Training Log Archive: cporter

Since I finally had a day without rain I was able to run in my new trail runners for the first time. So far I like them - good stability without sacrificing cushioning. My run today was a bit discouraging...I was exceptionally tired today and my confidence in my sense of direction had taken a definet hit. I ran at Greenbelt Park again, which I had only run once before, but I felt confident that I could manage a run along the park's perimeter trail in 50min without too much trouble. After studying the park map for a few min I assured myself that I could stick to my planned route if I just took a right at every trail intersection (the signage around the park is sporatic and they don't use blazes to mark their trials). As it turned out the trail network is more confusing than it looks on the map and after several wrong turns (is my sense of direction really that bad without a map and a compass?) my planned run time was nearly up and I still had over a mile to go on the trail. Were it not for a couple of factors I simply would have stuck out but: A. the Flying Pig, B: new shoes, and C: unhappy knees gave me enough justification for slow down to a brisk walk back to my car.

For the future I am going to have to get in contact with someone from QOC that has an orienteering map of Greenbelt Park. First, so that I don't get lost on my runs and more importantly so that I can run with a map. Maybe I can even persuade someone to lend/give me some maps of the park with old Green/Red courses on them that I can use for some mid-week orienteering training. If anyone from QOC reads this and can help me out I'd greatly appreciate it. I'll also post this request on the QOC Yahoo page.
.

C • Sounds like an adventure ev... 2

It was a gray, rainy day today so I took the chance to check out the golf course that is right next to the Archives. I was pleasantly suprised by what I found. There is a decent trail network that runs along the bit of woods between the Archives and the golf course, the trail also continues along the perimeter of much of the golf course (must have been an old golf cart path) which means I can easily avoid disturbing golfers if I run there. The course has a lot of rolling hills which is a nice change from the rather flat and paved running options that I have around the rest of College Park, although I think that I will appreciate that more once I am in better shape (sadly it was a struggle today). As nice as the terrain for running was, I'd have to say that the best part of the run was the relative peace and quite. Running in a suburban area with few sidewalks had led me to forget that it is possible to enjoy a run with out worrying about dodging traffic or enduring the inevitable shouts and honks of sketchy men. Between the golf course and the few parks that I have started to discover, I may, once again run in peace.

QOC's local event at Wheaton. Small 1:10,000 map with short legs. I was fairly happy with how I ran my first nine controls - there was very little I could have done to make up lost time (except run faster). However, on my approach to the number nine control the cold that has been plauging me for the past 2 weeks finally caught up with me. First of all, it is my belief (and others I spoke with after my course) that the control was hung on the wrong rootstock. There were two within the control circle, but only one marked on the map. I, of course ran to the wrong one, it was less than a 30 sec. error, but just enough to throw my concentration. Coming out of the control I completely lost all sense of direction and really struggled to re-orient my map which easily lost me 2 min...I did the same thing again on my way to #16 when I came out on a trail and could not figure out which trail I was on (there were several intersecting in a relatively small area). From #9 on my head was in a bit of a fog which caused me to hesitate and second guess myself. Had I been able to keep my head attached to my body for the entire race I could have easily saved 10min.

Overall, though I was not disappointed in how I ran. I'll probably run the course again in a month or so to see if I can beat my time from today and run a cleaner race.

Red - Splits

had to cross Constitution Ave. to start my run, but the National Marathon stood in my way...I joined in the fun for a bit so that I could cross the street without cutting any runners off!

There is nothing better than spring time in Washington D.C.! The blossoms on the trees this time of year are just amazing, although a hex to my allergies. Rather than running around crappy College Park this morning, I decided to treat myself to a run around the Mall downtown. As an added bonus to the already scenic National Mall, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. l thought I was being clever (although some would say crazy) by foregoing my chance to sleep in a Saturday and getting up before the crack of dawn to take the metro down to the city. Not only is the light at that time of day especially pretty, but I figured that the crowds to see the cherry blossoms would be very minimal. My plan almost worked EXCEPT, I forgot that there was a marathon starting that morning!!! I, of course, remembered as soon as I got off the metro and ran into a crowd of people cheering the runners along Constitution Ave. Fortunately, my planned run avoided most of the crowds. I did have to cross Constitution Ave. and the endless stream of runners though to get to the Mall. Since I was already dressed for the part I just jumped in the race and ran along in the marathon for a block so that I could work my way over to the other side of the street. I guess if people at work ask me what I did this weekend I can legitimately say I ran in a marathon! Haha.

Despite dealing with the crowds for both the marathon and the cherry blossoms, my very early morning run was everything I had hoped it would be - beautiful and inspiring. I will certainly be sacrificing more Saturday mornings in the future to run in downtown D.C.

For anyone that is curious and who know's D.C. my route went like this: Started in front of the National Archives along the mall running towards Washington Monument (about a mile?), from monument ran around the tidal basin (little more than a mile), from basin hit 17th street at WWII monument and ran along the reflecting pool to Lincoln Monument, waved at Abe, and then headed back the other side of the reflecting pool (no more than a mile), ran some more up 17th street and finished at 17th and C Streets in front of the DAR Museum.