Fri 9/14 - PM 30 minutes easy plus 15 minutes in Walden

Dragging major ass, not at all unexpectedly, what with getting to bed extremely late last night after the game. Made it through work and some bike riding at practice feeling fine actually, but it came crashing down soon after. The plan was to get in a set of hill drills before the weekend's racing but I seriously considered going straight home instead. Took a brief nap in the Lincoln commuter lot when it was already getting late, then moved the car closer to the pond because there wouldn't be time to get there and back before it got dark. Extremely heavy-legged and listless to start, which cleared eventually but not until after a very perfunctory and tiring set of drills on Pine Hill. As the humidity has subtly crept back in, it was quite refreshing to get in the pond if only for a short time. The trip back from the pond felt much better and moved a lot quicker. Still dog tired though.

Thu 9/13 - PM 35 minutes

Relatively low-key run with the kiddies, down the aqueduct to Nonesuch pond and back via Radcliffe and Wellesley roads. Things were mellow at the outset, with a break for a brief dip in the pond. Some switch was flipped unbeknownst to me about a half mile out and the pace picked up dramatically. No desperate sprint across the parking lot this time as they're wont to do though. Warm dry day. Later on, did a little light jogging to get to and from the ballyard for one final depressing evening watching the pathetic local nine.

Wed 9/12 - PM 55 minutes incl. 6x(1200, 300)

After an afternoon spent jogging back and forth in the woods next to Waltham HS for the kiddies' meet, went down to the Bentley track and began the workout after a two lap warmup. Took splits for all reps but didn't check them, trying to run on feel alone. 300m jog after each 1200, 200 jog after each 300 making each set five laps. The final set, stretched out the recovery to a full lap and finished with a 400. Switched directions with each set. This workout felt quite good, very relaxed and flowing along throughout. The splits are hardly impressive, 4:16-20 for the 1200s and 57-9 for the 300s, but that hardly matters given that it happened at the end of another long day. Cool and dry conditions, finished in the gathering darkness.

Tue 9/11 - PM 65 minutes easy plus 20 minutes in Walden

Early finish to kiddies' practice today which gave me the opportunity to head over to the pond, an opportunity I wasn't about to pass up. The effect of the past two days is such that I needed to take it easy, time constraints such that an hour was all the time available to run and still make it to the pond and back before sunset. Some stiffness still in right ankle. Sunny, dry crisp day, conditions cooling off as the sun went down.

Mon 9/10 - PM 80 minutes

Longest run in a long while from Weston, down the aqueduct into Wayland, up Rice to Old Conn Path and back into Weston for a jaunt down Love Lane, Highland, Chestnut, Ash. Cut through the rugged trail between Ash and Wellesley to get back to the school. Pace started out a little quick as I got dragged along for the kiddies' pissing contest, always a treat. Once the crowd thinned after 20 minutes or so the pace moderated and was quite reasonable after that. Delightful conditions, dry and sunny. Some stiffness in right ankle but overall not as sore as I thought I'd be following yesterday's progression.

Sun 9/9 - AM 85 minutes incl. 16k progression run

Back to the Longfellow loop for the first time in a good long while. Still feeling the effects of Friday's misadventure, such that getting out of bed was no easy task. Lolligagged around a good chunk of the morning, not exactly looking forward to trying this workout. Today was the only chance to do it though, eventually forced myself out the door. By this time it was late morning and had the weather not been well on the way to changing over to drier cooler conditions it could have been problematic. However, with relatively mild temps and some overcast it wasn't a concern. Thought that the first loop might have been too quick as I was doing it but the pace settled into a groove after that and the final lap things picked up noticeably without killing myself to do it. Splits:

5:58/6:05/2:56
5:58/6:00/2:53
5:57/5:57/2:53
5:50/5:47/2:45

Some soreness in left adductor, not sure what caused it but it didn't bother things at all once warmed up.    Still having difficulty fitting in post-workout stretch and strengthening routine since the resumption of the coaching schedule, too tired to move around much after dinner.

Sat 9/8 - PM 90 minutes easy plus 20 minutes in Walden

Paying the piper for an obscenely late bedtime last night, followed closely by an early wakeup call for the kiddies meet in Newburyport. Quasi-napped on both legs of the hour-plus bus ride, with as little running as necessary at the meet itself to get from start area to mile mark for coaching duties. Putrid humidity remains firmly in place, as a result waited as long as possible before hitting the trail. As expected, felt like dung overall and this made for a dull slog of a run. Dragged myself through a set of tired-ass hill drills only because I knew this would be the one chance all week I'd have to do them. Left heel feeling stiff during this.