Fri 9/20 - PM 50 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Lincoln woods, with drills on Pine Hill. Came up against the sunset or else I would have gone for longer. Perhaps (but hopefully not) the last dip of the season, an excellent evening for it if so. Still feeling sore and strung out from both the workout and the previous night's staying up far too late, so the running part wasn't the greatest. Right hammie continues to be firmly stuck, although did some rolling on the lax ball afterward that seemed to loosen up the worst of the booty lock. Water not yet to blue-finger temp levels. Fourth day of dry warm conditions, more than one could hope for even at this time of year.

Thu 9/19 - PM 80 minutes very easy

Area 51. Left feeling worse for the wear than I was expecting after yesterday's session, and I was planning on being sore. Hammie/glute area feeling particularly frayed, sore and pinched. All this served to confirm the "active recovery" mode of the run, a euphemism for slow. At least I remembered the headlamp this time. Feeling quite overextended at the moment, not that it isn't my fault for going to that ballgame on Tuesday. Conditions close to perfect yet again, sunny warm dry day followed by cool evening. Sat for a few minutes on the bench at the Puffer Pond dock as the darkness grew, which was the best part of the run.

Wed 9/18 - PM 65 minutes incl. 4k-3k-2k-1k

The only day this week I could reasonably expect to get on the track from a schedule standpoint, complicated however by getting to bed obscenely late last night after going to the ballgame and following that up with riding the bike hither and yon at the kiddie meet. The latter circumstance made for a very late start on top of everything else, no time for any drills before starting the first rep. Not entirely sure what pace would be appropriate but my initial guesses turned out to be mostly accurate. However, I was working quite hard by the end of the workout and more exhausted than I'd like when it was done. Some of this due to the late night and long day but also the underlying dull fitness which is becoming a permanent feature of my running. Right hammie felt pinched almost from the start, still able to finish the session as planned but uncomfortable at times. Left hip flexor area also feeling stiff and sore, made for an awkward start to latter reps and very sore legs when it was all done. Splits:

3:40.3/3:37.8/3:34/3:30.4 - 14:22

4R

3:39.6/3:35.3/3:31.6 - 10:46.5

3R

3:31.6/3:31.9 - 7:03.5

2R

3:25.7

Cool dry conditions with not a breath of wind. Near perfect really. 

Tue 9/17 - off

The day was filled, went straight from the kiddies' practice which I had to supervise myself to the ballgame.

Mon 9/16 - PM 70 minutes easy

Area 51. Feeling creaky at the start, calves in particular which resulted in a slow pace initially. Picked up somewhat after 20 minutes or so but then I decided to take the Tri-town trail in gathering darkness which wasn't such a great idea w/o a headlamp, and this slowed things back down again. Plenty of stumbling as well which is terrible for the right hammie in its weakened state. Other than though it was an enjoyable run, cool clear conditions.

Sun 9/15 - AM 70 minutes incl. 5k road race

Thought I might slip under the radar for a prize money slot at this conveniently located race based on past years' results and the fact that this fell on the same day as a grand prix race. Turns out I wasn't alone in thinking this as the final money slot went about 90 seconds faster than last year. Realized upon getting to the starting line after doing the course as a warmup along with a full set of drills that there would be no filthy lucre for me. Furthermore with old pal Titus on the scene it was clear I'd probably have to bust my ass just to win the age group consolation prize. Recalibrated my expectations and settled in to as fast a rhythm as I felt sustainable, tried to crack a possible competitor for the old fart crown going up Fayerweather and nearly cracked myself instead. Spent most of the second half of the race maintaining contact before making an audacious pass just around 3 miles or so (no splits on the course). This move didn't stick and I was passed and gapped in short order. Stuck it out almost to the line but when it was clear I wasn't climbing back in I packed it in with a bit over 50m left. Thankfully, still enough for the age group prize. While nothing spectacular, the time was acceptable in my beleaguered state what with the sore leg and ongoing inability to get to bed before 11 PM no matter what the day's activities are. Cooldown came in two stages, an easy mile on the track soon after finishing and a very easy lap around Fresh Pond well after that. In between was one of the better post-race feeds I've been to in a while, nothing compared to the halcyon days of the Ro-Jack's 5 miler but still free goodies in copious quantities. Sunny, crisp dry morning with barely any breeze, very nice day to be out.

Sat 9/14 - PM 70 minutes very easy

Lincoln woods, with drills on Pine Hill. Got in quite late last night after watching the local nine in person, slept in until obscenely late as a result. This pushed everything else back for the day, didn't get to the run until later in the day than originally planned. Realized within a few minutes of leaving the parking lot that it was going to be "active recovery" or more accurately absurdly slow throughout. If anything it got slower near the end, energy meter not budging from the low end. Considered giving the drills a pass but compulsion won out and I got a rather lethargic set of them done. Not able or really willing to take a dip in the pond, bumping up against closing time plus it was cool enough outside that the trip back after any swimming would have been uncomfortable at best. Hammie is pinched from all the sitting last night, worked on it some but it's felt better.