Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd. to Old Georgetown Rd. to W. Cedar Rd. to the Elmhirst Trail, to the Rock Creek Trail, to the Susanna La., to the Georgetown Branch Trail, to Bethesda Ave., to Exeter Ln., to Battery Ln., to Park Ln., to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd.

It was an interesting day, starting with watching Max's soccer game but with lots of MCRRC friends who came to enjoy watching the game too--many of then had had their own kids who used to play soccer too. We ate bagels and cream cheese with a nice open sky above us.



Next, Peggy and I rushed off to Virginia for what one might think to be a more somber event. We gathered to remember competitor and friend Tim Good. Tim died a week earlier knowing that he didn't have long. At the remembrance, Tim's sister Keg led off and nailed the first leg of a wonderful often humored relay. She conveyed Tim's good clean fun-loving spirit, telling us of his quirks and exploits young and old in ways that we couldn't help but miss him. Ted followed reliving more down to recreating Tim's glasses with orange streamers tied to them, while he was not orienteering. The strength of the Good family really shined through. The Onkst's and others followed. Assisted by a priest, we navigated a path in the direction of comfort--as Tim apparently wanted us to. Just like Tim would often wrangle us into conversations at O-meets until everyone else was gone, the orienteers honoring the tradition, stayed late enjoying each stories of Tim and enjoying the company more than the event. We just about closed down the room before going home to pickup Max.







Later on I had some errands to do in Virginia so back over the river I went. My reward was bringing home my sister's fish. It is odd how it seems to like company.

With all of the socializing, I I was running behind schedule again and didn't think I'd get to run. It was already time for seeing a movie with Peggy and Max. They we already there so I skipped it. I took advantage of the time to run. Those longer runs are always therapeutic. Doing it in the dark often adds to it and this time it sure did. The cool air and generally downhill outward part got me moving well. I continued work on my stride and continued to improve on the strength to do it right. I extended my planned route twice and ran with good strength most of the way.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Madison St. on my road bicycle with Max on his bicycle, then back to Northfield Rd. towing Max's bicycle, then to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I met Peggy and Max for dinner then after getting back to Bethesda, I rode home. Once again, I'd planned to run but it didn't work out, before or after dinner.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Madison St. on my road bicycle with Max on his bicycle, then back to Northfield Rd. towing Max's bicycle, then to the Bethesda Metro Station. I had to circle back to the house more than once to pickup things forgotten like Max's backpack, and my running gear.

From 14th & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. Independence Ave. to the Reflecting Pool, to the Lincoln Memorial, to the Rock Creek Trail, along the Georgetown Waterfront to the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT), to the Glover Archbold Trail, up to the Tenleytown Metro Station via Van Ness St. and Wisconsin Ave., then to the Friendship Heights Metro Station at the DC/MD border (Western Ave. & Wisconsin Ave.). The weather has been perfect for running this week and today I finally ran. I moved well the first 3 miles which were paved and flat. Earlier in the morning, and the day before, I was just feeling weak, like I was still tired from riding bicycle on Monday. Like last winter when I ran this, as soon as I headed uphill, I slowed considerable and felt weaker. Also like the run last winter, I felt stronger before reaching the top. I had a bathroom break at Tenleytown, then finished up.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Madison St. on my road bicycle with Max on his bicycle, then back to Northfield Rd. towing Max's bicycle, then to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. in the dark. I stopped to pickup dinner and rode in the dark. I fell asleep after eating and didn't go for a planned run.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Madison St. on my road bicycle with Max on his bicycle, then back to Northfield Rd. towing Max's bicycle, then to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From The Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. I was surprised at how dark it was for this time of year but Fall is here after all. I got busy on a project in the evening and then too tired to go for a short planned run.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to Madison St. on my old commuting bicycle with Max on his bicycle, then back to Northfield Rd., then to 12th and C St. SW, Washington, D.C. The time is estimated. i need a new cyclocomputer battery. It was in the 50's F--not bad but cooler than I'm used to. I wore removable sleeves and that kept me comfortable. There was probably a tailwind from the N or NE but I couldn't feel it much.

