Fri 5/14 - PM 40 minutes easy

on the fringes of Area 51, an easy shakeout. Like yesterday, got home feeling exhausted and felt much better after a nap. Left adductor (iliopsoas, more accurately) feels decent enough, some trepidation regarding how it'll hold up to the effort tomorrow.

Thu 5/13 - PM 65 minutes

Area 51, of course. Barely awake by the time I got home, much refreshed after a brief nap though. Feeling better overall compared to yesterday with better energy levels, to the point where I was able to do 4 pickups on the way in that felt comfortable. Less soreness in legs as well, although the left adductor area feels like it could be re-aggravated again if I don't do the stretching and strengthening. Warmer more seasonable conditions, shared the woods with hordes of mosquitoes. At least the deer flies aren't out yet.

Wed 5/12 - PM 50 minutes very easy

plodding recovery run in Area 51. Sooo tired, thought I could get home a little earlier today but it wasn't happening. Ugh. Got a late start on the run as a result. Left adductor not as bothersome as I thought it might be but I wasn't going at any kind of speed to incur any response anyway. Unseasonably chilly, gray overcast.

Tue 5/11 - AM 55 minutes incl. 1600, 1200, 800, 400

Took the morning off work, not really able to sleep in after getting in late last night. More flat than I would have liked as a result, but perked up after some tea. Long warmup through Area 51 which was needed to work the kinks out of my legs. After some back and forth I decided to go with a straightforward cutdown and try to negative split everything. This approach plus the usual breeze coming across the track meant holding back on the pace a bit early on, a necessary concession. Splits as follows:

5:10 (2:37, 2:33)
3:42.6 (1:53.3, 1:49.3)
2:25.2 (73, 72.2)
71.4 (even)

rest was a bit over 4 minutes after the 1600, just over 3 after the 1200, just over 2 after the 8. Felt relaxed early on but it obviously got harder to go negative splits as the pace got faster. Still a good session in the sense that I was rushing through it in the morning. More worrisome was the fact that the left adductor became increasingly sore, more so after each repeat. Stiffened up a lot after the final rep and made the very short cooldown a hobble. Aggravation of the strain from January. Not something I was expecting but it makes perfect sense as I haven't been doing stretching and strengthening with any regularity of late. Leg remained stiff all day although it did respond positively to stretching and direct pressure. I also need a massage again, badly.

Mon 5/10 - PM 70 minutes

Relatively easy run around Wellesley, over to Morse's Pond, back via Brook Path. Felt very sluggish the first 20+ minutes, more tired than I had expected, woke up a bit after that and pace increased. Some tightness on my right knee after yesterday's run but it responded well to direct pressure on the quad, felt fine today. Cool and of course breezy conditions.

Sun 5/9 - PM 75 minutes

once again to Area 51, slightly longer version today. Cut the length short by 15 minutes or so due to a late start. Still feeling somewhat tired, not as much as yesterday though. Mustered up the energy for four pickups 45-60 seconds each on the way in, felt smooth enough. Blustery wind all day, from the NW this time, the wind never ever stops it seems.

Sat 5/8 - PM 65 minutes

Area 51. Felt better than yesterday but tired from a long day both yesterday and today, incl. a wasted trip to the south shore to stand around in a downpour. Not enough energy to do pickups or strides at the end like I had planned.

Fri 5/7 - PM 60 minutes easy

Another run right on the edge of easy/very easy territory, along the aqueduct in Wellesley to Longfellow Pond. An area I've noticed from the driver's seat many a time but never experienced on foot, and well worth the trip. Warm, sunny and not as windy as yesterday although of course the breezes were blowing.