Fri 11/21 - PM 70 minutes easy

Area 51. Celebrated the end of the work week by taking a long nap. After a fair amount of dithering eventually got out the door for what I knew would have to be a low-key jog. In fact it had to be easier than that as there wasn't much in the tank and the legs are still stiff from Wednesday. Temps went back down today, with the blustery wind it felt more like late December than late November.

Thu 11/20 - PM 30 minutes easy

Swellesley. A return to the old stomping grounds of morning jogs which seem like a million years ago even though it's barely been two months. I had planned on a longer putter but the time frame for that evaporated thanks to work responsibilities. Directly from the run to the kiddie's awards banquet, which left no time for stretching or rolling. Both things my legs were in desperate need of after yesterday. Not quite as cold but just as windy today, albeit from a SW rather than NW direction.

Wed 11/19 - PM 60 minutes incl. timed pickups

Longfellow loop, after a quick jog up Waltham Street and the lunge matrix went right into 2x6 minutes, 2x4, 2x2, and 2x1 with 2 minute jog recoveries throughout. A pattern I dreamed up the other day, and accomplished what I had hoped for in terms of a progression from threshold pace to something faster and more exhausting by the end. As this was the first honest to goodness in a good long while I had some concerns over how the right leg would hold up and while it did get somewhat fatigued it didn't lock up on me. This despite feeling like I should have rolled on it before stepping out the door. Continued cold conditions although not quite as cold as yesterday, but still windy.

Tue 11/18 - PM 70 minutes

Area 51. Same site and length run as yesterday but a different scene entirely as the pace was quicker throughout. Not flying but not puttering either. Two stops at the south gate ca. 35 minute and 20 minutes later at the dock, then exited via Old Marlboro and did a series of pickups on the way in. Yesterday's rain was pushed out and replaced by cold air and gusty winds all day. Colder than normal and not leaving for a few days.

Mon 11/17 - PM 70 minutes easy

Area 51. Utterly disgusting weather all day long as a massive cold front swept through and up the entire eastern seaboard. Cold hard rain for hours on end, which thankfully subsided somewhat just as I was getting ready to venture out. While the conditions contributed to the decision to keep it low key, I quickly found that the weekend's runs, such as they were, left me a little flat anyway. In fact at times the pace was bordering on the very easy.

Sun 11/16 - double, 80 minutes total incl. 8x200

AM - 40 minutes easy. Similar to yesterday's morning jog, in all respects. Followed with a bit of hiking in Area 51 before lunch as well.

PM - 40 minutes incl. 8x200. Feeling antsy to do something, if only glorified strides. Decided to keep it short and simple which was about right for where I'm at currently. Glad I didn't try anything more substantial yesterday evening, it wouldn't have gone well. As it was, got a little pooped on the last three reps of this modest session. Took splits but didn't check until afterwards:

38.9 (60)
38.5 (57.9)
38.0 (58)
38.0 (59)
38.0 (58)
37.1 (58.6)
37.5 (57.8)
37.0 (55.8)

Not exactly blazing but I was bundled up against the cold and the right leg held together fairly well so I'll certainly take it. Left hip flexor feeling tired by the end.

Sat 11/15 - double, 75 minutes total

AM - 45 minutes easy. Pre-breakfast shakeout. Pulse seemed a bit elevated last night, possibly from the faster pace of runs lately. Took it easy as a result. Cold morning but barely a breeze.

PM - 30 minutes. Headed to the track in flats planning on doing some sort of glorified strides after a day spent at the final kiddie meet of the season. Felt more spry than I'd anticipated on the jog over and thought about upgrading to an actual workout. All of it moot though as I got there to find a football game in progress. Turned tail and headed back but with pickups on the way in. These felt reasonably good although it seems like my energy level is still perhaps a bit too low for serious training at the moment. Hard to tell quite frankly.