Sat 12/20 - PM 60 minutes treadmill

8 miles, 6.5 to 9.5 mph in 2 minute steps. Right leg somewhat stiff but otherwise felt smooth. Roads a disaster as someone forgot to turn off the snow machine. Temps never got out of the teens either. Throat somewhat sore, could be worse.

Fri 12/19 - off, again

Patiently waiting for the blood clot to form in the hole in my jaw. Two rounds of shoveling in the evening as white hell descends. Dry scratchy throat may be making a comeback, thanks in large part to the sleepless night Wednesday which was the wisdom tooth's parting gift. Good riddance.

Thu 12/18 - off

As originally planned, but what wasn't planned was the removal of the accursed abscessed tooth after a sleepless feverish night. Words can't express how happy I am to have that thing out of my skull, esp. after the past few weeks. Its removal will require a second day off tomorrow, second week in a row with a two day break.

Wed 12/17 - PM 50 minutes very easy

Levittown loop, didn't make it to Summerhill which is a testament to how slow the pace was on this run. Active recovery straight through, needless to say. Legs not as sore as I might have expected given the intensity of last night's workout. Chilly temps but with little wind.

Tue 12/16 - PM RLTAC 70 minutes incl. 6x800

Aiming for a progression from 5k pace to 3k pace, taking it in pairs with goal 2:24-5 the first two, 2:22-3 after that, and finally 2:20-1 to finish. Somewhat concerned about being able to make the last step in pace. It ended up as follows:

2:25.5
2:24.2
2:23.3
2:21.3
2:19.2
2:17.4

2.5 minutes rest throughout

Ended up faster than planned on the last 3 reps in what can best be described as a hoovering, sucked along by MD types who think nothing of dropping a 33 second opening 200 on a rep that ends up going in 2:20. Like running with high schoolers, only stupider. Starting as a group was a laughable gesture as multiple gaps formed almost immediately. Didn't take the bait on this suicidal early pace, which meant I ended up running mostly even splits as I quickly reached my limit and then stayed there. Relaxed effort but no gears left after hitting 400 on the last one in 69. Some residual soreness from Sunday but not as bad as expected.

Mon 12/15 - PM 60 minutes, Longfellow Loop

Started at an easy relaxed pace and it gradually progressed from there. Right knee tendinitis at the medial quad attachment felt like garbage all day but it loosened up within two minutes of starting the run. Calves sore from yesterday, generally feeling a bit creaky. Discretion being the better part of valor I chose to forgo doing any strides. Abnormally warm all day, nearly went out the door with pants before realizing it was shorts weather.

Sun 12/14 - AM 75 minutes incl. 5k in 16:30

AM - Walter's Run in Westie. Ran the course once as a warmup, then the first 2+ miles at 5:45 pace after that. Ideally it would have been the whole thing but I was right up against the start of the actual race and so I had to cut it short. Neither the warmup nor the "tempo" piece felt especially good, dragging a bit as expected from yesterday's higher volume. Blustery wind didn't help either. The first mile of the race was of course far too fast, just over 5 minutes, as I let myself be dragged out by the early leaders. It felt like garbage on the initial gradually uphill stretch. Took the lead during the second mile to burn off any pretenders, that got rid of all but one guy who took the lead back just after 2 miles (10:23) as we hit the only hill of any consequence on the course. I thought my goose was cooked, neither of us were running fast at all by this point. Sensed I could take it with 800m to go, made a move after we stopped going uphill which some would call a "trick." The trick worked as I was able to coast in keeping the guy in second at arm's length. Finished feeling more exhausted than I would like for the pace we were running. Cooldown was a 20 minute crawl. Nice write-up of the race here I made sure to get in a mention of my specially created shirt.

Sat 12/13 - double, 2 hours total

AM - 65 minutes very easy to easy in Area 51. Right knee and ankle stiff and sore to an obnoxious degree so early in the morning. Hobbling along for a few minutes before they loosened up sufficiently. From then on it was a leisurely hour spent taking in the scenery, punctuated by multiple water crossings on sections of trail that were flooded. Feet quite cold by the end, shoelaces frozen.

PM - 55 minutes, Levittown to Summerhill and as far as Tobin drive before heading back. Six strides on the way in. Moving better than the morning, which is a given, but energy levels up and down during the run. At times I had doubts about whether or not strides would be possible. The rapids on the Assabet at the Mill St. bridge were particularly impressive, a raging torrent.