Training Log Archive: Nadim

Lake Clopper, MD. From Kingfisher Overlook, clockwise around Lake Clopper, then up the Greenway Trail to the park entrance area, to the Old Pond Trail, back to the Greenway Trail, then following an intermittent old road trail back toward the parking lot. The trails were muddy and icy today. Some of the trails had been relocated for erosion control. I felt alright for about a half mile, then I starting feeling slow and tired from the running yesterday. This kept up for the rest of the run. Hills especially took it out of me and there were plenty enough of them. I would have run longer but had to get back to pickup Max from a birthday party where he was playing Laser tag.

I should really get started mapping the area. I dont think it would take long to field check. Looking at what I passed in the dead of winter today, the areas were just about wide open. It would be good for more local events. It would not however be very technical. There was an almost dearth of features in a lot of areas, except for the contours. Even the contours were rather general. There was more to map along the steeper hillsides of Seneca Creek. In the Old Pond area, there was a small area of nicely scattered large boulders. I know from other runs that the Long Draft stream valley has more features too.

Event: QOC Greenbelt
 

Nadim in the field. Greenbelt Park, MD.

QOC: Stumble Bumble, Greenbelt Park, MD. Running the equivalent of the Blue handicap course, I ran the full course that David Onkst set for QOC. It was fun. The new map painstakingly produced by Diana Todd is an improvement. The woods were the same.

I had trouble right at the start. Being a little rushed, I had done everything for pre-race except to remember to wear my glasses. I realized it seconds before the start. Sooo..., I had trouble right off. At the mass start, a lot of the crowd got out in front of me. The direct route appeared to be getting jammed so I kept in the field longer, then attacked from the backstop. This got me around a lot of people and I punched about close to where I thought I ought to be.

For #2, there was still more stumbling as the crowd tried to cross the creek with some earth banks blocking the way. Getting around them to the right, I lost my focus on the map; a better description would be that I lost attention to the map because it was a long while before I felt I was getting any focus on it w/o eye glasses. I planned to do the window in BCAD order but plunging across the road and into the woods behind others, I ignored the trail. I just didn't read it. I was expecting the control to be much closer too. I went straight across the light green woods parallel to trails, eventually popping out on one near the apartment buildings. By then I realized I'd gotten off track for control B, and better head to A. Even on the trail, I had trouble seeing the trail bends and contours which were printed thin, light, and were very difficult to see when in green areas. With a few pauses, I read the trail and the vegetation (it helped to align with the tall apartment buildings). I jumped off the trail a little early, passed the control, then had to come somewhat back. Dave had warned that controls would be inside pits and not necessarily visible from afar--that was the case with this one. I got there behind Tom Nolan, Mihai Veres (actuall Sirbu per Tom's comment), and a few others.

For the next control, I thought going to B would make sense but as I got around greener areas, I got off bearing. Others pulled me over to C first. From C, I finally did something right and spiked B. I ran out across the slash green eventually getting to the trail but once on it, I again couldn't read the contours. I passed an optimal attack point, neared the T-intersection past it, then paused. I went back and the in frustration, went back again to the T-intersection to attack from a trail bend that I could see and which was closer to the control. Almost there, I got distracted by a control to my left which was on a regular course (not mine), and drawn off line). I corrected. Altogether, I probably lost 3:30 minutes on this window.

For #6, I made good time getting to the trail and attacked from a trail bend. There were several in the area who'd already punched when I got there.

I passed a bunch of people going down to #7. It was a little too easy being off the trail at the bridge over Still Creek. I guess it was just to encourage us to use the bridge.

For the next window, I planned EGFHI to cut down on climb and bad vegetation. I executed it pretty well for the most part, except for control I. Starting out, I passed Peggy on the way to E and considered going straight through the woods on the edge of the map to E, without actually doing it. I used the trail. I couldn't actually read the rootstock symbol on the map--the symbol size was too small, and like the contours, the color was too light. I figured however that the tall rootstock just on the right side of the trail would have to be it and I was right. I popped over to G after that, with Ted Good just ahead of me. Like myself, Ted had made some errors in the first window (he'd forgotten to wear eye glasses too). I ran low along Still Creek from G to F. Ted had paused at a trail intersection so I was ahead of him. I later paused to note the sewer near F and used it as an attack point. Ted went past me there. As we got close, I said aloud, "there it is" but Ted must not have heard me. He kept going past the control. I punched and moved up the hill.

