Training Log Archive: Nadim

The 2004 Billygoat at Mt. Tom, MA. This was one of the most competitive Billygoats ever as a field of most of the US and some of the Canadian top orienteers came. I was relegated to following the pack and got off slow. My still being overweight didn't help on the brutal steep climbs in the first half of the race. I was following behind Dave Onkst, Daniel Schaublin, Alar Ruutopold and Kristin Hall early. Eventually I ran with Kristine and Erin Olafsen as we had broken off the main pack leaving #10 and going to #11. Our route wasn't bad but as a small group, we slowed and perhaps had some tougher terrain to run through than the main group. We probably lost 1-2 minutes and never made-up for it. Kristine made nearly all the hard decisions navigating as she was much quicker reading. I thought she was going to be stronger running too but perhaps because she didn't seem to eat much, she suddenly tired on the slog up to #19 (we skipped #18). Kristine said to go on. I felt bad leaving but with two others in sight coming from #19 and a downhill run toward the finish, I did and finished 20 seconds ahead. As I passed the finish crossing the stream to round the lake for the last control, I could see Alar and Daniel ahead; Daniel was crossing the stream at the same time I was but he was going to the finish when I was headed toward #20. The 2 hour run was good for me as most of my training has been short lately. I finished 22nd male and 23 overall with Pam James about 2 minutes ahead.

Billygoat - Splits

In Mt. Tom park, MA. From the parking lot to the start of the Short Billygoat. It was a long climb.

Mt. Tom park, MA. One of the preambles to the Billygoat was the Short Billygoat. I was tentative on the map a lot. There was much more detail than showed on the map, including ups and downs that added to the official climb significantly. I got caught by Peger Gagarin who started 8 minutes behind... He finished just ahead. It was fun watching how quick he makes decisions and gets through the rough. It's an intensity I haven't learned in orienteering yet.

Red - Splits

30 pushups after a +8 hour drive in the rain the whole way.

Bethesda to DC. I was averaging 20.3 mph when I reached Georgetown but strong steady headwinds along the water slowed the finish.

From Independence Ave., SW Washington D.C. to Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda, MD. I left in the dark again at about 8:45pm on another nice evening--my light worked this time. The only problem was that the whole way there was a headwind. It's very odd since I had one in the morning and my route is mostly crescent shaped; hence the Capital Crescent Trail name...

From Bethesda to DC. It was cooler (62F) and a headwind slowed me the last half along with fatigue from yesterday. Weight: 174.

From Independence Ave. SW, to Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. I worked late so I didn't get out until about 8:40pm. My headlight malfunctioned so I rode back in the dark--it was a bit dicey where the trail got away from the roads but I could see. It was sureal and slowed me some but I was tired anyway. A few times I had to shout ahead at pairs of other cyclists coming back down the hill in my lane. At least my rear flasher worked. It was a nice evening out.

30 pushups.

A nice 76F morning it was. I started well, averaging 20.2 mph up to Georgetown but a little slower in the city parts. I was glad to get on the saddle again. Weight 177.

Return from Independence Ave. in DC to Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda, MD. I got off to a quick start and picked it up after leaving Georgetown doing +20 mph on the flats. I passed several bikers (some on mountain bikes) and had some of them fall-in behind me. I figured neither they nor I had advantage since I carried weight in some not so aerodynamic panniers. I pulled them all for 2.5 miles up the hill at about 17mph to the water treatment bridge where the last still there thanked me and waited for those that dropped off. Headwinds, the rest of the hill, traffic and fatigue slowed me after that but this was still my fastest return yet by a few minutes.

30 pushups was all there was time for since we were house hunting after work again. Weight was 178 again - very wierd since I didn't think I ate a lot on the weekend. Head cold persists. I didn't ride in because I was a bit tired and also because I had to bring my laptop back to work.