Fri 10/22 - PM 95 minutes incl. 20k threshold run

Final long pace run before  next weekend. Justifiably concerned about the status of the left adductor and hamstring, did some work on it during the day at work. First lap of the run felt fine, soon after 5k the attachment point got sore similar to how it felt during the latter stages of the last one of these I tried two weeks ago. I figured it would cause me to stop but at a certain point things stabilized and I made it through the rest of the way. Splits as follows:

5:50/5:52/2:51
5:46/5:49/2:49
5:46/5:49/2:50
5:48/5:53/2:52
5:51/5:57/2:50

Much better this time about hitting the pace from the get-go and not starting too fast. The slowdown on the last lap was troublesome in that the effort level felt the same. Did a double take upon seeing the 5:57 for the last 1600 split. From an exertion standpoint it never felt like I was going too deep in the hole, but that's not the concern anyway. It's all about how the leg will hold up. The cooldown was a hobble, as the problem area was plenty sore by that point. Conditions cool and breezy, winds gusty at times but not overly obnoxious.

Thu 10/21 - PM 50 minutes

Area 51. Leg felt decent enough until I started doing pickups near the end, with each one resulting in more tightness and twinging. Mainly in the sartorius interestingly enough. More post-run compressions on the stool. This on top of some sitting on the lax ball at work. Achilles still stiff but not as sore as it has been, I have the feeling that the worst of it may be past but it will continue to linger of course.

Wed 10/20 - PM 60 minutes

Along the Charles, returning via Beacon St. Not what I expected, given what I expected was a painful hour of dragging the left leg. In fact it loosened up relatively well, at least well enough that I was able to pick up the pace gradually and steadily over the second half of the run. All the compressions after yesterday's failure of a run might have had some effect after all. The area is still a mess of course.

Tue 10/19 - PM 45 minutes incl 1600 in 5:30

Failed attempt at doing repeats at some kind of faster pace. Brought down by the left leg, the downward spiral continues. Spent all day worrying about the heel and achilles, which loosened up within 10 minutes of starting to warm up. Thought the left thigh was doing better, but still a mess from the weekend, and the weekend before, etc. Hoping to do 5 or so 1600 repeats, felt the adductor and iliopsoas starting to tighten up by the end of the first one. This made it so the effort didn't match the pace of course, and when it persisted into the second rep I knew it was time to stop. Very very frustrating, jogged straight home and spent the next half hour doing compressions on the thigh. Found a spot with massive adhesions, likely gracilis and/or adductor magnus. Don't know if I did any good or just made it worse, hopefully broke something up though. If the leg feels like this next weekend, I'll be a DNF plain and simple. Finished the day feeling more injured than ever. The comparisons to last year when I could only jog and not truly train are becoming more unavoidable.

Mon 10/18 - PM 60 minutes

Area 51. Thankfully, leg is feeling somewhat better today than yesterday but overall still feeling weak and vulnerable. The achilles issue is going nowhere, of course. It's taking a long time, 20-30 minutes, for the creaky stiffness to work itself out to any appreciable degree. I'd hoped last week's massage would help but it would take daily intensive work to have any effect, if at all.  This won't do on marathon day obviously. Did a few pickups on the way in, which may not have been the best idea but I couldn't help myself. The inability to run at any kind of speed without lasting negative effects has me in a decidedly downcast mood. I find myself taking out my frustration by picking up the pace late whenever possible. Plugging away at the stretching and strengthening, it's been much better as recently as June/July so I know it can get better again. Cool and still evening, nice conditions.

Sun 10/17 - AM 1:50 easy

Track Road to Sudbury Road and Area 51. A chore, which was a shame because it was a nice day to be out there. I had plans of throwing in some running at marathon pace, but it quickly became apparent that the left leg wasn't going to let it happen. Ended up running all over Area 51, hit every major trail at one point. A little ahead of myself in thinking the left heel was getting better as well, it felt quite stiff after yesterday.  On top of all the left side issues, the soreness in the right plantar was nagging throughout most of the run. Firmly stuck in the purgatory of being kind of hurt but not really.

Sat 10/16 - AM 70 minutes incl. 5k road race

After feeling better the last two days, decided to try and sandbag a race. Worthwhile from an award perspective but took a toll on the legs. The course was a straightforward out and back layout, but hillier than I had expected. Also very windy, relentless 25-30 mph with gusts even stronger. As it turned out, first half of the race was both uphill and into the wind. By then the competition for the win was over, coasted somewhat but still worried about letting any glimmer of hope be established. Not the least bit concerned with time or splits, as expected the middle mile was substantially slower than the other two. Rolling nature of the course didn't treat the left adductor well at all, feeling it on the very easy cooldown and afterward. Later on in the day, right plantar noticeably sore and tender, not something I noticed while running. An unwelcome surprise.