Training Log Archive: Nadim

EMPO US Middle Distance Championships at Lake Moreau, NY. Hike from the bus drop-off to the start area.

EMPO US Middle Distance Championships at Lake Moreau, NY. I looked forward to the challenging terrain today. It didn't disappoint me. It was made more challenging for all with mostly light rain. The rain was heavier for me in the early part of the course.

I'd told myself that I'd plan better and go more slowly but the excitement, the technical difficulty, difficulty to read in the rain, and concern that competitors were on my tail blew that apart early. Andras Revesz started 2 minutes behind me. Clint Morris started 6 minutes behind. I did what I often do; I ran straight on a bearing and tried to read my way across. I did figure that I'd see the line of marshes before the control. I did see them, hitting right at the southern gap, though on the run, I couldn't read the gap. I angled up from there and spiked the control--whew, it was good not to mess up the first one!

It had been tiring getting to #1 and that may have helped me settle down. I thought it risky to go straight to #2. I chickened out a bit too much intending to bear right and bounce off the trail to the west. As I set out however, I had been pushed left by the terrain. I lost contact figured I was running parallel to the the trail. I got wishy washy and started running more south toward the control. Fortunately, I hit the tip of the marsh that I was going to run around anyway. From there it was easy to get to the control--not a confidence building leg but it wasn't an error.

For #3, I thought to run a bit to the left at first because it'd save a bit of climb and the lower terrain to the terrain straight looked slow. I'd interpreted the trail to the left to be cliffs. I stayed on the hillside near the ridge but lost track of things. I stopped short and moved ahed before stopping more and must have looked bewildered. A friend offered to help but I didn't want it. I cut to my right and was at the control 10 seconds later. For #4, my plan was not so good. Going on bearing, I started reading carefully but going up one hill where i still knew my location, realize that I could run to the large marsh. Setting out for it, I hit it at the north end and attacked. I hugged the marsh too closely going to the wrong cliff before seeing it, and the John Baker coming from a more efficient direction. I can't remember much about getting to #5 except using a bearing.

For #6, I intended to stay on the ridge and follow cliffs until near the control. I didn't see the run on the left, along the marshes. I started getting pretty tired on the ridge but thought I knew where I was 1/3 of the way there. I figured that I missed the control further up but was surprised at not hitting the trail. I went further and further and started to think I ran past the trail. I doubled back lower, on the right (east) side of the ridge--that had been my mistake right from the start. I'd misinterpreted the contours and should have been looking on the left (west) side. I turned around again and got to the trail, near a bend only it took me long. Coming back down from a bend, I found control #7 but with my glasses wet, I didn't connect the code with my clue description. I went lower and did another loop, finding another control along a marsh. I convinced myself that I'd over shot the first trail earlier when I went over bare rock, and really near a second more southerly trail. I went back up to that trail and read the bends as I ran along it, still believing this theory. Both trails had similarities. Heading off of it at a bend, I stumble into #6 and was surprised.

Going to #7 from there wasn't hard since by then, I'd figured the control I was at earlier was indeed what I'd seen earlier. I hesitated one cliff too high and had to round it on the low side to get to the control. I hit #8 well after that by going straight. My pace and energy picked up from there. I played it safe going on the trail toward #9 and didn't try to cut corners. I read my way in satisfyingly well from the north side of the big marsh.

Going straight toward #10, my path converged with both Mike Eglinski, and Vido Vitalin. It was sketchy for me near the end but I lucked-in to seeing the control first. I took off for #11 like I'd done for #6, expecting to follow the ridge. Mike and Vido fell back a bit. I pulled-up when I saw a reentrant to my right and realized I had gone to the right too much. I corrected and saw Mike and Vido leaving the control. I caught Mike and Vido as neither we're running hard, then got ahead spiking #12. Mike got ahead at the marsh. We hopped to the island, then left. From there, Mike went straight and I cut right. I spiked my control and figured Mike and Vido had another. Leaving #13, I passed by the Red course control with Mike and Vido just getting to it. I ran up to the trail and the Go control. I had to pause after punching to be able to read the code on my clue description which was wet and hard to read with my glasses. I passed one person running in.

I was happy to get around the course well for the most part. The one large error on #6 was avoidable if I'd planned better. Even now after the race, I still read up and down incorrectly there and it may be due to the control circle hiding a knoll. Relocating sooner might have kept me in contention for a medal. Tomorrow is another day.

