Thu 10/30 - PM 50 minutes very easy

Area 51. The week of jogging very slowly continues unabated. Right calf feeling better during the day but soon after heading out the door it became clear that it's still in a compromised state. On top of that the burden of underlying fatigue seems to be at its peak, low energy level and feeling tired most of the time. Par for the course at this time of year really.

Wed 10/29 - PM 70 minutes very easy

Area 51. More puttering, a route that took longer than expected as a result. It's becoming increasingly clear that the right calf is in such a state that I won't be doing anything of quality on it anytime soon. Still, last Saturday's race and the day in Falmouth were well worth it. Of course, I'm not doing nearly enough to help the recovery process. some of it due to the schedule being crammed tight but mostly pure sloth. It occurred to me that maybe an ice pack every now and again would help with this but that remains a therapeutic modality that for whatever dumb reason I don't pursue. Sticky and warm during the day, but of course once the sun sets it cools off quick.

Tue 10/28 - PM 50 minutes very easy

Lincoln woods. Squeezed in a run on the trails between practice and the post-season coaches' meeting. Even a brief car nap in there as well. Quads feeling better but right calf still mostly useless, and still barely moving as a result. Looking like I won't be able to do any kind of faster running until the weekend. I did get to enjoy a nice sunset from the edge of the horse meadow on the way in with the clouds lit up. Soon after that, in the last minute or so of the run I think a fisher cat was following/chasing me from the trees next to the trail. An unnerving experience, they usually run the other way.

Mon 10/27 - PM 80 minutes very easy

Area 51. About what I expected, not in a good way. The "beat with a hammer" feeling is gradually leaving the quads but the right calf remains as frayed as it's ever been. Not far removed from not being able to run at all. Regrettably, I tweaked the calf twice in less than 30 seconds early on while attempting to traverse the rail bed next to High Street in the fading daylight at the beginning of the run. Not what I needed in any way. Made the best of it though by enjoying the serene conditions of the refuge at dusk, including a fairly sublime and extended break at the Puffer Pond dock. Did some stretching and compressions on the calf while sitting there which seemed to help some. Took the quickest way back from there even though it meant running right down rt. 27 with all the cars. At the glacial pace I was going I didn't have the time to be taking a more scenic route home.

Sun 10/26 - AM 75 minutes elliptigo

And the bill comes due for yesterday. Legs feel like they've been hit with a hammer repeatedly, to no great surprise. Pedaled my way over to the refuge VC for an easy run with the kiddies. Thankfully none of them showed and I was off the hook. A brief jog around the parking lot revealed that I could barely move. After a while spent idling about, got back on the road for the trip back through Stow. This included a climb up Whitman and Birch Hill so there was some heavy breathing involved, but without impact. If ever there was a day for the dork bike this was it. Gusty overcast with spitting drizzle at times, a downgrade from yesterday's sparkling conditions.

Sat 10/25 - AM 85 minutes incl. half marathon

Another lucrative visit to the Cape. Well worth the pre-dawn wakeup call and long drive. Different course from last year, mostly flat winding out and back along the shoreline. Sun in our eyes heading out, wind in our faces coming back for the most part. Survived a truly imbecilic first 5k to repeat as old fart champ and the last open money spot as well. Spent much of the race in 3rd or 4th, passed for the last time at about 9.75 miles. Knew the pace was too quick going out but did nothing about and spent the second half whistling past the graveyard as a result. Realized at 8 miles that I had used up more than 8 miles' worth of effort, and also at this point the stomach issues started. By the end I was as worried about not having an accident as I was about holding my spot. Not nearly enough specific training for this length of race, and it became increasingly clear the final 5 miles. Played keep away for the last 4 miles, hoping I'd be able to shut it down the last mile or so. However, the next guy was close enough that I couldn't do so until the last half of the 13th mile. Quite tired afterward, enough in fact to take a nap in the car within 30 minutes of crossing the line. I knew a jog cooldown wouldn't be happening, instead I spent the afternoon riding the bike down to Woods Hole and poking around there. Very nice day, even with the inevitable sea breeze. Legs utterly destroyed, in particular the right calf which felt as frayed as it ever has. Splits:

5:31
5:38
5:42
5:50
5:49
5:51
5:52
5:56 - starting back into the wind
5:59
5:59 - fully clenched
5:56
5:59
6:06