Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: QOC Rosaryville
 

Mt. Tom State Park, MA. I warmed-up taking Max to his start and then going to mine. In both cases, we reached the start just as it was time to go.

Troll Cup Day 2 at Mt. Tom, MA. I can't see how this course would have been 275m of climb. It was still fun. My rush to the start flustered me a bit. I grabbed the wrong control description.

S-1 - Taking the trail up most of the way, I left from after a bend and spiked the control. Someone was hurriedly catching up from behind. When looked at the control code, it didn't match but the terrain and everything looked right--it was! I did a loop losing 3 minutes or so before realizing I had the wrong description sheet :(

1-2 - I went fairly straight. Approaching the end, I could see Rick Breseman.

2-3 - I went fairly straight again, but a little lower than Rick. I got to the dot knoll but cut right going around it instead of over to the control. I curved back but lost a few seconds. Rick came over the knoll just before I punched.

3-4 - I made a bad route choice. As Rick took the trail around, I tried to go straight. The forest wasn't as open and I'd thought it'd be. There were small branches and light vegetation on the ground. I got to the trail just behind Rick. I tried going straight again since there was an S-curve, but that lost me more time. Others got ahead. I was approaching the saddle when Rick was already going low toward #5.

4-5 - The low route didn't look good, so I switched direction and ran on the ridge. I had found the intermittent trail which was quite nice. I left it a bit early, partly on purpose. However, I wasn't reading the cliff to the left well enough. I thought I'd be able to drop down in-between a break that wasn't there. I went slowly to the end of the cliff as another person or 2 using the trail passed me. I figured I'd lost time but after dropping after the cliff, I saw Rick climbing toward the hill with the control.

5-6 - I followed the marshes rather than the trails. Someone else who ran slower was using the longer trail and was keeping up until after crossing the marsh on a bridge. I went over the hill off trail and got ahead when I reached the next trail bend. On the trail, I moved out; I realized I was behind Rick. The attack looked easy, coming off the small ridge parallel to the trail, and seeing a marsh. As I executed it, I saw Rick and other ahead coming off the trail on my right. I got there first!

6-7 - I went straight at it, taking care to get into the correct reentrant. I slowed at the end just short of the control. Rick went around and confidently punched.

7-8 - I chased Rick but as he slowed on rocks, I bashed through vegetation and got there first. I didn't drink.

8-9 - I figured this was easy but in my hast, I had only registered 2 spurs to cross rather than 3. I pulled up at the 2nd and hunted up an down. Rick passed but was off too. I found him on the other side of the next spur just after he punched.

9-10 - Rick was moving more quickly (I'm so out of shape) and a little to the left. I went lower bouncing off the big curving cliff and straight across the next few hills. The map made sense to me. I kept going but was walking up the last hill. I got there just before Rick.

10-11 - I went straight. I recognized the evergreens as the green on the map. Again, I pulled up just a little short as Rick went right in. I was only a second or 2 behind.

11-12 - I thought about going low but as Rick was going straight/high, I figured I'd be too slow climbing at the end. I took the high route for the more gradual climb. Rick and I walked and jogged near each other. I got ahead a little crossing the last big reentrant. I was slow climbing the last hill and once again, Rick came past me to punch first.

12-13 - As Rick read, I took off for the trail. He merged and got ahead. I was pretty tired and didn't read the trail well early on. The hills ahead looked really steep so cutting left didn't seem to match up. I missed the better route through the two large hills, and followed Rick and other up and around. I reached the field passing a person or 2 and cut right to the trail closest to the big NW cliff. Without stopping, I took in the nice view. I passed another person but was shaky on how far along the trail I was at the end. Rick cut in where it flattened and where others were below, so I ensued. This was pretty close.

13-14 - I just chased a train of people once hitting the trail.

14-F - Rick had pulled ahead and was just about reaching the finish as I got to #14. I gave it a good effort but was worried about wrenching my back.

GreenX2 - Splits

Event: Troll Cup and Junior National Champs
 

NEOC Troll Cup at Mt. Tom, MA. I did okay on this and though significantly far back, I was surprised to be as close to other competitors as I was.

I got going calmly hitting #1 reading the contour well, and to #2 attacking from near the marsh on top of the spur.

I messed-up a bit on #3 getting on and off trails. I knew where I was after the earth bank area but somehow ended up left of the bridge. I came up through the mountain laurel and followed the contour into #3.

For #4, I started on the left side of the ridge, climbing over to the right. I felt really slow and heavy. Eventually getting to the trail, I left from the bend and followed the rocky ground and drop-off in.

I stayed true to the line going to #5, making some corrections along the way. Others were ahead as I was climbing but I had a better line.

I was really slow going up to #6. Again, others were ahead but off to the sides. I misread the hilltop but realized this while climbing. I stayed on line and spiked it.

For #7 I started straight but shifted left, knowing it. I thought I might save climb. After crossing the rocky reentrant, I adjusted my bearing but it wasn't enough. One small ride over took me too far. I found 3 distinct cliffs but they were north of the circle. Eventually I came back and down and found it. Tim Parson was approaching from a more direct route as I punched.

For #8, I started to contour a little but was more straight. Tim passed me. After we started downhill, I moved better. A reentrant helped me orient, as I knew my bearing to be pretty good. We spiked it.

For #9, Tim followed the first trail longer than I did. He seemed to be headed to use the next trail as I cut further right. After a reentrant, we merged with him behind and higher. I ducked under the rocky ground and then up the hill mapped with green--it wasn't bad at all. I kept a bearing and read the hilltop to spike the control with Tim just behind me.

For #10, I ran straight toward the field and onto the ridge, following that to the control. Tim was pretty much right behind me, probably taking it a little easy. :)

I ran straight toward #11 with Tim initially behind me. On the flat, he passed going on the left side of a downed tree when I went right. I was feeling the pace and walked up the hill to the control that was visible from far off.

I chased Tim as he pulled away toward #12. His presence did help me get onto the right trail quickly.

I didn't run all out to the finish since I was worried about aggravating my back. I was also pretty tired, not being used to running for an hour.

GreenX1 Day 1 - Splits

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, then to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. I had a light tailwind. It was around 50 F starting out. I didn't feel good or comfortable riding.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, then to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, DC. There was a slight headwind. Though I would have preferred a rest, it's supposed to rain the next 2 days. I kept a comfortable pace most of the way.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I expected a tailwind but it was more of a mixed bag.