EMPO US Middle Distance Championships at Lake Moreau, NY. Hike back to the bus pick-up from the finish.

Middle Green Y - Splits

Event: 2013 U.S. Individual Championships/Team Trials
 

EMPO US Sprint Championships at Camp Wakpominee, NY (near Lake George). Warm-up along the camp road going back and forth. Sometimes, Max would play by trying to bump me as I passed so I did likewise. I looped by the finish at one point.

EMPO US Sprint Championships at Camp Wakpominee, NY (near Lake George). I started feeling okay; I took the trail but pulled up short of the first control. I was confused by the scale (1:5,000) and the small size of symbols. Leaving #1 kicking myself for the hesitation, I didn't read the leg well. I went straight and in doing so felt that initially using the trail would have been better. Getting back to the trail, I cut across the next corner only when the slope wasn't too steep. When I hit the next trail, I climbed but couldn't gauge my location accurately. I hesitated looking for a bend in the trail that the map showed but was unsure I that I was seeing. I used the boulders to work my way in and spike it but I had already lost time.

Going to #3 I started fine but got confused with the stony ground and the wall. The scale got me again and I plowed past the control missing it to the right. I had completely missed that there was a stream to follow ;(. I couldn't make sense of the trail, and seeing another control. I went to on near #4. I cut back and found it but lost 1.5 to 2 minutes. I ran with a poor bearing to the same control that I'd been near before then corrected to #4.

#5 was finally better. I took trails to the right, and popped up jus past the control at the building. I went around to the left to #6, spiking it. I spiked #7 but I was hesitating. #8 was easy. I headed for the trail to go to #9. I hit the power line first then moved slowly on it thinking I was on a trail to the left; I didn't see the power line until I didn't see an expected trail bend. I adjusted but I'd lost some time. I was a little slow hesitating whether to use the trail or go straight. I took trails around to the left going to #11 because I didn't feel that I was running well in this type of forest. Along the was, I saw Tom Overbaugh who'd started 2 minutes ahead of me and had been leaving #12. Spiking #11, I went straight to #12 but got on the left side of the building and had to go between them to get to the control.

For #13, I used the trails at first, then went straight and spiked it. I went straight and along the shore somewhat to spike #14. I had to get around 2 people at the end. I hesitated leaving #14, then still wasn't running with confidence; I feared mis-punching but it wasn't to be. The run-in was so short that I couldn't get up to speed.

The day wasn't terrible but it wasn't a good day for me.

Sprint Green - Splits

From Northfield Rd. I ran up to Custer Rd., to Wilson La., to Exeter Rd. to Glenbrook Rd. to the Bethesda Trolley Trail, to the NIH grounds, to Maple Ridge Rd. to Georgetown Pike, to Huntington Pkwy., to Custer Rd. to Northfield Rd. It was rainy today again, and I expected to need to work late so I didn't plan a run from work. I didn't work very late. I felt that getting out would help my digestion. I also felt sluggish on this 59 F damp night.

Event: QOC Pohick Bay
 

From Carderock, the C&O Canal Towpath to Angler's Towpath (Berma Rd.), to the Uplands Spur Trail, to the C&O Towpath, to the Billygoat Trail Section A, then back to the C&O Towpath, to the Billygoat Trail Section B, then back to the C&O Towpath to Carderock. I missed the QOC meet today since Max had a birthday party to go to and I had to be here for him when he returned. I had set out for a modest recovery run. I was feeling fine and was increasing speed. I saw a fat carp in the canal. Once near a planned turnaround at a bridge, I decided to add on. The uplands took me further and slowed me a bit on the climb. However, turning around before the tavern and then getting on Section A of the Billygoat Trail was much more work and even slower. The Billygoat Trail Section A is Very Rocky. After a while, the rocky dirt trail gives way to boulder hopping and some rock scrambling along cliffs. There were a number of reentrants to cross that I didn't remember since I hadn't been on the trail in a long while. Each was around 1 to 2 contours but often steep and with sharp slippery rocks. There were some rather pretty vernal pools in the south. The Billygoat Section B is far more runnable but still with areas that require a walking pace. The river views were really nice on this clear 61 F day, especially around the islands. I saw a Great Blue Heron landing between 2 narrowly spaced islands, with its wings spread wide. Back on the towpath I finished up slowly.