Sat 7/7 - double, 2 hours total

AM - 60 minutes, Pratt's Brook to Rockland Ave. Took it easy most of the way, picked it up some at the end on Acton road but not as much as the other day. Lingering soreness in the shin. Cloud cover keeping the temp down at this hour which was most welcome.

PM - 60 minutes, GMNWR followed by drills and strides on the grass. Moving quicker overall than in the morning, ended up going a bit further than I had originally planned. Chose to do the d+s in barefeet, a bit dicey at times but I think the shin can handle it. Itching to dump the orthotics for the bulk of the running, but not quite there yet.

Fri 7/6 - double, 1:45 total

AM - 30 minutes very easy, more lolligagging. Feeling somewhat better than yesterday but too early to be moving quickly. Done by 8 and already obnoxiously hot and humid. Still feeling leftover soreness from the race, a bit too much probably but not keeping me from being able to train.

PM - 75 minutes, Walden woods. Six strides on the way in. The morning shakeout had the desired effect, as things felt much better right from the start. Pace was more substantial throughout as a result. Afternoon t-storms made it a bit cooler but still warm and humid.

Thu 7/5 - PM 30 minutes very easy

More lolligagging around Maynard. Combination of yesterday's double and having to stay late at work left me feeling flat as a pancake. Barely moving, legs not really lifting. Left shin and calf muscles definitely sore from yesterday's going w/o orthotics in the race, but certainly manageable. Right knee fine during the day, twinging somewhat afterwards. Humidity is back, temperature still a bit lower but not pleasant by any means.

Wed 7/4 - double incl. Harvard 5m road race/about 1:50 total

AM - 5m road race in (ahem) 28:40 with about 35 minutes warmup/cooldown. A worthwhile if somewhat depressing effort, another reminder of how much fitness I lost since May (like I needed one). First two rolling miles in just over 11 minutes, felt under control, next two substantially uphill miles went in something over 12 minutes and it felt slower than that. Just dragging ass, waiting for it to end. Big news today was that I went without orthotics for the race and made it through in one piece, at least during and just after the race. The course had some serious downhill sections the last mile which didn't seem to affect the shin or ankle. Right knee feeling tender since last night, feels like a milder version of what happened to left ankle on Monday. Probably a strained quad tendon. A bit warmer and more humid than the past few days, but it was early enough in the morning to not be a real factor.

PM 45 minutes very easy lolligagging around Maynard. Shin a bit sore from the race, quad tendon twinging much of the afternoon. Responded somewhat to direct pressure. Given the length and nature of this morning's effort, the overall soreness was no surprise.

Tue 7/3 - PM 75 minutes easy

Walden woods incl. Fairhaven Bay. Didn't get very far today as I took it easy, both as a result of feeling peaked and stepping gingerly--esp. uphill--after yesterday's ankle episode. Worried that the rolling terrain of the trails might be too much strain on the joint but it wasn't the case. Shin soreness seems to be on the way out, hopefully I won't be swapping one problem for another. Itching to get out of the orthotics. Wearing them protects from pronation but at the same time does funky things to my gait cycle, and I've noticed more of a heavy-legged soreness in quads and hips than what I'm used to. That could also be from schlepping around the extra weight of them on my feet as well. Six strides on the way in, felt less awkward than the strides the other day. Another sparkler of a day, not quite as perfect as yesterday but close. The next few days will be more unsettled, but not a steambath like last week which is all that matters at this time of year.

Mon 7/2 - PM just under 80 minutes

Pratt's Brook to Great Hill and Mt. Hope, back via railbed. Feeling more spry than I had expected after yesterday's longer run. Pace went back and forth, on a couple of occasions my brain got ahead of my legs and I had to back off. Bided my time near the end and finished with a sustained pickup on Acton road. Original shin soreness that sidelined me six weeks ago is steadily getting better, but the aftereffects are still being felt. Ankle continues to be involved. Had a scare today while climbing the steepest section of the Great Hill trail when I had a sharp pain in the medial tendon on my left ankle. Definitely a result of extreme dorsiflexion of a joint area that was swollen to begin with. This was halfway through the run and it didn't bother me noticeably for the rest of it, but who knows how it'll feel tomorrow morning. The first steps out of bed will be interesting. Tenderness along medial aspect of tibia has migrated downward toward the talus the past few days. Truly spectacular conditions today, unseasonably cool morning gave way to a clear breezy day, by the time I went for the run the breeze had cut out and it was no exaggeration to say the weather was perfect.