Sat 10/10 - AM 125 minutes

Back to the sticks for one last hurrah on the billygoat route in Northfield/Winchester before the flakes fly. Started with the climb up and across the ridge to the E Nfld reservoir, then over to Burt Hill and Schofield Mtn. before the final obligatory ascent to the TV tower. This loop or one very similar to it took me longer back in August, although the cooler temps today have a lot to do with that. No need to cool off in the Ashuelot today. In fact the breaks were kept to a bare minimum. Leg has been worse, still not able to run downill worth a damn. The final descent off Schofield Mtn. was particularly awkward, quads pretty much pulverized by that point.

Fri 10/9 - Pm 65 minutes easy

Dull and uninspired run on a dull and uninspiring route from Coolidge over to the river and back. Tired and dragging ass all afternoon, energy levels too low to muster anything beyond a modest jog. Made the decision early on to cut the length of the run as a result, a no-brainer. Silver lining is that I never went fast enough to put any kind of strain on the adductor so it stayed quiet by and large. Gray and gloomy all day, showers at times although not while I was out there.

Thu 10/8 - PM 80 minutes

Track Road to Area 51. Right leg felt like garbage all day at work, medial/lateral, front/back, you name it. A continuation of some tightness that developed late in yesterday's run apparently. The root of the issue was, as ever, the adductor being stuck. Some work on it before heading out the door helped a bit, but the first half hour was still a teeth-gritting experience and gave rise to all sorts of unpleasant thoughts. A break at the halfway point was much more productive. Released two different adhesions which were annoying to no end. Cool conditions, pleasant enough day.

Wed 10/7 - PM 70 minutes

another 10 Spencer round trip, 40 minutes out via Pratt's Brook and Great Hill, 30 back on rt. 27 with the requisite half hour break. Soreness migrating back up towards the hip flexor today as compared to yesterday. Less stiffness overall though, esp. at the start. Rainy morning, gave way to sunny conditions with big winds pushing the humid air out.

Tue 10/6 - PM 80 minutes

round trip to 10 Spencer again, 50 minutes on the way out (via Levittown and Mt. Hope) and 30 back along the rail bed. Not quite as long a break between legs of the trip but still pretty substantial. Right hip stiff and awkward on most of the trip out, but felt much better on the way back. Hip flexor much less of an issue today, back to the adductor being the problematic spot. Definitely recovering from the insults I heaped on it last Suturday, still light years from being back to normal.

Mon 10/5 - PM 80 minutes

Walden woods. DOMS in full force today, thrown for something of a loop by the fact that the adductor wasn't the locus of soreness, but the hip flexor attachment was instead. Just as bad anyway, made the first 30 minutes of the run a hobbling chore until I did some direct pressure and cff on it. That took care of the worst of it although some stiffness returned near the end as well. Relatively warm day, nice to be outside, although I do miss using the pond. It was empty even of the wetsuit crowd.

Sun 10/4 - double, 1:55 total

AM - 60 minutes easy, Area 51. About what I expected after yesterday, i.e. stiff and sore. Moving a little better by the end though which was comforting. Warmer than yesterday, just as humid.

PM - 55 minutes to and from 10 Spencer. Half hour trip there, then an hour break, then ran back. Right hip flexor appears to have borne the brunt of the aftermath, it's more sore than the adductor. Especially stiff when starting the return leg. Still sticky conditions.

Sat 10/3 - AM 75 minutes incl. 5m in 30:20

Back to Gloucester for the second time in a month for what appeared to be an ill-advised attempt at running another road race. Unlike other events I've entered this fall this one wasn't committed to many months ago, more like one month ago after the Magnolia race. Basically wanted to visit Good Harbor Beach again. Since then the leg has not gotten notably better, in fact it may well be in worse shape in some ways. I was seriously considering staying home, went anyway on the odd chance the leg wouldn't feel terrible in the morning and no one would show up for the race. Leg did hold up well enough, fine during a 30 minute warmup and held together during the race itself although started twinging at about halfway and was never anything resembling comfortable. The big factor today though was the weather, SE gales blowing in off the ocean, with half the race running into a standup wind. Spectacular and ridiculous weather, had it been 10 degrees colder it would have been pure misery but thankfully it wasn't. Didn't bother with the watch, don't know that I would have in good weather as I was strictly focused on place not pace. Spent the entire race in third which was all I could have hoped for. Hip flexor/adductor started tightening up immediately after finishing, but not as severely as it has recently after other races. Cooldown was 15 minutes barefoot on the beach, as the tide came in and waves were being whipped along. Great fun.