Training Log Archive: Nadim

Warm-up at West Bend Park, MO for the Possum Trot.

Possum Trot VII, at West Bend, MO. I took a while to get into the map and thus orienteered badly. Probably it was being distracted by the other runners or just running faster than I can navigate alone. The hills were steep and often thorny too. Mikell Platt took a bold move skipping #3 & 4 with 23 more to go (He went on to win). Spike dumped the cluster of us orbiting around him by skipping #9 just before the first water control. It saved distance but he missed the good trail running. Dave Frei (eventually 2nd) pulled ahead of me taking a better route choice to #11. I last got ahead of Eric Buckley who was nursing a leg injury at #15. Mike valiantly almost caught me at #21 but I skipped #22 (Mike had skipped 2 at this point and couldn't skip again). I dragged myself in the last few controls which were a bit easier. I felt better than yesterday and navigated okay the last half probably because I was going slower. I came close to cramping when stuck in thorns on the way to the now infamous #24, and again on the last slog up the hill to the GO control. I didn't expect to finish 3rd. I am fairly happy as well as lucky. Now I can continue to work more on training for the half-marathon in February. See the Split List.

Possum Trot - Splits

Kansas-Missouri Orienteering Championships at Clinton Lake on the Lake Henry map. My warm-up mostly consisted mostly of going with Michael Platt to the bagel shop where it's nice and warm contemplating how nice is to be out here instead of having to shovel snow (I actually like snow...). It was fun to see lots of mid-westernern and westerners here (Mike & Mary, Mikell Platt, Dan Menehan, Jan Ingebresten, Eric Buckley, Sharon Crawford, Rob, Orlyn). For the mass start they had us facing the wrong-way. I thus while still trying to orient the map walked the wrong way and found myself behind going to #1. By the second control I was in the midst of it but made a slight error after #3. At #4, I fumbled losing more time trying to grab the punch. Dave Frei and I traded leads a few times but going to #7, I got a few steps behind and never made-up for it. As expected, Mikell Platt won, David was next and I crossed third (unofficially of-course since I've not lived in either state for the required 90 days). My legs felt rather dead during most of it. The per K time was good but there were many trails and open field. See the Split List.

Warm-down in Clinton Lake Park, KS.

Long - Splits

In St. Louis. From 22nd St. down Market St. to 8th St. and back in the drizzle. I had a nice tailwind going out but a light crystaline snow was pelting me coming back.

In St. Louis. From 22nd St. down Market St. to 8th St. and back in the drizzle. Sleepy.

In Forest Park, St. Loius. 5:30am, starting in the dark from the history museum, I puttered around the bike trail. It was cool at first but I was too sleepy to tell. The last few were quicker as I caught-up to and passed another runner. I was 41:20 finishing the loop which I was told was 10K. After, I warmed-down wandering inside the park. It's nice to be on travel and get a good run in.

From 14th & Independence Ave. SW DC, to the Lincoln Memorial on Independence Ave., across Memorial Bridge, to 14th St. Bridge to 14th & Independence. Ave. I was slow starting out going straight into the wind. Turning the corner after crossing the river, I was much better.

From C St. SE, Washington, D.C. to Independence Ave. to 15th St. past the Jefferson Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial to C St. I started off rather sluggish this morning. Into the wind along the Potomac River I found it hard to gain on other runners but eventually got it into gear finishing much quicker.