Fri 2/8 - 1:40 easy

Area 51. Super-extended version of the pre-breakfast shakeout, and certainly the last time I'll be running on the trails of the refuge for some time with the blizzard bearing down. Snow had begun falling by the time I was out there, wind-driven for a time which was annoying but obviously no real accumulation yet. Never really got the pace going, nor was I planning to. Definitely hungry by the end, breakfast became an extended brunch.

Thu 2/7 - PM 65 minutes easy

Area 51. Feeling a little better than yesterday but still under the weight of fatigue. Easy putter throughout but with short pickups thrown in at the end which went better than I expected. Took a spill in the woods on a protruding root which goes with the territory when running in the woods in the dark.

Wed 2/6 - PM 75 minutes easy

Area 51. After getting to bed far too late following last night's workout, not feeling the least bit energetic by mid-afternoon. Pace of the run tailed off toward the end. Shuffling along the last 15 minutes or so. The workout had an effect on the legs, both calves in particular tighter than I had expected. Found out today my indoor track season has come to a close after being shut out of the Valentine Invite which was cancelled anyway. An odd and short campaign, certainly not planning to do only the mile, an event I haven't done in years. Given all the travails of January I'm glad to have made it to the starting line at all.

Tue 2/5 - PM 60 minutes incl. mile, 4x(660,330,110)

Another less than impressive session on the track. Thought beforehand that perhaps I'd be able to hit slightly faster numbers or at least feel better doing it, but that wasn't taking into account the effects of consistently running on the track of late incl. two weekends in a row of racing. While the right hammie has been feeling better in general, it's still stuck just enough to make running fast a bit more of a chore than it should be. Also tired and flat as per usual, didn't get to bed early enough last night. Started off with a mile at threshold pace, figured it would be the usual 80 second laps and hoping to cut the pace down from there. Instead the first quarter went by in 82 and any faster would have felt far from relaxed. Two 80 second quarters later and I found myself stubbornly picking up the pace to sneak under 5:20 for the entire thing. The idea of substantially progressing the pace is but a fond memory. Of course starting out slower would make it more doable. 3 minute break after the mile and then into the shorter reps, looking to try and negative split the pace on the 660 while getting close to 3k pace on the 330s and mile pace on the 110s. Splits:

1:54.0/54.2/17.8
1:53.5/53.1/18.3
1:51.7/52.8/17.4
1:51.4/52.9/17.4

two minutes after each 6, one minute after the 3, and about 3 minutes between sets. I had planned on possibly taking shorter recovery between sets but after the first set I knew I'd need a little more time to get through it all. Changed into spikes after the second set, with obvious results. Some twinging from the right calf after third set not coincidentally. What jumped out about this workout was how incapable I was of finding another gear for the 110s, glorified strides that they were. Very short cooldown as it was getting late.

Mon 2/4 - PM 45 minutes

Outskirts of Area 51, with a couple laps around the track on the way in to do 6 short pickups. Started out feeling a bit flat but woke up somewhat by the end. Right leg feels as close to normal as it's felt in quite a while, at least a month. Yesterday's snow was indeed light and fluffy, as it disappeared almost completely after a day under a relatively weak sun. Other than that, more of the blustery chill.

Sun 2/3 - double, 1:45 easy total

AM - 60 minutes easy, Area 51. Took a while to get going. Once out the door it was about what I would expect after standing around at the meet for 2+ hours after running the race yesterday, i.e. stiff legs. Right hammie stuck as well, limited range of motion. Took a couple of longish breaks despite the blustery chill. Snow falling very lightly, barely a dusting on the ground.

PM - 45 minutes easy, outskirts of Area 51. Not much quicker than the morning run, although the right leg was feeling somewhat better than the morning. The snow picked up in intensity about mid-afternoon, feather light and barely more than an inch deep. Just as obnoxious as heavier stuff however and not much fun to deal with. Feeling some stiffness in left hammie and back after the run, not sure if it's from yesterday or the slippery footing.

Sat 2/2 - double, 75 minutes total incl. track mile

AM - 25 minutes very easy, pre-breakfast shakeout. Right hammie stiff of course at this hour. Chilly but little wind

PM - 50 minutes incl. mile in 4:39. Happily I didn't embarrass myself but alas it was clear from the warmup that I didn't quite have my A game for my moment in the "big time." Warming up somewhat problematic and abbreviated given the logistics involved, spent more time than I'd like waiting in the herding area at the corner of the track. The race itself unfolded about how I'd hoped it would for the first half, went through the quarter in just under 68 and half in 2:17 or so. I really liked my chances to run a SB time but from there on out the underlying tiredness of the week asserted itself and the pace slowed down to where I got to 3/4 and the bell no faster than the race a week ago, maybe a bit slower even. Meanwhile the rest of the field seemed to sag as well. After spending the first 300m or so in DFL as I fully expected, passed one guy and then three more 800m later. From there on out it was quite clear I wouldn't be advancing any further in the field and it became an exercise in holding off the people chasing. Cooldown happened in stages, a brief jog around the gym soon after the race then another 15 minutes or so easy jog over two hours later after the meet was over.

Fri 2/1 - PM 35 minutes

Jogged a loop around the WGU's Allston campus and then 6 short pickups on their outdoor track. Quick jog over to the square to pick up dinner and then back to the car. Right leg feeling as good as it has lately. Cold and blustery again all day.