Training Log Archive: Nadim

Event: QOC Fountainhead West
 

QOC: Fountainhead West. Rob Field set pleasant courses for a pleasant day. Some of the early controls were a little easy but they got more complex later. I was glad that me left knee didn't hurt--while walking around earlier this week, sometimes it had been hurting some in the meniscus area on the inside; ever since running last. I was pretty much on target through the course. The weather was in the 50s or low 60s but humid. I had trouble with fog on my glasses and had to stop to clear them with my fingers a few times, just to read the detail.

S-1 - I went fairly straight, though I did a little zig-zag crossing the creek where there was some vegetation.

1-2 - Over the ridge on bearing and across the spur on the other side. I crossed the reentrant near the control and was thinking it'd be on the east sice, but I saw it and crossed back.

2-3 - Along the creek to the bridge, then further up the creek. I didn't want to cross the marsh so I cutover after the last small footbridge. I angled up the hillside to the big reentrant, then to the control.

3-4 - I got up to the trail, turned left at the ride intersection, and left from the bend. With the reentrant on my right, I headed straight towards the control. After seeing the reentrant intersection, deadfall pushed me left but I turned up to cross the reentrant in a short while. I had to cut back a little to get to the control, but I consider having been efficient.

4-5 - I went a little left of straight to minimize climb. 100m from the control, the line of deadfall was distinct. I basically followed the edge of it to the reentrant.

5-6 - I went around the first reentrant and deadfall on the left and saw the 2nd mapped cairn. Going on bearing, I dropped into the big reentrant with the control, north of the control. Along the way, I hesitated, but then kept going to the control.

6-7 - I went a little to the right to minimize climb. At the last big reentrant, I saw the ditch north of the control, then ran to the control.

7-8 - I took a direct route using the big reentrant. At a side reentrant, I dropped into the big reentrant, and crossed it. I aimed a little west to get to the ride--in retrospect, staying in the big reentrant would have been best. Once on the ride, I basically went down a contour to the top of the reentrant. I had initially thought to use the ride to go around the reentrant system. My speed was a factor in deciding that going straight was better. I dropped along a big ditch, and stayed low until past the gully on the right. I came up the spur, emerging just to the south of the control.

8-9 - I debated getting above the reentrant by being on the right side, and taking it to the trail bend. That seemed too far out of the way for someone moving slowly like me, and the direct route indicated I could avoid most of the deadfall. I took the more direct route, initially on the right side of the reentrant, but crossing it near the saddle and ride. Once across the ride, I went to the right a little but cut back left and angled up to the spur. I hadn't focused on the feature at this point but seeing the spur, I figured it must be there and it was.

9-10 - I went almost straight, dropping, climbing, dropping and climbing.

10-11 - I used the ridge leaving #10, but angled down the other side. I came out just at the trail intersection. A young man was paused at the intersection but seeing me he went on. I couldn't keep up as we both went down the trail but he stopped twice. His second stop was at the bottom. I went past him there and across the marsh--finally getting my feet wet. I went across the bridge, to the next reentrant, then up--So many courses have finished up this way, it was like a trail run for me, only I was walking. I used the reentrants on the direct leg line to know where to cross the ridge. I passed David Levine who was on the ridge trail, and spiked the control.

11-12 - Down the right side of the small reentrant that #11 was in, across the creek, then angling up to the next reentrant. I got slowed in the green like in another recent event here, but this time it wasn't so slow. I emerged on the road just north of the finish, near the trail intersection.

Green - Splits

Rock Creek Park, MD. From Cedar Ln., the Rock Creek Trail to just past Kensington Pkwy., then the trail on the left to Kingston Rd., to Saul Rd., to Kensington Pkwy., to the Rock Creek Trail, to Cedar Ln. There was nice light in the sky as I sat in unusual traffic getting to the park. The fall leaves were nearing peak color. I got started after the sun set and it was around or under 50 F. On the trail, I must have looked scary--of the 10 or so people I passed, only 2 acknowledged anything--just one runner and one cyclist on the trail. I did see a peloton riding on the road in the dark with headlights. My left knee sometimes hurt on the inside and my legs werea little sore. At least my back wasn't hurting like it had yesterday. I worked on form by lifting my heels in the last mile.

From Northfield Rd., to Norfolk Ave. for lunch, then back. It was windy and temperatures were in the low 50s F.

From Northfield Rd., to Georgetown Pike via Greenwich Park, to Beech Ave., through North Bethesda Middle School to Bradmoor Dr., to Folkstone Rd., to Hartsdale Ave., to Heampstead Ave., to McKinley St., to Garfield St., to Roosevelt St., to Jefferson St., to Northfield Rd. It was in the upper 40s F and breezy. I wore a sweat top for the first time this season. I started out feeling alright. I was winded and thought I was slowing before ending he first mile but my second downhil mile was faster. The last uphill mile slowed me more. I could feel some pain in the right side of my lower back when I climbed. It was hurting a little just before going outside and haven't felt much in a long while. Maybe the weather change was affecting me. However my left foot was also feeling partly numb and weak. I managed to finish minute faster than other recent times that I'd run this route.