Training Log Archive: Nadim

I was a little sore from running the Highlander, but not as much as expected.

Event: Hudson Highlander XVIII
 

HVO: Hudson Highlander XVIII: Harriman State Park, NY. I had a lot of worries going into this. A huge lack of training and coming off of an injury was at the top of that list. I must admit some intimidation at not having run a Hudson Highlander in 4 years. The technical terrain and somewhat difficult to read map of Surebridge Mountain, the map of the first loop and also the longish trail run leg, was also intimidating. Once started, it took me a while to get used to reading it (I was fairly busy this week before the event so the only look at the map that I had was when David Onkst shared it with me the night before). Fortunately, I was able to dial it back a bit by planning to do the run with Peggy and Bernie. All 3 of us had ailments. They always are good company too.

On the Surebridge Mountain loop, we picked-up a few others running with or around us. We followed the trail up to the top of the mountain for #1. We fell off route a bit to the right going to #2 and had to climb back to the ridge. At the Time Square intersection, none of us saw the nice flatter route to the left :(. Bernie and I spiked #3 swinging to the right a bit. We spiked #4 too, coming over, then down just a tiny bit to the control. Control #5 was one that I was intimidated by. I Bernie and Peggy suggested the trail route to the right. I lost place of where we were more than a few times. They pulled us right to it. I had some similar confusion on #6. The rest on the Surebridge map, #7, #8, #9, were fairly straightforward. We did pass some cadets along the way.

The trail run back was fine. Rocky though it was, we moved steadily. There were a few times when whomever was leading (me at least once) missed a trail bend so we doubled back very short distances. At the end of it (6.7K?), we took our time at the aid station.

On the Rockhouse map, I led getting to # #11. Approaching from below, the actual area still didn't seem to be what I expected but we lost no time. Going to #12, I swung right a little to get higher and above what looked like greener terrain. We soon regrouped and saw a few of the faster runners getting close to finishing the map. I led on and spiked the control. Reading the vegetation helped. Going to #13, I had intended a straighter route, punching through the green on the ridge, and droping into the control down the reentrant. After the snow shower (Graupel was technically what fell), I stopped for a nature break. the group chose the left route down the long white reentrant so I moved to catch-up and did. The map showed some age with the green extending further so when we cut right, we were below the control closer to the marsh. Bernie figured this out and set us on the right direction and I saw the control about 150m off. For #14, we went down the alley between the green, then left on the trail. I wanted to use the trails to the right for #15 but we chose the intermittent trail that appeared to punch through the green on the left. The unfortunate part of that was that it didn't quite punch through and ended up being a slow route. Phil Bricker got ahead of us again there. We took the trail to the marsh north of #12, on the way to #16. I saw #12 as we passed it and we spiked the control. We dropped low early for #17. Control #18 didn't quite turn out to be what I thought but Bernie was leading there. At the aid station we again took our time and got a report on Max, who was already doing some burger grilling.

Peggy took off first, followed by a West Point woman who'd stuck with us since early on Surebridge. Bernie was not interested in running at first (he'd been recovering all summer from Lyme disease). We eventually caught up at #20. We passed Phil Bricker again at around #24. I led us into #25 and spiked that. Along the way, we passed Tori Campbel going the other way, and we also figured out our route to #31. I got a bit mixed-up going a hybrid route from the group to #26 but we didn't lose any time. We spiked #27 but Peggy got a little low going to #28. We hit #29 well. The misalignment of the north/south lines with the paper got me off bearing when leading to #30, but Bernie straightened us out. At the water stop on the way to #31, Phil Bricker passed us--he'd been carrying water on his back. After the dam, and going into the cabin area, we caught him. He was going a straighter route. Something in the trails there seemed a bit off so I got a little high too, but to the right of Phil. The group wanted to take the trail, so they quietly pulled me over. It was faster. We got into the control ahead of Phil, moving at a slower effort level, by about 40 seconds. We doubled back but there was confusion a the power lines. We eventually got onto the right trail but Phil was close behind. I expected him to catch up but that was the last time we saw him. We hit the road briefly before cabin hopping our way up to the reentrant that led into #31. We went straight to the road and I dopped back so we'd finish together. Jessica, the West Point woman who'd been with us nearly the whole way, pulled ahead. No matter, it was a fun outing and we were all just glad to finish. It was less a race for us than an experience. For Peggy and Bernie, and the rest of the Fab 5 who've done every Highlander that'd been run, the streak continues.

My right heel/arch had hurt most of the way through this run. It started hurting somewhere about the start of the trail run. I was partly surprised that it didn't get worse along the way. Taking an easier pace might have been part of the reason for that. I didn't feel so wiped-out at the end of the run like I have felt in earlier Highlanders. Additionally, unlike other Highlanders, I never cramped in this one, and I had to take more nature breaks.

I took some photos and short videos along the way. They are posted here:
https://youtu.be/LjgQEsDHaZ0

Harriman State Park. From Kanawauke Circle to the start of the Hudson Highlander on the Surebridge map.

HL - Splits

Germantown, MD. From the Germantown Soccerplex, to Hoyles Mill Rd., and back. While Max's team put on a score rally in the second half to win the game, I missed it. I was running out the Hoyles Mill Trail.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. in the dark. I hit the traffic lights well leaving the station so I pushed a bit.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. in the dark. I carried home dinner.

From Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD, to 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C. It was 51 F this morning and unlike other days as cool or warmer, this time 51 F, felt just fine to me. I had on about the same clothes so I must be getting more used to the cooler weather. I passed someone on Little Falls Rd. I think he and a few others I'd passed fell in line behind me. I kept a smooth and fairly steady pace. Someone finally passed me in Georgetown. I slowed a bit along Ohio Dr. and the rest of the way into the office.

From 13th & C St. SW, Washington, D.C., to Northfield Rd., Bethesda, MD. I got started at just before 6pm but I ran into early traffic. There were significant headwinds getting into Georgetown, then again as I neared Bethesda. I tried to keep my level of effort down but I still got tired. My back still hurt some today (not while riding), but not as much as the day before. I felt it more when bending down.

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station.

Washington, D.C. From between 14th & Independence Ave., SW, down Independence Ave., to 17th St., along the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial circle, to Ohio Dr. to the Rock Creek Trail, to P St., NW., to 20th St., NW., to the Dupont Circle Metro Station at Q St., NW. It was raining lightly in the first mile. I wasn't running fast but it felt like one of the better runs for me this year.

From the Bethesda Metro Station to Northfield Rd. in the dark. I was a little cold from having clothes still damp from the sweat of running.