in around the creek. I was running well and had good concentration on the first loop. Starting the second, in the areas west of the campground I had troubles. This side of the map is flatter and has some things I'd like fixed/updated on the map. I got a stick poked in my eye partway through this loop and it broke-off with me unable to get the piece out. However, my worst troubles were just fatigue related loss of concentration on the 15th control. I lost about 8 minutes pulling up short and making a parallel error. The rest was okay. It was fun getting to this park which unlike most of our areas requires much more technical ability and has fewer or less obvious catching features. See the Split List. I also would have enjoyed it if I had the opportunity to run the Possum Trot this year.

Warm-up run with David Onkst at Happyland (Camp 5) in Prince William Forest, VA. I was still a bit sleepy so this helped wake me up.

Blue - Splits

QOC: Prince William Forest at Happyland. Arriving late for training, and with Max already playing with the Lennon kids, I grabbed a map, went right out and did a short sprint. I hadn't even changed my clothes. I wore my jeans and my pyle jacket. I didn't take my compass. Most of the controls were on cabins or at trail intersections. The map was designed to be printed at 1:10,000 scale so some things on the 1:5,000 printing were askew and cabin sizes were not relatively correct in size. I shot past the third control after looking at the correct corner of the cabin but it was hung a bit on the side not visible to me. The rest were okay. I had been cold before starting but was well warmed up afterward. I finished at the start instead of at number 8 where the course stopped.

In the evening we had a potluck dinner and a game night. It was all quite fun. We retired to warm group cabins but the acoustics were such that every noise could be heard and was amplified by resonance off the concrete and wooden box\booth beds.

From Northfield Rd. to the Bethesda Metro Station. The temperature was in the low 40's or upper 30's F.

45 situps. I was a bit lazy after coming home from work late.