For H, I made my way to the Bluebird Trail, and went to the right bend to attack. The control feature was a pit and it turns out the control was in it too. I had trouble seeing the control or the pit even though they were very close to the trail. After a little searching, I finally saw them about 15 ft. away. I ran up the trail again, going to the higher trail bend to be closer for an attack. I couldn't read the reentrant/gully detail on the map, and there was much more than even the printed contours actually showed. I paused high, and eventually came down to the lower reentrant. I left being unsure if the control was in the right place. With the troubles at H & I, I probably lost another 2 minutes.

Leaving the stumble window, I chose to angle up to the road rather than try to get to it ASAP. The meant that I got hung-up in the thicker woods further ahead, and it may have cost me time. I popped out on the road finally just 20-30m away from #13. My route probably cost me time but I'd spiked the control.

For #14, I left the road and crossed the woods to the campground. This worked very well.

For the next window, I reasoned that less climb was better for me. I took it in NKJLM order. I had no problems other than getting through the green when spiking L. I passed one person.

I left control M for #20, so this meant just running a straightish line. The woods weren't bad. When in the right reentrant system, I didn't find the control where I'd expected to but going up through it, I soon enough was at the right place.

I enjoyed going from #20 to #21. The mapping and contours hadn't been so good in this area in the past. It was mapped light green this time but even then, there was good runability. I almost got fooled by the first reentrant when I hit it and didn't see the control. I quickly realized there were 2 to cross, even though I was not really seeing it well on the map. I didn't spike it but very nearly did; I had to go up the hill a short way along the reentrant.

I left #21 and planned to do the window in QPROS order. This seemed best because it allowed easier running. I executed it well, seeing Vido for the first time in the race. After doing control O, I climbed the road to S. S was just off the road in what is now an unmapped ditch (shown as a reentrant). Vido popped out of the woods just ahead of me and punched.

Heading to #27, I caught and paced Vido for a little, then pushed up the hill more recovered, and going faster. Vido gave a push then and pulled even with me before fading near the top of the hill. I hadn't been feeing very strong all day (tired from working out more this week). I cut left at the intersection, then plunged right. I recall setting a control in this area in what was a very similar leg so I was confident that my attack from the left was better than the attack from the right which required more crossing of reentrants. I spiked the control.

I moved out toward #28 on bearing but needed to shift slightly for some deadfall. I passed Patti Mace, and spiked the control.

Going to #29, I angled my way through the white woods, eventually popping out near the trail intersection on the other side of the road. I crossed the creek on the road, then passed Keg Good next before plunging into the woods. Shirley (Florence Nolan's sister) was sitting near the control which was in a stream gully. I didn't realize it but she'd hurt her ankle, perhaps in the drop to the control.

Out of habit, I climbed the east side of the stream when going to the next window. Along the way, I realized that I wanted to hit the control on the west side first. The running on the east side was better so in hind sight, I made the right choice. I pause a little along the way however, to make sure I was reading the contours on the left correctly. I was a little unsure till near the end. I crossed the creek and angled up the hill to spike T. In hind sight, an even more left route using the road would have been okay on this leg. I dropped to U, again crossing the creek; this time I used a log. I had earlier thought that going to V first and hitting U next would be good but when I was so close to U leaving T, it made sense to punch it. This also let me use the trail to go to and leave V. As I left V, I saw Vido approaching it. I left the trail, dropping down to W in an optimal way.

Leaving W, I was a little surprised to unfold my map and see only one more control left, control #34. I worried that I'd accidentally skipped a window or something but I confirmed that it wasn't the case (setter David Onkst later said that windows using other parts of the park would have made the courses too long). I soon decided to just push my way in. As I approached the first trail crossing, I came to a quick halt. I guess I'd spoken too soon earlier in the day when I'd told Peggy that it had been a long time since I was wrapped-up in a thorny vine. I remembered doing this often in Greenbelt years earlier so I was conjecturing that I'd gotten better at spotting them. The one that caught me just before the trail crossing was brown and old but still sharp. I got nasty multiple scratches across my chest and on my arm at the inside of the elbow. I spun it off, just like I used too, and gritted onward. I passed Amy after crossing the road, then ran on up to the control.

