Thu 10/2 - PM 45 minutes very easy

Area 51. Like yesterday only shorter. Possibly slower, if that's even possible. Feeling exceptionally tired at the moment. On the plus side, the salutary effect of the massage yesterday seems to have sunk in.

Wed 10/1 - PM 70 minutes very easy

Area 51. The bill came due following the past three days of higher intensity (and volume). Got a massage before lunch, which was hugely necessary for the right calf. Emerged from that to find the weather had gone completely down the toilet with rain and an ill wind blowing. This resulted in the postponement of the kiddie meet that got me out of work early. Without the postponement there likely would have been no run today at all as there wouldn't have been time for it. Instead, after holding practice for the kids I was able to return home and take a brief nap before hitting the trail. Elliptigo would have been perfect today but the weather and gathering darkness made that impossible. Took it quite slowly of course.

Tue 9/30 - PM 60 minutes incl. 6(600,200), 2x600, 2x200

Feeling my oats a bit, to the degree that's possible right now. Right leg in decent enough condition for relatively long session on the track. The original intent was to step up the pace every 200m of the 600s, although by the end it became more like one gear change at 300m instead as I was starting out too quickly. The original plan also was for 8 sets of the 600-200j-200-200j routine, but I became so focused on hitting the right pace for the last 600 that I skipped the 200 that was to go before it and ran the last 2 600 reps back to back as a result. Whether this is laser like focus or losing mental acuity due to exhaustion, who knows. Splits:

2:07.8 (54.5) 38.3 (54.1)
2:04.6 (55.1) 39.0 (53.7)
2:04.5 (55.2) 38.7 (55.4)
2:02.1 (55.7) 38.4 (55.4)
2:02.9 (51.9) 38.4 (54.2)
2:02.4 (55.4) 38.4 (54.3)
2:04.2 (55.6) 2:03.5 (56.1)
38.5 (57.9) 38.6 (31.3 100m)
last 100 19.4
total time 36:15

While definitely wiped out by the end, overall the effort was controlled and I was able to run the 600s in somewhat of a negative split fashion. The days of not knowing how to dress are upon us, cool and overcast in the dark but more humid than I thought and found myself sweating more than I thought I'd be.

Mon 9/29 - PM 75 minutes

Very similar to Friday's run except longer, came back on the Hultman aqueduct all the way to rt 27 and down 27 to the Weston aqueduct heading back to WHS that way. Laughable how much quicker paced the run was compared to Friday's in fact. Feeling relatively spry, and picked up the pace substantially the last 15 minutes. Some soreness in right hamstring but overall the right leg feels much better than yesterday after having done some rolling on it yesterday afternoon.

Sun 9/28 - double, 50 minutes incl. 8k threshold run plus 65 minutes elliptigo

AM - 50 minutes incl. 8k threshold on the Longfellow Loop. Still fried (perhaps literally) from yesterday's long day in the sun. With more heat and humidity on tap for today it was a fool's errand from the get go. On top of all that it occurred to me after I had crossed into Sudbury on the warmup that I should have done some rolling on the TFL and IT band before heading out. All in all it made for a fairly terrible experience, esp. considering that my original plan was to bang out four loops. After the first loop I decided to cut it back to 3 loops, by 6k I knew I was going to be stopping at two loops. Pace was slower than expected from the start, and dragging the right leg by halfway. Made for another 31 minute 5 mile tempo run. Ugh. Couldn't get out of there soon enough. Splits:

6:17.5/6:19.3/2:57.6
6:10.2/6:15.4/2:53.9

PM - 65 minutes elliptigo. Headed directly over to 10 Spencer where I spent a couple of hours mowing the lawn, nostalgic but not in a good way. After that took the scenic route back through Stow via Delaney project. An excellent way to vent any leftover frustrations from the garbage workout.

Sat 9/27 - double, 60 minutes plus 60 minutes elliptigo and 20 minutes in Walden

AM - 60 minutes elliptigo. Sudbury and Stow, incl. Boon Road. Started early enough that long sleeves were needed, but sweating through it by the end.

PM - 60 minutes, Lincoln woods plus 20 minutes in Walden. After spending the heart of the afternoon standing around in the infernal Wrentham dust bowl, nothing was keeping me from taking a dip in the pond. Exactly what I needed after a long day in the sun.

Fri 9/26 - PM 80 minutes very easy

Out along the Weston aqueduct to Water St in Framingham, then back along the MWRA aqueduct. Nice scenery and mostly flat of course, which is just what I needed after yesterday. Right leg is of course torqued up from all the laps, not that I noticed it last night or during the day at work. It became immediately apparent upon setting out for the run however. On the warm side for this time of year.