Fri 4/30 - PM 85 minutes incl. 5x1000, 4x400

Wind ruined my fun. Not quite as bad as yesterday's gales but plenty bad enough, hammered away all afternoon after being relatively still in the morning. Hip flexors still sore from Sunday, flat from a punishing week of long days, other than that a walk in the park. Compounded the trouble by doing the first kilo too fast. 200 jog between all reps, 4.5 minutes before the first 400.

3:18.9
3:20
3:21.8
3:22.2
3:22.6

75.2
72.0
76.9
73.4

Tried to alternate faster and slower 400s, it's difficult to describe how obnoxious the wind became on the final two reps. Stood me up on the home straight, the final 73 felt like a 63. Just awful. Wanted to do six but I was done after four and I knew it. Cooldown a crawl, right hip feeling worse with each step.

Thu 4/29 - off

because what everyone really needed today was another HS dual meet.

Wed 4/28 - PM 65 minutes easy

Dreary dismal effort to match the gloomy weather. Had a workout planned of repeat kilos, jogged over to LL loop to start it, ran 200m and knew right then it wasn't to be. Pulled off and headed over to Area 51 instead for another puttering jog. Tired enough that my whole body ached the entire run, just a drag. Blustery NW wind and spitting rain just to pile on. Going to the computer thing Monday evening did me in for today, still trying to catch up on sleep.

4/27 - AM 30 minutes easy

only marginally quicker paced than yesterday's crawl. Not being fully awake had a lot to do with it. Planned on another short PM run for an unimpressive double but even that went by the boards after standing out in the rain for another in the endless string of kiddies' meets.

Mon 4/26 - PM 30 minutes very easy

Very, very easy run in Brookline. Followed it up with dinner then a long walk, over an hour round trip with a seminar in between. Hips not as bad as I thought they might be after how they felt yesterday afternoon. Grey and gloomy but the rain held off until the walk back to the car.

Sun 4/25 - AM 90 minutes incl, 5k, 10k road races

Relatively successful this time around at Groton, certainly as compared to last year. Feeling both tired and anxious while warming up, concerned about how the left adductor would hold up after how it felt yesterday. Planning on hanging back early on, ended up in the lead after 90 seconds or so as the competition was lacking. Ran the rest of the way alone in front, under control but definitely working hard. First mile split was 5:05, somewhat dubious, next two miles went in 10:35. Took my foot off the gas pedal a bit just before 3 miles but still it was taxing. Haven't slept enough this week. Adductor was stiffening up after finishing the 5k, spent the time between races doing direct pressure and a full stretching routine which helped a lot. For the 10k it was all about maximizing place with the least possible effort, I had hopes of sneaking in for the last money spot but it became clear after 2 miles that it wasn't to be and I cruised the rest of the course, doing enough to stay clear of the guy behind me. Mile splits ended up being 5:25, 5:34, 5:49, 5:45, 5:47, and 5:53. The 10k course definitely gets harder as you go along. Noticed some soreness in right hip on the last mile, which was the iliopsoas acting up. Kept it quite relaxed though and felt smooth throughout. Quite sore after it was all over, cooldown was short and superslow. Mild temps but with gusty winds, as per usual seemed to be hitting us in the face the entire time.