Training Log Archive: Nadim

QOC Summer Short Series at Galluadet University. After many years, I finally got onto the campus and was able to run a sprint. Mark Mace had several events there earlier and shared the difficulties with getting permissions from previous university officials. Those restrictions were eased last year but I was on vacation when Mark held an event there last summer. Even for summertime, the campus seemed empty.

I'd been helping Mark with redrafting the map and making updates/corrections. The map was in a mixed state between non-sprint, and sprint specific symbols. It took me a while to get into running on it since in my head, I'd imagined a larger space. Some areas that I thought would be easy did hold a challenge. Of course, it didn't help that I went out without a compass. A few times, I thought there was a need to adjust the map; I'll do that as soon as Mark gives me his corrections. I made mistakes early, the did okay (except for the a fore mentioned map issues).

All in all, it was a fun outing. My family went to have lunch in Bowie afterward, and then dropped off Max to a 2 week long sleepaway camp.

Event: QOC Intro to Orienteering
 

Mason Neck State Park, VA. QOC held a beginner event. It was unusually cool and there was a very nice breeze the whole day. I trained 2 groups and watched Samantha do a model (mostly) on her own. Samantha was afraid of the dragon flies which were large and active, so she needed some pushing to finish going through a field where the dragon flies were concentrating. After all this, I was planning to do a longer trail run but it was late and I was tired of standing. At the last minute, I opted to do the Yellow course as had most of the other advanced orienteers who were volunteering. I did fine, starting with not pushing too much. It made sense to stick to trails for most legs. I had heard that Peggy had made an error going from #5 to #9 but when I got there, I did almost the same thing. I did realize it as I was approaching #9, so I only lost about 30 seconds. I was running out of steam after #11.

Earth City, MO (near Saint Louis). From Rider Trail S. near the intersection with Rte. 141, to Hollenberg Dr., to Boenker Ln., to Forester Rd., to Rider Trail S. Though I went to dinner with co-workers again tonight, I did muster myself to run. I had a better chance to plan a route this time, though the areas to choose from had similarity. There were a bunch of corporate buildings, warehouses, and drink distributors. I did however pass some hotels, farmland, and even residences too. The biggest difference was that the route was relatively hilly. I hadn't realized the hilliness from just looking at the aerials. It started out gradually climbing right from the beginning, and even got steep at times. The return being predominantly downhill was much appreciated but with most of the route being on concrete roadway again (with almost no sidewalks), I was feeling the strain in my calves and knees a little. Though dark out, there were few cars and the run felt safe. Interestingly enough, just before going out, I'd seen a news report of a travel advisory issued by the NAACP for the whole state of Missouri. The greater Saint Louis area does seem to have a lot of disparity and the employees at the office where I'd worked this week had plenty of personal anecdotes, with it being very close to Ferguson. At dinner, my fellow traveling co-workers shared the feeling of lost opportunity with so much dilapidation in the downtown areas but sprawling mini entertainment cities popping up far in the suburbs.

Bethesda, MD. From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd. I was carrying my +20 lbs. suitcase again. Additionally, I had a laptop bag slouched on my back. I'd at least had on shorts and a t-shirt that I wore on the plane from Saint Louis (early, after flying back on a delayed flight, I had gone into my office in DC, and later yet, too the metro train to Bethesda). The ride wasn't that hard. It didn't take exceptional balance or energy, but it did put a strain on my back. I felt the strain through the evening at home so after watching La La Land with the kids, I decided to not try to run.

A group dinner precluded me running after work.

Earth City, MO (near Saint Louis). From Rider Trail S., Rams Way to Lakefront Dr., to Park Steed Dr., to Rider Trail S., a loop through the Holiday Inn parking lot, and back to Rider Trail S. It was warm but not so bad with the breeze. I was somewhat tired from working all day. Earth City is an industrial park--large warehouses and moving storage centers mostly. There are no sidewalks around my hotel. The streets are flat and concrete though a layer of asphalt is on top of the shoulders. I ran okay considering all of that. I held my phone and read the map sometimes so as not to get lost and have to run a lot of unnecessary distance. It helped since the scale of everything was larger than what I thought it'd be, and there were some extra roads I didn't notice when I cased out the route from my room.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. I rode carrying a +20 lbs. suitcase in one hand.