Sat 8/22 - double, 1:45 total

AM - 70 minutes, Staddle Hill to Louisiana Road then across the ridge and back via Birnam. Run divided neatly in half, with the first half being a distressing exercise in pain tolerance with the right leg twinging all over the place as various muscles were being forced to pick up the slack for a non-functional adductor/extensor. Took a break and found a stuck spot in the highest part of the hamstring, with some direct pressure the whole leg felt much better the rest of the way although the descent off the ridge was awkward at best. Fairly certain the stuck hammie is what I aggravated on Wednesday at work, we'll see. Disgustingly muggy again of course, it had just rained but again no real break with the temp from it. Sat in the river a good 15 minutes afterward cooling off.

PM - 35 minutes on the Norwottuck RT. Started out quite slowly, core quite stiff after the morning. Pace gradually increased then suddenly increased a lot more the last mile or so, esp. the bridge at the end which I hammered. None of it would have been possible had I not worked out the kink this morning. Torrential rains during the afternoon before the run, once again ensuring the relative humidity was at or close to 100%.

Fri 8/21- PM 85 minutes plus 24 minutes in Walden

Humidity continues to be the bane of my existence, truly oppressive today once again. It was actually better earlier in the week when the temp was in the 90s but the dewpoint was in the 60s, I don't think the DP has dipped below 70 in the past 48 hours. Some of the same weary-legged feeling that I experienced on Wednesday crept in the last 20 minutes of the run. Right leg still stuck and more sore than I would like, I'm hoping this mild reaggravation can be ascribed to all the lifting and hauling of computers the other day, it better be.

Thu 8/20 - PM 60 minutes plus 29 minutes in Walden

Less than enjoyable for various reasons, chief among them being that the right adductor felt stuck and sore at the start of the run. I have no doubt that it's in part due to all the lifting and moving of computers at work yesterday, something I didn't think much of at the time. Disgusting humidity continues, strong shower came through while I was running but it did nothing to cut the temp and served only to increase the dewpoint to obnoxious levels. Did finish feeling somewhat better than at the start.

Thu 8/19 - PM 95 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Arduous but salubrious, as they say. Heat and humidity continue. Wilted a bit the second half of the run but in hindsight it was to be expected given the length of the run, the conditions, and the last four days of training. Feeling quite weary by the time I reached the pond, the run in from there was strictly autopilot. Right leg feeling as good as it has in the past six weeks throughout which is a good sign.

Tue 8/18 - PM 85 minutes plus 25 minutes in Walden

Spent the better part of the day obsessing over how I would deal with the apocalyptic ambient conditions, what with warnings of excessive ozone and record heat. I was seriously considering putting off the run until 7 or 8 PM which would have been a pain in the ass logistically. As it turned out, it was no hotter than yesterday and the dewpoint was the same as well, if not a bit lower. While certainly not comfortable conditions, getting the run in at the usual time was not an issue at all, felt relatively comfortable. Right hip in much better shape than it was a week ago.

Mon 8/17 - PM 60 minutes easy plus 30 minutes in Walden

Poor conditions to say the least, hazy humidity made for poor air quality which I felt with every breath. Planning on going easy today and shorter as well, even so it was a slog. Happy to put in the extra time in the pond, which has reached lukewarm temperature, finally. Right adductor not showing any undue ill effects from the weekend's efforts.

Sun 8/16 - AM 130 minutes

First run over 2 hours in a long while, encompassing the entire Burt Hill-Schofield Mtn-TV tower loop for the first time this summer. Started very slowly, legs heavy after yesterday's double and feeling kind of groggy for 15 minutes or so. Eventually got going and maintained a steady rhythm the rest of the way. Right adductor as good as I could hope, the descent off Burt Hill much less awkward than when I did it last month. Took a langorous 10 minute break at Ashuelot for a dip in the river, which was welcome relief from building heat. Air quality got worse as the morning wore on, once the early morning fog burned off the haze started forming and was quite thick by the time I was done.

Sat 8/15 - double, 1:45 total

AM - 60 minutes at Northfield Mountain. Up the 10th Mountain trail, down via Tooleybrush Turnpike. Cut across the side of the hill on the way in to make it an even hour. Expecting a lot of hobbling and stiffness this morning but it wasn't that much of a problem after the first 10 minutes. Descent in particular was less awkward than I thought it would be. The valley was shrouded in fog when I arrived but it burned off quickly and the temperature shot up as a result.

PM - 45 minutes on Norwottuck RT from Amherst College to Northampton terminus. Same route that took 50 som odd minutes a month ago. The most loose the adductor has felt on any run for weeks. Possibly a turning point but remains to be seen of course. Hot and humid all day, to a disgusting degree. Drifting in the river post-run was easily the highlight of the day.