From C Street, SW, to 12th Street, to Jefferson St., to the Capitol Reflecting Pool, to Maryland Ave, to 7th Street NE. It was a nice time of day to be riding.

From 7th St. NE, Washington, D.C. Constitution Ave to Lincoln Circle, to Georgetown on the Rock Creek to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I was expecting to ride home via the Metropolitan Trail but it was too late for going up an unfamiliar trail in the dark that's known to have some robberies. I was ready for a long ride and didn't want to go to the metro station. It had been a long time since I rode back at night without a headlamp. I did at least have a flashing taillight. Getting to Georgetown was easy and I saw one other rider there going my way. On the CCT, I had to slow down and speed up again wherever it got really dark with tree cover. I managed not to roll off the trail once :). Nearer to Bethesda there were 2 other riders with blinding headlamps that were headed to Washington. I had been carrying a heavier than usual pack.

Event: Hudson Highlander XVII
 

Event: QOC Lake Accotink
 

Lake Accotink, VA. Needing to be close to home I forwent the always fun Hudson Highlander. However, I was hardly in shape for it. I probably would have struggled a lot with the distance though the nice weather here and there would have helped. At Accotink, I ran from under the railroad underpass up to some trails past the marina area. This area had been mapped but is rarely used for courses; probably because it is small, isolated, and the woods aren't that open. However, there are a lot of little reentrants and a lot of trails that look like they could be fun. I found a parking lot that I didn't know existed and a bathroom that I was looking for.

QOC Lake Accotink, VA. I felt fairly well after warming up and getting a better night of sleep. I was a little shaky early but I settled down. This park has a lot of trails and the woods aren't that nice so I was predisposed to taking trail routes. This paid off most of the time and it seemed like Victor Lin's fun course, like Peggy's last week, favored trail routes. This was a good thing because I forgot to wear my glasses. I ran Red since Blue wasn't offered. There were a few times when I guessed at the best route and in retrospect I was glad I went the ways I did. My legs weren't so slow and stiff like they felt yesterday running with a pack. Initially, the callus on my foot was hurting, even though I cut out some of it the night before. The longer I went, the better I felt. I pushed the run-in since someone from behind was trying to catch me. It reminded me of the times Tim Good and I used to try to get the fastest split on the run-in. Tim was on my mind. He and I had a lot of close races at Accotink and elsewhere as I was getting more into orienteering. We'd constantly distract and mess each other up when we bumped into each other in the woods, as we were inclined to race each other more than watch our navigation. Those were good, seemingly simpler days.

0-1 Since the cut through for the trail bend was cluttered, I decided to go into the woods earlier than planned, from the bend. I somewhat contoured around and was a little lower than expected at the end.

1-2 I went left of straight to use the trail but got a little confused. I crossed the trail, think the control was higher. I saw the railroad ahead and came back down. This cost me maybe 20 seconds. I spike the control later after crossing the paved trail on the dirt trail.

2-3 I used trails to the left and attacked from the mail trail after cresting the bend. I was surprised it came up so soon.

3-4 Running the main trail, I went basically to attack from the trail north of the control (I cut the corner a little). I almost got past the control by misreading and staying on the trail too long thinking the control was farther up.

4-5 The control was in one of the more detailed parts of the map and I realized that I had not worn my glasses at this point. After following the reentrant out of #4 and crossing the stream, I was a little low initially but I figured it out.

5-6 I went down to the main trail, then attacked from other trails to the east of the control. I could remember the look of the double ditches so I was smooth getting there.

6-7 I used trails mostly and spike the control. The feature didn't quite look like what I thought it would and the control was low. It was odd needing to stand on the branch that it was tied to reach it but fun none the less.

7-8 I ran down the left side of the stream initially, then got into the high hitch-hikey wet grasses. I was glad that at least some others had traipsed through that before me. It seemed to make it easier. I climbed up later to run the curving hillside and work my way to the control.

