Training Log Archive: Nadim

From Northfield Rd., to the Bethesda Metro Station. I had to turn back after realizing I'd forgotten my helmet. My neighbor who also commutes was starting out too, and he laughed.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, Wisconsin Ave., to Norwood Park, to the Little Falls Trail, to Falls Rd., to Glenbrook Rd., to the Capital Crescent Trail, to Edgemoor Ln. into to the Bethesda Metro Station. On the CCT, I saw a woman not far away running toward me put her foot on the edge of the trail, and stumble badly. I stopped and she was okay; just bruised and scraped.

From the Bethesda Metro Station, to Northfield Rd.

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.