Fri 2/20 - AM 1:50 skiing

Area 51. Back again with a new set of poles and new skis as well. Took some getting used to but by the end of the morning I was moving reasonably well on them and getting a legit workout. Faster than the planks I had been using. A bit tired near the end, mainly in the muscle groups that don't get used for running. Quite cold and windy.

Thu 2/19 - PM 90 minutes skiing

Area 51. Despairing of where to go for a run when I decided it was worth checking out the refuge to see if ski tracks had been established since the weekend storm. Of course they had, shouldn't have let the depth of the snowpack make me think otherwise. A huge relief as I can get some exercise without risking life and limb or do mind-numbing laps or back and forth. The good feelings weren't diminished by the cold and windy conditions or even by breaking a pole about an hour in which left me monopoling the rest of the way.

Wed 2/18 - PM 60 minutes incl. 12 minute tempo, 8x200

Flat and disjointed mess of a workout. Feeling quite tired after the second day in a row of doing a lot of walking around at work, which left me more wiped out than I had bargained for. Originally planned to do 2.5 miles of switching pace every half mile followed by a couple sets of 600/400/200. At the last possible moment I was persuaded to do a progression outside on the loop encircling Harvard's athletic buildings when I found out this loop is right about 3/4 mile. The plan was to start at 5:50 pace and get down to 5:30 pace. Instead the pace was close to 5:30 from the get-go and it felt totally forced and uncomfortable. While each lap was within two seconds of each other, by the third lap I was quite ready to stop which is precisely what I did. Feeling so wiped out from that, the 6/4/2 thing went right out the window and I figured doing untimed glorified strides, like alternating 200s and 100s, would be better. Again, I was persuaded to do something different, in this case alternating 39 and 49 second laps. The putative goal was to do three miles of this but I knew going in that I'd likely make it only to two, running slightly faster than the goal on average. In fact by 1.5 miles I knew I was cooked, not that I wasn't cooked from the moment I arrived at the facility. Right calf didn't react well at all to yesterday's mistaken decision to run on slippery snow-covered roads, and felt like crap as well. All in all feeling quite beleaguered at the moment. No end in sight to the cold, snowbound conditions of course.

Tue 2/17 - PM 50 minutes very easy

Tiger Drive to Tobin. Foolishly thought I could go for a run along Parker St/River Road and actually get on clear pavement. Not realizing that the only roads that are clear are the ones choked with traffic, and with the massive encroaching snowbanks are far too dangerous to hazard. Tried to cobble together a loop using side streets and the sidewalks on 117 and 27. Predictably bad results of course. Poor footing everywhere, which required a slow trudge. Sidewalks have been plowed but not to bare pavement of course which is of little use to me. Not particularly energetic from the start after yesterday's efforts, both running and shoveling, and by the end of today's run I was just flattened.

Mon 2/16 - double, 80 minutes total

PM - 45 minutes easy, Longfellow Loop. Original plan was to go skiing in the refuge--in hindsight a ridiculous expectation as any ski tracks in the snow have been buried by yesterday's storm. No one had even tried since the flakes stopped flying yesterday. Instead, went for a roundly unsatisfying slog around the neighborhood a couple of times. Left the yaktrax home as there are stretches of bare pavement but not nearly enough. The mixed footing was a non-stop aggravation. Meant to go longer but running late as it was and decided to cut the run short.

later PM - 35 minutes, treadmill. 5 miles, starting at 7.5 mph and ending up at 9.5. Going pretty well by the end, at least it felt that way. Between runs I shoveled a trench at 10 Spencer so the oil guy can reach the pipe later in the month, which was something of a workout in itself.

Sun 2/15 - PM 55 minutes

Levittown. Returned with yaktrax this time, made for a much better experience than the other day. This even taking into account the immediate aftermath of yet another storm dumping over a foot of fresh powder. The hole continues to get deeper. Even with the improved traction, given that I had multiple rounds of shoveling earlier in the day I was done for before the hour mark arrived.

Sat 2/14 - PM 75 minutes incl. 6x6 minute pickups

Fresh Pond. Originally the plan was to race on the track today. However, that went by the boards as the meet schedule was dramatically compressed thanks to yet another snowstorm and I did a piss-poor job of anticipating this (i.e. showing up early). In fact this may be the first time I ever missed a race due to being late for check-in. Furious at myself for all of 10 minutes before realizing it was likely for the best and that I needed another mile race on the track like I needed a hole in the head. Turned the car around and headed to Fresh Pond which I knew would be free of cars if nothing else. In fact the conditions were exactly the same as Levittown yesterday, packed snow all the way around. With the trail runners footing was manageable if not ideal. Warmed up with one loop to see how slippery it was and then started in with the pickups, with 90 second recoveries between each. Feeling the effort by the last one, legs getting a little wobbly from the mini-slippage, but able to get through six instead of pulling the plug at five which I'm taking as a victory. Tried to gradually incease the pace within each rep, with some success at least early on. Blowing snow made it a more memorable experience for sure.

Fri 2/13 - PM 55 minutes

Levittown. Unable/unwilling to get on the treadmill. In hindsight I should have scouted the roads beforehand, as the conditions were pure packed snow as far as the eye can see. Perfect for yaktrax which I wasn't wearing. Still able to get through although no doubt slipping around more than is good for the perpetually frayed calf.