Fri 3/1 - PM 70 minutes incl. 6x1000

Fixated to a misguided degree on doing reps on the track, under some schedule pressure as well so my only option was to run right after work in Wellesley. After yesterday's weather crapfest, the college track had a thin layer of snow on it, enough to cause cumulative core muscle fatigue. Not helping were the shoes I was wearing with very little traction, or the fact that as I stepped on the path I had already created in lane 1 it got progressively more slippery. On top of everything, strung out from the week's activities incl. preparations for the upcoming trip to AZ. End result, got through 3 reps in dead on 3:30 feeling okay, then 3:32, then a pair between 3:34 and 3:35, all with 200m jog. No use in going further to the 8 I had hoped to get through. Certainly things would have gone smoother with a dry track but I have to feel that I still would have run out of gas.

3/1 - PM 60 minutes easy

Lincoln woods. Yesterday's wintry mix continues on, obnoxiously. Snowing this morning, then rain, then back into snow by the time I hit the trail. Driving ill wind the entire time. While the footing wasn't as bad as it could have been, the experience was fairly miserable overall. Still better than dodging cars on slippery roads. Had to cut the length of the run short in order to check the Brues woods camera before darkness set in.

Wed 2/29 - PM 75 minutes easy

Lincoln woods. Weather conditions the most notable thing about the day, as the wintry mix moved in soon after lunchtime and snow was starting to accumulate by the time I hit the trail. No real issues with traction although I wasn't going fast enough to have to worry about that anyway. Legs not as beat up as I would have expected after yesterday's session.

2/28 - PM 55 minutes incl. 8k progression run

More last minute changes, I had various ideas for a workout on the Longfellow loop but in the end went to the track instead. Started late enough that it was dark and for visibility reasons mainly that's been putting me off running a workout on roads vs. track. Even though running lap after lap on the track isn't the most appealing thing either. Thought about doing in/out 800s, instead went with a progression, definitely 20 possibly 24 laps. I knew after the first mile it would be the former. Started at 90 second pace, plan was to drop the pace 2 sec/lap with each successive mile. Splits:

5:58.6
5:52.2
5:44.8
5:35.8
5:30.0

tot. 28:41

hitting the numbers with relative ease through the first 4k, then it got tougher, with the last 800m requiring a lot more effort than I would like 82 pace to be. I wondered after finishing if I had started at 6:00 and gone down by 5 sec. per mile instead of the 6-8 if I could have lasted another 4 laps, but I doubt it. 22 laps maybe. Warmup and cooldown both quite abbreviated, looking to get started and get finished with the relatively late start. Some wind on the back straight but nothing like Saturday's workout. Cold but not frigid.

Mon 2/27 - PM 80 minutes easy

Lincoln woods. Moving better than yesterday but only just. Right hammie remains pinched, TFL as well. Using the foam roller after the run was very productive in helping with this. Tired from another upstairs/downstairs day at work, a trend that shows no sign of ending soon. A sunny mild morning and early afternoon gave way to dull gray overcast and an annoying wind. Would have been a great day to run in the morning.

Sun 2/26 - PM 90 minutes easy

Track Road to Area 51 via Sudbury road. Had difficulty getting things going, originally I was going to run in the AM but no way was I able to peel myself out of bed in time. Spent more time than planned outside getting raked by the wind before even thinking about running, so in the end I didn't get out the door until near sunset. If anything it got warmer, or at least the wind subsided, so once again I found myself overdressed. No complaints after getting frozen in the AM. Relaxed putter, head lamp batteries died almost immediately upon using them which altered the route I took through the refuge. Right hammie off from yesterday, hip flexor/IT not as bad though.

Sat 2/25 - AM 55 minutes incl. 15x200, 400

Survived huge winds, which caused a last minute edit to the planned leg prep session (or what passes for leg prep with me). I had originally planned to do some kind of 4-3-2-1 cutdown or monofartlek, but running hard more than 200m at a time in the morning's blustery gale would have required more effort than I was prepared to put forth, so I changed it to 200s with 300-200-100 recoveries. Narrow window of opportunity to get the workout in, had to go early in the morning. With last night's rain I figured the poorly constructed track in Maynard would be swamped, but it had drained enough to be clear although some spots were icy at the start. Arranged things so that I got mostly tailwind on the 2nd and 3rd rep of each set. Repeats averaged a bit over 38 seconds, while not at all impressive given the conditions I'll take it. Recoveries in the low to mid 80s for 300, 55 or so for 200, 27-8 for 100. Last 400 in 78, felt a lot slower, overall time 24:23. Tired by the end but under control throughout. Right leg still somewhat pinched and IT band required the foam roller after the workout.