Thu 5/23 - PM 55 minutes incl. 3(400-300-200-100)

Modest track session approached with considerable ambivalence. While the right leg held up reasonably well to yesterday's hill drills, calf was feeling quite tight after spending too much of the work day sitting with legs flexed. This is not so good for calf stiffness in particular, I've found. Big surprise there. Did a 20 minute warmup through Concord center and reformatory branch with strong reservations about whether I should be attempting any kind of fast running at all. Feeling an incipient mind/body disconnect, soldiered on anyway of course. Unable to give myself over to a week of "just jogging" at this juncture in what looks to be an underwhelming track season. Originally planned on doing some kind of 400 repeat workout, namely 1600 at tempo followed by 3-3-3 faster/slower/faster. Chickened out of that session due to how the leg felt, how long it took me to get started, and perhaps most convincingly the wind that was 20+ mph on average, down the back straightaway. Decided to approach this workout as glorified strides and not obsess over how slow the numbers were going to be. The wind had its expected deadening effect of course, in general the 400s and 300s felt awkward more than uncomfortable, like visiting a strange land. 300-200-100 jog recoveries between reps for 1600m total running, 3.5 minute jogs after each set. Splits incl. recovery jogs:

74.3/85
57.4/55.3
37.4/27.8
19.0 - total 5:56.1

73.4/83.3
56.3/57.2
36.7/26.8
18.9 - total 5:52.5

72.6/84.3
55.8/58
35.8/28.9
18.1 - total 5:53.4

As expected the numbers were far from impressive. Worth noting that the final 100m of each set was run right into the wind, comparing those numbers to the 200s which were mostly with a tailwind gives some indication to its effect on the pace. Effort remained relatively consistent I'd like to think. Calf felt awkward and a couple of twinges but it survived the workout intact. Belly of right hammie was feeling pinched after the first set, some quick pressure and cross fiber friction helped with that between each set. Disgusting humidity if not very hot, not the greatest of days weather-wise.