In the field, I saw that Andrew had punched just ahead of me. Andrew is about the same age as my son Max. He was well ahead of me but not moving as fast. His father who'd been shadowing him hadn't reached control #34 when I had. I yelled up ahead to Andrew to run harder. He looked confused, then did. His dad yelled for him to do the same too but this slowed him up as he turned around, not really hearing/understanding the words. In the end, I passed him, just in the last 10m. I was pretty slow through the race, still tired from the previous week of running but it was good to be done.

C • First window 2

Driving out with Alex and Howie Weinstein, we picked-up the far controls and water in the south. Most of the controls were on stands so these got a little heavy near the end. I'd not intentionally meant to do it but I went without my compass. I'd left it in the van. It didn't matter. I was going slow enough and had basically been to all of the controls. Most of them were only a short way off trails. #I which I'd been unsure of the placement did seem to be a little far down the hill but not enough detail was on the map to be sure of it. I also still didn't have my eye glasses.

As we often do, we ate at Atlanta Bread Co. afterward and had a good time. In the evening, Peggy and I had dinner with my college roommate Ralph Keith who'd come up from Richmond. Max saw the first Spiderman movie at a friend's house.

45 sit-ups.

Washington, D.C. From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, down The Mall, past the Washington Monument (still in scaffolding because it's too cold to take it off), past Constitution Gardens and the Lincoln Memorial, to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Calvert St., to the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. I left late but felt good enough to go for a run anyway. I felt better than I have in a while. I still slowed on hills but didn't feel like I was struggling elsewhere so much. It was a little warmer; 27 F by the time I was done. There were a few icy spots but overall it wasn't bad. Right before finishing I got held-up by police who were blocking the roads. It looked like the President's motorcade was going up Calvert St.

From Northfield Rd., Hampden Rd., via Charlcotte Rd., Huntington Pkwy. to Aberdeen Pl. to Aberdeen Rd., to Oldchester Rd., to Wilson Ln., to Marbury Rd., to Durbin Rd., to Radnor Rd., to Brite Rd., to Bradley Blvd., to the Capital Crescent Trail, to Woodmont Ave., to Elm St. After teleworking at home today, I had planned to meet Peggy and Max for dinner, after Max's basketball practice. I got late, left w/o my phone, and only realized later that we'd miscommunicated. They went home to eat. It was somewhat cold out but I was dressed okay. I ran okay too except for slowing after the first mile and while climbing hills. It was cold but not windy. Running on Marbury Rd. reminded me of running around my parents house except for the houses being much larger and more expensive. The streets there were clear and offered good running in the dark.

From Elm St. in downtown Bethesda, I ran up Arlington Rd., to Moorland Ln., to Exeter Rd., to Battery Ln., to Park Ln., to Custer Rd., to Northfield Rd. I've run after dinner many times and it's rarely easy to get going. I usually wait a few hours but given that running was my only way home, I took off pretty much right after eating dinner at a restaurant. It wasn't too bad but I did have a few burps. The cold distracted me as I plodded along, slow on hills. It was about 19 F.

45 sit-ups.

From 14th & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. to the Mall via Madison Dr., NW, around the Washington Monument, to the Lincoln Memorial, then around going clockwise, to Ohio Dr., to the Rock Creek Trail, near the volleyball courts, along the river heading south to E. Basin Dr., SW, to Main Ave., SW to the Portals complex over the footbridge near the railroad tracks, to D St., SW, to 13th St., SW to C St., SW. I went for a lunchtime run. I felt a lot better for most of the first mile, the felt like I was getting slower again, but actually my pace was not bad compared to recent runs. It was 18 F when I started with a 10mph wind out of the north that sometimes made my windward side cold. Climbing the stairs near the Portals complex felt slow. Last night I saw the ice on the Potomac River and wasn't sure if it went all the way across the river. Running in the sunny daytime, I could confirm that it did cover shore-to-shore in some places but it wouldn't hold an adult trying to walk on it.

Washington, D.C. From 12th & Independence Ave., SW, down The Mall along Independence Ave. and the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to Calvert St., to the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro Station. The weather was changing quickly as I got out to run. I started at about 30 F but finished at 28 F. A wind was felt even in the Rock Creek Park valley as it blew out of the north about 10-12 mph. I was glad to have remembered to have brought my hat. I was feeling the orienteering I did yesterday. I think this was about the slowest that I've done this run.