Fri 6/27 - PM 50 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Picked up where yesterday's run left off, i.e. low energy level and motivation. I had considered shortening the run all day at work. Once out there I was hopeful things would perk up after 20 minutes or so but when this didn't happen, the choice was clear to head back in. Four lackluster strides on the way in. Continued humidity, warmer today but still mostly overcast which was a saving grace.

Thu 6/26 - PM 90 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

While not as slow-paced as yesterday's run, today's effort wore me out and I was feeling beat by the end. Very tired, felt like bordering on exhaustion. Picked up the pace for the last couple of minutes on the way in and it nearly put me under. Fatigue is somewhat expected given the higher training load and less sleep of late. Increased humidity today, not overly hot but sticky.

Wed 6/25 - PM 75 minutes easy plus 24 minutes in Walden

Shuffling along with stiff sore legs. Loosened up somewhat after 30 minutes or so, but still didn't get very far into the woods and there was never any real pickup in pace. Feeling the right hammie all day at work, but it wasn't as tweaked as I thought it would be during the run itself. More dry today than the past few days, warm and fairly comfortable.

Tue 6/24 - PM 75 minutes incl. 4x400, 4x800, 4x400

Waited out the now-daily late afternoon downpour, which today included some of the most intense periods of rain that I can remember, before working out in conditions that were very favorable, albeit humid. Splits as follows:

71.6
72.6
71.1
71.2

2:26.4
2:25.1
2:25.3
2:25.5

70.6
68.4
68.6
67.3

1.5R after each 400, 2.5R after each 800

Tonight's workout was under control but definitely tiring, and by the end I had just about reached the end of my rope. Given how flat I've been feeling lately it went better than expected. The first set of 400s were run at a relatively relaxed pace, when the 800s were run at almost the same pace I knew the last set of 400s would get faster, but I didn't think they would go as quick as they ended up being. Given the length of the workout I took pains to keep it as relaxed as possible early on and not do anything rash esp. in the first 200 of each rep. Right hammie started acting up on the final set of 400s, manageable but won't feel great the next few days. Very easy cooldown barefoot on the grass.

Mon 6/23 - 80 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Still feeling relatively flat, not as much as yesterday though. Most notable aspect of the run was the torrential gullywasher that was going on for much of it. Ankle-deep puddles much of the way, rivulets coursing down every slope. Surprising to see such intense rain persist so long. Legs a filthy mess by the time I got to the pond. Finished with dead-legged strides on the way in.

Sun 6/22 - double, 90 minutes total plus 20 minutes in Walden

AM - 40 minutes, Area 51. Took a while to get going this morning, yesterday was a long day. Run was most notable for the deer flies which were out in force as usual around solstice time. As such it will be at least 8 weeks before venturing back there again. They forced me to pick up the pace after a sluggish start. Right hammie tweaked, for a few days now but aggravated by yesterday's effort.

PM - 50 minutes, Reformatory branch to Sleepy Hollow before heading over to Walden. Flat and tired, strung out from not enough sleep of late. The muggies settled in overnight and were in full force by evening.

Sat 6/21 - PM 60 minutes incl. 5k road race in 16:34

Feeling flat as evidenced by the slow time. Not too sure of the accuracy of the course, first mile mark went by in 5:03, never saw mile 2, mile 3 was 15:39. Splits show the overall pattern of the effort regardless of their accuracy, i.e. I wilted a bit as things went along. Some minor inclines the first two miles but nothing overly difficult. All of it irrelevant as there was no competition whatsoever, easiest of easy pickings. As such no motivation to push myself any harder than necessary which was for the best. Piercing sun as things kicked off at 1 pm under a cloudless sky on the longest day of the year, but thankfully not at all humid. Slow 30 minute cooldown, the only gear available.