8-9 I initially planned to go the trail west of the control but I angled out more northward. I decided to take the main trail and used the easy running to read ahead on the next few controls. It seemed like it was taking a long time to get to the koldasak and I suddenly realized that #9 was not the control furthest west. I knew where I was so I headed due south to get to #9. I had to scramble up the steep rocky and sometimes slippery slope. I dislodged a rock and didn't worry about it but later well after the rock stopped I could hear someone coming up behind me--perhaps this was Rick Feliciano who later told me that I passed him near #8 without realizing it.

9-10 I went south through the field and thought better of hugging the fence on the intermittent trail. Instead, I took the trail just north of the fence until it bent, then across to the next. Rather than cross the reentrant at the end, I followed the trail around to save energy and have a lower risk route.

10-11 There was almost a trail leaving #10 and going down to the main trail. I saw the small knoll, then went in after passing it.

11-12 I got back to the main trail, then onto the next one that went south. I cut left quickly, then ran across the woods when it curved away from the SE direction that I needed to go. I did choose to be safe and use the trail intersection, and even the next trail going further south before I attacked at a not so well defined attack point. I had realized that I was farther from the reentrant than I expected, and had to go in more to see the reentrant. I spiked the control but probably could have had a straighter route.

12-13 I ran straightish and didn't use trails much. I did follow along the stream a short way and decided to cross just before seeing the trail going north. That ensured me that I was in the right place and I was.

13-14 I didn't bother trying to read the many trails that carefully. It would be slow with or w/o my glasses. I ran in the general direction and knew I'd bounce off the railroad to the west if I got off too much. This worked and I got there just after two others did.

14-15 I didn't put a lot of thought to this. I ran trails toward #8 and got on the main trail. A more southern route might have been better but looked complicated and with more climb than needed. Before I got on the main trail, I did have to cross some unpleasant low vegetation that was higher than I though--up above my waist. It seems no one else thought this would be a good route to #15. I hit the control a little high after leaving the main trail and there were a couple of others leaving it as I came in.

15-16 I ran up to the main trail, then basically crossed it to trails taking me near #6. I cut south at an intersection and left that trail at a bend. I crosses a small reentrant and went up a spur to the next trail and a control that wasn't mine. A quick check and I could see that I just needed to go through the dense vegetation to find the control in the reentrant.

16-17 I ran loosely to the SE and recognized the trail paralleling the railroad. I hugged the railroad on this trail until over a hill, then spiked the control from above.

17-18 I thought it odd that the course direction would go almost 180 backwards but it made sense after doing this leg. I followed the railroad on the trail I'd just come out on; going straighter across the big reentrant would have been unnecessary climb and I'd have less of an idea of where I was. I followed the hillside around and pause a bit. I think there was an extra trail here but I'm not sure... Reading the map, I realized the pit was above a trail so I climbed a bit more to find it.

18-19 I hesitated a lot on the direction. Again, I couldn't see the detail well without my glasses and the map was harder to read where it was green. I went north before going east to get around the marshy reentrant and fence. This got me to the main trail quickly enough where upon I could move well. I kept looking for a good place to attack from that wasn't too green so I got a little past the control. I should have read the control description along the main trail because I wasn't sure if it'd be on top or at the base of what looked like more of a reentrant than a ditch on the map.

19-20 I ran to the right and crossed the main trail rather than run it to the intersection. This was going well until I ran smack into a thick vine that hit me at the neck. I came to a dead stop but luckily wasn't dead. I ducked through the fence around the paved trail, then up to the dirt trails. Finally I dropped into the control.

20-21 I went down the trail moving well but I heard someone coming up behind me quickly. It might have been someone that I passed along the way down. I picked-up the pace and before I got to the main trail, I saw Valerie coming the other direction. My momentum carried me close to her but I had been aware and didn't think I'd crash into her. I ran the run in well, trying to keep balance.

Red - Splits