Fri 10/10 - PM 65 minutes

Lincoln woods, with drills on Pine Hill. Mostly low key run, in part thanks to the fact that I was running in near darkness by the end and didn't want to trip over unseen roots or rocks. The day off was worthwhile, legs needed the break. Decidedly cool conditions, but still.

Thu 10/9 - off

A long time coming I suppose, can't remember the last zero in fact. Combination of work and coaching responsibilities completely wiped out the regular workout window. I certainly understand why busy people work out in the pre-dawn hours. A little rest after yesterday isn't the worst thing in the world.

Wed 10/8 - AM 75 minutes incl. 4k-3k-2k-1k

Mid-morning workout at Wellesley College. I had this specific workout in mind for a few weeks now so stubbornness was well entrenched. Nevertheless having second thoughts in the first half of the 4k as I felt quite listless and working awfully hard to run an unimpressive pace. I had given up on the concept of progressing the pace entirely and had resigned myself to plodding out 88 second laps. However, despite the annoying gusty wind coming across the track the pace did indeed drop somewhat as the reps got shorter. The final rep was right on the edge of anaerobic but under control, barely. Soreness in calves from Sunday not really an issue. Splits:

3:41.2 - 3:40.7 - 3:38.7 - 3:38.7 tot. 14:39.3
4R
3:43.3 - 3:36.2 - 3:33.9 tot. 10:53.4
3R
3:34.2 - 3:29.3 tot. 7:03.5
2R
3:20.6

Good and tired afterward.

Tue 10/7 - PM 45 minutes easy

Area 51. Much needed recovery jog, yesterday was a bit more uptempo than it should have been for how my legs have been feeling. Plus I didn't have a ton of time to spend after not getting home until fairly late. Took it easy throughout.

Mon 10/6 - PM 70 minutes

Out on the Weston Aqueduct to Edgell Road, then back along the Hultman. Similar to last Monday but further out and not quite as quick at the end. The pace did pick up some in the last 20 minutes though. Very nice running along the aqueducts, a great asset for running in this neck of the woods. Had to throw in a pickup or two in the first 30 minutes after checking in with various stragglers, but smooth sailing after that. As expected, feeling some stiffness from yesterday's adventure. Left calf twinging for a change, more so than the right one even.

Sun 10/5 - double, 1:45 total incl. 5k road race and mile race

AM - 60 minutes incl. 5k road race. A couple of years since I've raced on this dead-flat out and back stretch of Day Blvd in South Boston. Strictly a sandbagging mission which was successful. In fact, came second like last time even though my time was 30+ seconds slower this go-round. With another race coming up in the afternoon the idea was to expend as little effort as possible. Feeling somewhat flat on the warmup so this was a concern going in. Some doubt at the beginning but I was able to get a 20 second gap on the only competition (Titus, of course) by the turnaround. I had promised myself I would shut it down at 2 miles if it was in the bag, which was easier said than done. In fact I only really backed off in the last 600m. Hindsight's 20/20 but as I had almost a minute on Titus at the end I certainly could have decelerated a little more. Mile splits of 5:16, 5:23, and 5:46. I was impressed with how close the first two splits were to each other, as there was a strong headwind from 1.5 to 2 miles.

PM - 45 minutes incl. mile race at Franklin Park. Inadvisable as it is to try a double like this I couldn't resist signing up for this unique event on top of the morning's 5k. Once again, hoping to win my age group and having no idea who the competition might be I went much harder than necessary in hindsight. In the moment I ended up getting caught up in the mad rush. First 400 passed in around 70, 800 in 2:25. Somewhat dubious about that mark as the second quarter headed into a gradual uphill. Third 400 in 85 but it sure didn't feel like that. Taken out by a couple of guys in the last 400 including in the last 50 which was annoying but predictable. Still trying to clear the lactate from the first 400. Course was basically the first mile of the cross course but done backwards and with the first 600 on roads instead of grass. I'll likely be paying for this double the next couple of days but still a worthwhile experience.

Sat 10/4 - AM 80 minutes easy plus 40 minutes elliptigo

Area 51. Pedaled my way over, hit the trail about 30 minutes later. Relaxed effort overall, pace picked up slightly towards the end but not to any large degree. Another long break before heading home on the elliptigo. Drizzly overcast day but at least it wasn't raining like later in the afternoon and evening. Haven't seen the sun since last weekend.

Fri 10/3 - PM 65 minutes easy

Lincoln woods, with drills on Pine Hill. Feeling marginally better than the past two days, finally. Still nothing to write home about, and still palpably tired. I had planned on running from Wayland but there was just enough time left before sunset to do the run in Lincoln instead. Drills felt much better than the last attempt at doing them, right calf in a much better place after the massage the other day. No rain today but still mostly overcast and rather gloomy.