Training Log Archive: Nadim

Warm-up for OCIN's US Middle Championships at Carter Caves State Park, KY.

OCIN's US Middle Championships at Carter Caves State Park, KY. I suppose I ran better today. I was technically more accurate but with short legs, it was harder to make large errors. I kept a steady pace and struggled to get over the many hills. I thought about going around to #3 but apparently made the wrong choice for that leg. I suppose that's how AP shows that I had an error, when I was pretty much on the route I expected; just a little lower at first. I think I just had some hesitation on #6 and got a little high. For #8, I headed up to the trail and just before getting there I had a second thought. I started going straight at it just before reaching the trail but then I had a third thought which was to stick to my plan. My plan seems to have suboptimal. For #9, I slowed a little before going on and then found myself a little high, above the control. I got caught from behind going to #10 as I headed to what from a distance seemed like a depression to the right of the mapped one. We both went across the reentrant and climbed above the green getting to #11 but the other guy was pulling away. I still stayed within range, sometimes gaining and sometimes loosing ground. I headed out toward #14 thinking to take a road since we'd just crossed one, but then I realized it was one long cliff. I took a better line going across the parking lot toward #15 and once again was only seconds behind the other guy. He took off dropping fast toward #16; much faster than I can do right now. I partly contoured over to save climb, crossed the reentrant, and got on the trail. It was easy to follow the reentrant up from there, and the other guy was even with me as I left the trail (meaning that I'd made-up ground on his straighter route). He pulled ahead being stronger. Going to #17 was slow; the climb seemed gratuitous. I passed the boulder on the way toward #18 but seemed to have to turn left to get to the control from there. For #19, I crossed the reentrant early and used the trail a little. I contoured some and climbed some and again made up ground on the guy who'd passed me at #10. I used the building to dial-in the control. Leaving for #20, I headed for the trail but couldn't move well down the hill. I used the trail. I didn't realize that the trail went over a natural bridge but was glad for the reduced climb! I was able to run the climb to the finish but not very well. The course was pretty fun but physical and I'm a long way from being able to do one like it fast.

Middle - 8 Green M - Splits