Fri 9/6 - PM 80 minutes easy plus 20 minutes in Walden

Lincoln woods. Snuck away from the kiddies practice early enough to get in a decent length run in the woods. Striking while the iron is still hot, or before the sun sets. Left hip flexor stiff and sore of course from yesterday, but felt better by the end of the run. No outstanding issues with the right hammie/glute after the first extended running on a track in months. Excellent weather with dry warm conditions all day.

Thu 9/5 - PM 65 minutes incl. 4(1000, 200)

Back to the track, Emerson Field to be more specific. Approached with some trepidation due to the ongoing issues with the right leg but I needed to be getting back on the horse at some point if I have any hope of doing anything worth a damn on the roads this fall. Decided on this particular workout a few days ago, mix of long and short reps with short (200m jog) recoveries, both because I like it and because it offered an easy way to pull the plug if need be. Felt reasonably good on the warmup and while doing drills and strides, but more stiffness in the left hip flexor and adductor than I was expecting. This became the running theme of the entire session, in fact more of a limiting factor than the right leg which came as a surprise. Decided not to do any pace checks in the midst of the km reps, run on feel instead. With no idea what a decent effort would be on the watch it was a no-brainer. Splits:

3:26.5/38.2
3:27.8/38.4
3:24.2/38.2
3:24.3/38.2

23:33 for the entire thing. The recoveries were all within a click or two of 55 seconds which came as a pleasant surprise. That the 200s were that consistently mediocre was no surprise and a reflection of how clunky and awkward the left thigh felt. Cooldown was very slow for the same reason, not that taxed overall but the left adductor was tapped out. Conditions were near perfect after a wet and sticky start to the day, showers cleared out and breeze was minimal.

Wed 9/4 - PM 45 minutes

Weston. Over to the reservoir, once around, up Wellesley Street for a bit before turning around and heading back. The first 10 minutes or so were extremely slow, pace picked up from there. Ran with the kiddies at the beginning and end, alone during the middle 30 minutes or so. Moving reasonably well and light years ahead of how I felt yesterday. Weather also light years better, humidity finally gone and clear warm conditions in its wake.

Tue 9/3 - PM 55 minutes very easy plus 20 minutes in Walden

Lincoln woods. Dragging big time after the usual too-late bedtime followed by an afternoon of watching the kiddies run around a field instead of taking a nap in the commuter rail parking lot. Grieving the loss of the summer routine at the moment. Listless would be an understatement for the putter over to the pond, barely moving at times. A bit better on the way in after the dip in the cooling waters but still quite easy. Continued gross humidity with bruise-colored overcast skies.

Monday 9/2 - PM 35 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Walden woods with drills on Pine Hill. Spent the morning and afternoon heading back from the boonies and taking a much-needed nap. Started a little later than I would have liked, slowly at first around Hapgood forest before heading across the street. Not originally planning on doing drills today but the opportunities to visit this site are just about over and so couldn't pass it up. Did pickups on the way in, on Thoreau Street which made for much smoother going and much faster running as a result. Disgusting humidity still firmly in place, alas.

Sunday 9/1 - AM 1:45

Northfield. Started from boat ramp as per usual, up and over Birch Point and on to School St. before heading back north along Birnam and Winchester roads to Staddle Hill. Up Bolton Mtn. road to finish things up. Finished feeling quite spent, pushed the pace somewhat from the hour mark and feeling the effects by the final climb. Didn't feel like I was going that quickly by the end but the effort was certainly there. Less issues with the hamstring today than yesterday morning but of course still some soreness in there. Some overcast for much of the time I was out there which kept the temp down a bit, the only saving grace of the continued despicably muggy conditions. Sweated away pounds.

Sat 8/31 - double, 90 minutes total

AM - 55 minutes, Northfield. A last trip up Old Wendell road. Regrettably, the right hammie was twinging the entire time after the drive over. Somewhat of a teeth-gritting experience. Disgustingly humid to boot, raining off and on.

PM - 35 minutes incl. drills and strides. Planned on another trip down the rail trail with a dip in the river, but with a large chunk of the western end of the trail closed off for maintenance, decided to head up the other way instead. Quickly found myself alongside Amherst's expansive complex of grass fields and immediately headed over for barefoot jogging around the edge followed by drills. Right glute/hammie feeling better after a fair amount of compressions during the afternoon. Humidity somehow increased during the day, with downpours and plenty of lightning. Finished up just as yet another gullywasher arrived.