Fri 7/6 - PM 55 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Somewhat shorter run than what I otherwise would have done, thanks to social engagement later in the evening. Finished off with some strides instead of the windup that's characterized most runs that haven't been slow jogs. Right calf has done nothing but get tighter since Wednesday, and I'm doing it no favors by hitting the trail in low-profile shoes. Hot but relatively dry once again.

Thu 7/6 - PM 90 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

The big long run of the week in all likelihood, such as it is. Took it easy at the outset, legs feeling stiff and creaky after yesterday's race on hilly terrain. Eventually felt better and picked it up some the final half hour. Right calf of course stiffened up as I've put too much strain on it of late. Hot but relatively dry.

Wed 7/4 - AM 65 minutes incl. 5 mile road race

Same shit, different year on the hills of Harvard. Dragged myself out of bed only for the sake of consolidating my lead in the Nashoba Valley Grand Prix, anything beyond that would be a bonus. Awoke to rain showers that grew progressively more intense to the point of being torrential downpours 15 minutes before the start of the race. Then the rain stopped, leaving behind sky high humidity of course but relatively mild temps for the race itself. Feeling less than spry warming up and assuming the race would be a dud. I had the mile splits from last year's race committed to memory, and the first mile split this year did nothing to dispel the notion that it was going to be a slog. However, the rest of the race was close enough to last year's numbers that the overall time was within 10 seconds. Felt smooth enough, except for the inevitable stall going up the steep hill at 3 miles or so. 

2012 (2011)
5:30 (5:16)
5:26 (5:29)
5:47 (5:47)
5:52 (5:48)
5:08 (5:17)

Final mile was quicker because I had more motivation to stay ahead of the same local hero I beat a year ago. To his credit he ran smarter this time, not blasting out the first mile under 5:10, but the end result was the same. Any delusions of winning the thing like a year ago went by the boards within the first 800m, as the course record was broken which is no small feat on this course. Right calf stiffened up somewhat on the cooldown, spent the rest of the day doing compressions and cross fiber friction on it. I had planned on a dip in the pond in the afternoon, but found myself too tired to bother with the logistics of it and gave it a pass.

Tue 7/3 - PM 60 minutes easy plus 22 minutes in Walden

Once again a bit longer than I really would have liked, but at an easy effort level throughout. Right calf continues to feel a bit stiff, right hammie has been tweaked for a few days now as well. The latter responded well to compressions after the run. Similar conditions to yesterday and the last few days. Humidity holding off for the moment.

Mon 7/2 - PM 75 minutes easy plus 20 minutes in Walden

Lazy putter in the woods, too long really after the weekend and given all the damn errands I had to do afterward. Right calf stiffened up yet again in the trail shoes, not to a debilitating degree but certainly annoying. Feeling various other aches and pains as well, no surprise at all. Not quite as hot as yesterday and the humidity was pleasantly low as well. The pond is fast becoming tepid as opposed to bracing.

Sun 7/1 - AM 2:10

Loop run through the hills of Northfield and Winchester. Didn't bring my bike on this trip, so the run wasn't going to end at the TV tower as these things have in the past. Started off running along the ridge, the main trail now a mess thanks to logging going on seemingly throughout the school-owned forest. While the harvesting is selective, the impact on the trail is substantial and the whole thing was a downer. Continued on to Staddle Hill, then up Bolton road and right past the TV tower, down the other side to the covered bridge. From there up Schofield Mtn. Road and back via So. Parrish. A short break just before the hour mark, then a longer break at the covered bridge 25 minutes later to soak the legs in the Ashuelot river which was great. Felt fine throughout, felt like the effort was well distributed over the entire length of the run. Since I didn't get to sleep until rather late last night I had concerns about not having the energy. Could have gone a little further but it was getting on towards lunchtime and I wanted to eat lunch and get back home. I had thoughts of hitting Walden in the afternoon after getting home but by the time I made it back I was far too tired. Hot and sunny like yesterday, but not overly humid thankfully.

Sat 6/30 - double, 1:50 total incl. road race plus 20 minutes in the Connecticut

AM - 90 minutes incl. 4 mile road race in Northampton. Apparently and regrettably what might be the last time this particular race is conducted. Feeling predictably tired and stiff after yesterday's run up and down the ridge and the general lack of sleep. Combined with rapidly rising temps I was looking to survive the race in one piece. Made a conscious effort to hold back just a bit the first few minutes. Had three people as company. After the uphill stretch leading to the mile mark that started to string out. I had forgotten about the hill at the start of the second mile, no fun at all, but this served to stretch the field out further. By halfway I was more or less in the clear although I kept the effort going until 300m or so from the finish. Completely unnecessary but better safe than sorry. Decidedly lackluster splits of 5:18, 5:26, 5:27, 5:26. I wish I could say it was a tempo run but that wouldn't be accurate in the least. Definitely in get it over with mode the second half of the race, thankfully no one there to challenge as I wasn't in any kind of condition to put up much of a fight. Very easy cooldown jog to and from the river via rail trail, well after the race had ended. Went for a dip in the river to cool off and found to my disgust there were dead fish everywhere, which shortened that visit.

PM - 20 minutes very easy plus 20 minutes in the Connecticut. Back to the boat ramp, well upstream of the smelly fish kill in Noho. Very slow shakeout then back and forth in the river for a while, Very refreshing after a hot sunny day.