Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Muncaster Mill Rd., I ran to just south of the Inter-County-Connector Hwy. (ICC) and added onto the map. Initially I went east over a ridge and into a valley for a side stream to North Branch Creek. This wasn't a particularly interesting or difficult area, being narrow but it had enough useable features. It took some time to capture them because many were linear--flood plain ditches, old rides, and a stream that I hadn't earlier gotten off of imagery. There were a few point features too. Visibility was mixed. The need to get it was that it connects to one of the 3 ICC underpasses

Afterwards, I went north of the ICC. The east side of the creek that I mapped is narrow but the woods were almost 100% wide open. There was an abundance of features low along the stream and the North Branch Creek. I found a few trails too.

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 Northfeild Rd. There was a headwind and I felt cold.

Event: QOC Patapsco Hilton
 

QOC: Patapsco Hilton. I had been working a lot earlier in the week and didn't get much training in. I did however get some good sleep the previous 2 nights and that helped me. This is a hilly area and though I walked a few hills, I kept running through the rest pretty well up to the end. I struggled most early, getting a little disoriented entering the woods from the start, and taking a trail around to #1. I hit that well. I quickly discovered there and on the way to #2 that the deep leaves on the ground, and the hills weren't such a good combination for me. After that, I tried to keep to trails, hitting #3 from the amphitheater loop, going around to the right through the large reentrants for #4, getting into the power line ride for #5 and #6. For #7 and #8, there was little choice but to chug straight for #7, and to contour for #8.

For #9, I went around to the right on the road and trail. However I misread the control location and climbed the spur to the south. From there, I still didn't see the control until dropping down and doing a smallish loop when I saw that I was too close to the road. I lost about 45 seconds to a minute.

I got a bit disoriented going to #10 on the left side of the stream until the trail. From there I hit it efficiently and right on.

I used the trail going to #11 and came in just a tiny bit to the SE of the control.

I again got disoriented going straight to #12. When I hit the road, it had been at the trail intersection, only it didn't look right to me at first. I came to a full stop and convinced myself that I'd done a 180 for a for more seconds before moving on. I came in over a spur due west from the control, across the stream. There were more root stocks than were mapped and when I dropped to the water, I saw the streams converging. I thought I was at the lower convergence so when I saw rocks further NE, I went to them. After climbing I realized I was due north of the control., and stumbled over the rocks and leaves a 100m south. I probably lost 1:45 on this leg.

I ran straight to #13 but used one trail that I crossed for a very short way to get to a good attack off a knoll. I was feeling tired on the climb part of this leg and walked briefly.

I went straight to #14 and all seemed well until the end. I'd dropped down too far and had to climb at the end. This probably only cost me 10-15 seconds.

I started going straight and down toward #15 but paused. I then decided to go around on trails so I climbed to the east. I also had to take an emergency stop, losing 50 seconds or so for that. Once on trails, I moved okay. I came through the campground loop road and a trail to the power line ride. I spiked the cliff control from above but had seen a guy punching just before I got there.

I took the trail and road and trails around to #16. I finished a tiny bit high so I must have lost a few more seconds.

I went straight to #17 and #18.

I got a little to the left starting out toward #19 but corrected, going over the spur at the end. I saw the control from across the creek but when I got closer I'd lost it again. I stopped but saw it after about 10 seconds.

I ran straight to #20 and started straight toward #21. I dropped down and came in along the wall at the end for #21.

I ran straight up toward #22. When I hit the trail, I started to drop down and cross the green reentrant but turned back and hit the field.

For the run in, the Coast Guard or Navy cadets were cheering people on. I had passed an older man, a coach for one of those groups as I was headed to #22. That man didn't have to go to #22 so at the end he and I were both converging to the finish. I pushed but didn't have a chance to get there ahead of him. My run in seemed much longer than 17 seconds--I think there was a timing issue on that split.

Overall, it was fun and I felt good about running after doing so little training this week. I'd gained weight and these hills make you feel it.

Blue - Splits