Thu 9/18 - PM double, 65 minutes total

AM - 20 minutes very easy, Swellesley. Barely awake, to a greater degree than usual.

PM - 45 minutes, Area 51. I had futile hopes of making up for yesterday's miss by doing something structured and quality today but it wasn't happening. Still feeling so tired my head hurts during the day at work. Nothing a decent night's sleep wouldn't help solve of course. As it is I had to take a brief nap before heading out. Did short pickups on the way in, even though the way my hip and high hamstring were feeling it maybe wasn't such a great idea.

Wed 9/17 - AM 45 minutes easy

Swellesley. Had a workout all lined up and ready to go but realized by mid-morning that I had no energy whatsoever to do it. To the extent that the first thing I did after leaving work early (for meet day) was take a car nap. Not a good sign at 11 AM. Went for a relatively easy run along the Brook Path to Maugus Hill and ran around Centennial Park instead. Felt awkward and choppy, right calf still feels vaguely strained three full days after the race. Ugh. A bummer to have such a dud of a run as it was a great day for it, warm and sunny with a light breeze.

Tuesday 9/16 - double, 65 minutes easy

AM - 20 minutes very easy, Swellesley. Not quite as cool as yesterday but I was feeling just as stiff and brokedown. Right leg taking longer than I'd like to bounce back.

PM - 45 minutes easy, Area 51. Got home early enough for a brief catnap before heading out the door. Despite sleeping more and more soundly of late, still feeling tired from wakeup to lights out. Right hamstring and calf continue to feel dinged up from Sunday's race. May have to play it by ear tomorrow.

Mon 9/15 - double, 70 minutes very easy

AM - 20 minutes very easy, Swellesley. Right leg not feeling so hot. Long sleeves and pants on a downright chilly morning. 

PM - 50 minutes very easy, Wayland. Out and back along the aqueduct between Maiden Ln. to rt. 30. Puttering along relaxed enough, but right leg continues to feel like garbage after yesterday.

Sun 9/14 - AM 50 minutes incl. 5k road race

Return to Cambridge for the 21st century version of Ro-Jacks, at least when it comes to the post-race spread. Woke up still feeling flat, warmup was too short to be of much effect so I knew it wouldn't be anything to write home about. Happily though, a quick scan of the crowd at the starting line made me realize I had a chance to finish in the money which seemed shocking based on last year's results. Within the first 4 minutes it became clear I would be either 2nd or 3rd overall and became focused on dropping the other guy. Led him through the mile mark then eased off a bit so I wasn't doing all the work. Soon after that we turned into a small hill and I gapped him without trying or meaning to. From there on out it was keep away with blind corner surges and everything. Gusty breeze sometimes an issue. Splits nothing to write home about, 5:20 followed by a pair of 5:36s. Right leg feeling like it will be sore tomorrow. Took well over an hour between the finish and when I ambled out for a slow cooldown around the park. Severe clear conditions with boundless blue sky and the aforementioned wind, bit of a chill in the air even at midday.

Sat 9/13 - AM 70 minutes very easy

Lincoln woods. Took four of the kiddies around Sandy Pond at a very relaxed pace. Desperately needed as I found myself totally fried yesterday evening, to a greater extent than I had even realized. Fell asleep in my chair before 10:30 in fact. Not that I should be staying up much later than that anyway. Woke up this morning feeling less than refreshed, something that persisted over the course of the day. The drama of the summer, when I struggled simply to fall asleep, seems long ago now. Somewhat gloomy conditions that gave way to full on overcast then a steady rain later in the day.