Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: QOC Lake Needwood
 

QOC: Lake Needwood Regional Park - I had mapped this park and it's not so difficult to begin with, so I had no real troubles with the Blue course. AttackPoint shows me with a rare no-error day. That's also got to be partly due to running slower than I otherwise would if I were in better physical shape. The courses seemed a bit steeper than the given climb. I found myself either going straight or back to the bottom of the stream valley. I usually angled my way along the hillsides rather than run fast on flatter ground and then climb more steeply. I did this on #1. For #2, I went over the hill left of the course line, to keep from having to climb more than necessary. I cut over near the green fenced area and paused once at the control area just because my eyes didn't see it. For #3-4, I ran to the right at the edge of the out of bounds area, before crossing the stream and staying dry. For #4-5, I climbed along the power line ride and read the edge of the hillside without going to it, before spiking the rocky ground. For #6, I stayed low until 400m before the control. At that point, I climbed and went over the spur--it might have been faster to stay low. I contoured going to # 7 and #8. At #8, I paused and started to look elsewhere before seeing it on the far side of the cliff. For #9, I crossed on the bridge and climbed; to finish I followed the edge of the steep part. I went right back down the way I went up, when going for #10. I'd caught a guy at the bridge when going to #11; I angled up and the other guy stayed low before climbing. I got ahead but the control seemed farther away than both of use thought it'd be--I'm not sure if the rootstock it was hung on was the one I'd mapped but at the time I thought it was hung on the wrong one. I went straight toward #12 and spiked it. I lost a little time getting to the bridge on the way to #13--I was on track then saw railings through the trees. I turned toward it but this was just a guard rail. I corrected the proceeded to spike the rest of the leg. I dropped to the trail and crossed the creek 200m from #14. I pretty much spiked it but came in low and almost had to backtrack while climbing to correct. I did a similar thing going to #15 along the outside edge of the marsh, but the error was more pronounced--perhaps 20 seconds. I went low and via the trail to #16. I went around the hill and used the trail again getting to #17. I stayed low going to the finish. It was pretty fun to run here again and I'll have to get back to add the many new rootstocks--some were in nice places for a control.

Blue - Splits

Seneca State Park, MD. From Riffleford Rd., I streamered controls in areas that I had mapped early in 2014. There were things that I had missed and other things that I needed to fix. This took me more time but it should help. I found some more rock, rootstocks and beaver activity. The woods were pretty good but some bushes had leaves sprouting already. I kept moving when I wasn't tying streamers or updating the map.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I ran into some traffic.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was in the mid 60s F this morning with some slight headwinds. I hadn't ridden all the way to work since December 21st. I definitely felt being out of shape. I tried to pace myself and tried keeping to my pace. I caught and rode about the same speed as another guy for a while before slowly letting him go. Taking my time on the ride may have saved me a speeding ticket. near Dalecarlia, two officers (one on a motorcycle), had pulled-over 2 cyclist and were writing them tickets for speeding. On Water Street in Georgetown, another officer seemed to be waiting to do the same though he might also have been waiting for cars. I've seen officers in other intersections on Water Street focusing on cyclists running stop signs before (the road is generally not very busy in the morning).

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. Winds were mixed but perhaps behind me on the stretch into Bethesda. I moved better than expected but slowed from around the water treatment plant. I kept expecting other cyclists to pass me, but I kept passing others and none passed me. I started to cramp after a traffic light stop on Bradley Blvd. but it went away.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. There was a bit of traffic.