Fri 10/26 - PM 35 minutes very easy

Had something a little more substantial in mind but much like Tuesday, even strides weren't happening thanks to very low energy level and sore right hammie. Cut the length of the run short in fact. DOMS from Wednesday's workout would appear to be at work as the legs felt worse today than yesterday.

Thu 10/25 - 60 minutes easy

Area 51. I had thought about going longer but realized soon after starting out that it was wishful thinking. Not enough time or energy for it. The exhaustion is accumulating, similar to last year of course, and not at all unexpectedly given the grind of the coaching schedule. No marathon to recover from this year though. Right hammie and calf both somewhat stuck after yesterday's workout.

Wed 10/24 - PM 70 minutes incl. 2x(3k, 2k, 1k)

Despite still feeling somewhat rundown and stiff-legged, went to the track for the longest threshold session so far this fall. 600 jog after each 3k, 400 after each 2k. About 5 minutes between sets, most of that time spent in the portajohn. This recovery was on the long side for a workout such as this but it certainly facilitated negative splitting, as seen below:

3:44.3/3:32.8/3:27.5
3:32.8/3:24
3:19.1

3:35.5/3:27.9/3:22.4
3:29.4/3:20.6
3:18

The longer reps started under control and finished at an entirely different level of exertion. Starting to feel right calf during the second set, which continued after the workout was over. Did some compressions on it afterward which seemed to help. Very good conditions once again for this type of thing, cool with no wind to speak of.

Tue 10/23 - PM 70 minutes easy

Area 51. Easy putter in the dark, necessarily so after getting hit by a wave of exhaustion in late afternoon. I had wanted to do strides on the way in but it simply wasn't happening due to both lack of energy and sore legs. Felt like crap in other words. Hoping to get in a decent threshold session tomorrow so live to fight another day.

Mon 10/22 - PM 60 minutes

Out and back on the aqueduct in Weston. Started out a bit quick, then settled into a relatively relaxed groove for most of the rest of the way. Right leg dragging a bit, dragging a bit in general as well after getting home somewhat late last night. Still no complaints what with being able to get the run in before darkness fell. Relatively mild, yesterday's wind continued into the early afternoon but was softening into a breeze by the time I got started.

Sun 10/21 - AM 80 minutes incl. 5k road race

Mediocre effort at best. The A game was nowhere to be found, feeling too flat from the moment I started the warmup. Dead flat course on Day Blvd., basically identical to the race I did here in July. With the wind at our backs on the way out, cruised through the mile in around 5:00 without undue effort. Soon after that the eventual winner went by me and I had hopes of hanging with him when we turned around and headed back into the wind. Unable to make this stick though, when I got to the turnaround contact had been lost and was consigned to spending the second half of the race being crushed by the wind. It became clear by mile 2 that closing the gap wasn't happening and I was feeling the effort more keenly than I would have liked anyway, so the remainder of the race was a holding action. Consolation prize was the age group win, vultured in fine fashion. Cooldown an easy 45 minutes around Castle Island with nice views of the ocean and tides and more big winds as well. Right calf got tight towards the end of the cooldown, unwelcome but not surprising.

Sat 10/20 - AM 75 minutes

Lincoln woods, ran mostly easy for an hour by myself and then 15 minutes of jogging with the kiddies showing them the up and down loop in Mt. Misery they were doing for their workout. Stayed up too late last night for no good reason, feeling somewhat groggy as a result. The muggy overcast of yesterday continued into the morning but by the time I had done it was breaking up and the conditions were improving by the minute with things drying out. Did me no good while I was out there though, trails carpeted with wet leaves. Still preferable to running most anyplace else.