Fri 8/27 - PM 75 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Clear, dry day, not a cloud in the sky. Left leg not as locked up as it was yesterday although still somewhat tight, and like yesterday felt worse as the run went along. Still able to do pickups on the way in, something that hasn't happened for a while.

Thu 8/26 - PM 90 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Ever-increasing tightness and stiffness in left leg put a damper on the run, focused on the hip rotators-TFL area and radiating down from there again. Running on the trail around Farrar Pond didn't help with the rolling up and down. A bummer because it was a nice day to be outside and energy levels starting to bounce back again. At least the llamas were back in the corral. Drying out quick after the past three plus days of rain thanks to breezy conditions.

Wed 8/25 - PM 70 minutes incl. circuits plus 20 minutes in Walden

One more day of rain-soaked conditions thanks to the slow moving cutoff low. Cool temps at least. Tired after work, carried over to the start of the run but felt more alert after 20 minutes or so of running. Left leg, which has been stiff and cranky of late from the hip on down, was moderately better today and gave me less trouble than expected during the circuit.

Tue 8/24 - PM 90 minutes easy plus 20 minutes in Walden

Another day of dank depressing gloom, wind-driven rain all day. Having some flashbacks to the twin deluges of March, but the temp today was mild enough to make it merely a nuisance. Not planning on hitting the pond originally but with the water being warmer than the ambient temp it was a no-brainer. Energy levels still low, got to bed earlier on the weekend while camping than I have been during the week before or after. Left hip rotator/TFL still tight, and got tighter over the course of the run and this didn't help matters any.

Mon 8/23 - PM 45 minutes easy

puttering around Area 51. Very tired and very flat after collapsing for a nap following the ride home from work. No thought of going to the pond today as yesterday's showers have metastasized into a despicable cutoff low that set up shop offshore and resulted in gloomy rain and unseasonably cool weather all day (and the next two days in all likelihood). Tempted to take the day off but thought an easy shakeout would help my legs after the past two days. Not sure that it did, left hip tight which made everything down the line tight and pinched as well.

Sun 8/22 - just under 70 minutes up Mt. Greylock

Stiff and awkward to start, didn't coincide well with the painfully steep switchbacks early on. Bathroom break at Wilbur's crossing which was halfway in terms of time (not distance). Started moving better after that of course, not just because the road flattened out some. Last few miles in good rhythm overall if a little tired from yesterday. Weather turned to shit overnight, storm clouds moved in ahead of schedule and the last two miles or so of the road were in the clouds. Completely drenched at the top, changed into dry clothes and after a break in the lodge rode back down the mountain and got drenched all over again.

Sat 8/21 - AM 165 minutes

longest run by time for a good while that didn't also involve long stretches of hiking in Colorado. Started from the Spring St. lot in Williamstown, headed to Mt. Hope via Stone Hill, up to Deer Ridge after a loop around Mt. Hope, back to town via Hopper and rt 43, then over to Bulkley and NW Hill road to Hopkins Forest, heading back from there. Took a while to get going, left leg tight and stuck from yesterday's climbing and took a while to shake things out. Finally started to move well on the trip back from Deer Ridge. Stopped for fluids at about 1:55 and then headed up NW hill, which is longer and steeper than I had remembered. Surprised to not suffer more for not refueling more consistently. Excellent weather conditions probably had something to do with it.