Wed 1/6 - PM 65 minutes incl. 4 (800, 200)

Feeling more energetic today after getting to bed at a reasonable hour the past few nights. Energetic enough to blow right through the post-commute nap and get right into the workout, beginning in fact before sunset. Vaguely thrilling to be doing this, even if the sun was gone by the time I started the first repeat. Also a thrill to be done with the day's running at the same time I've been starting out lately. Can't remember the last time I did a track workout in January outdoors, much warmer temps during the day combined with a lack of desire to drive into and back out of town led me to keep it local. In addition, not at all interested in running so many laps on an indoor oval before this weekend's scheduled double. The light wind that blew during the day died down nicely with sunset, and while it was undeniably colder than the ideal I was able to do the workout without feeling like I was freezing to death. How much the cold affected the numbers is up for debate, the effort felt solid even though the numbers were pedestrian. In keeping with the new interval theme of the past month or so, kept the pace on the recoveries crisp, with a 400 float after each 800 and a 200 float after each 200 to make 1600 total. A glorified mile rep basically. Between each set was about 90 seconds of slower jogging to catch my breath some more before the next 800. Not looking at the watch at all during the workout, but it certainly felt like the last set I was getting bogged down just a bit, which the numbers corroborated. In fact the first set looks to have been a bit of an overreach in general compared to the other three, but I'm pleased to have knocked off four sets total despite the unimpressive numbers. Splits:

2:42.9 (91.3) 39.2 (47.1) - 5:40.5
1:10R
2:44.5 (94.3) 39.1 (48.3) - 5:46.2
1.5R
2:43.0 (94.6) 38.8 (47.2) - 5:43.5
1.5R
2:45.2 (94.0) 39.1 (49.7) - 5:48.0

Tue 1/5 - PM 45 minutes easy

Levittown. Yesterday left more of a mark than I had realized apparently as I was feeling more flat and listless than I would have liked today. Soreness in calves dissipating but the hips are still tight and I'm not doing anything in particular to deal with that after finishing the day's running I'm afraid. Continued cold but at least not quite as windy as yesterday.

Mon 1/4 - PM 75 minutes

to and from TJ's, first time doing this in a long long time. In need of a few items forgotten when I went shopping yesterday plus the idea of running somewhere other than Levittown or LL had distinct appeal. While calves and left hip flexor are still feeling stiff and sore from Saturday, I ended up pushing the pace a decent amount on the return trip. Bitterly cold, only a bit below the average for this time of year but compared to the impossibly mild conditions enjoyed up to now it's quite unpleasant. Went out in full winter kit and handwarmers. Feet felt like crap the first 20 minutes anyway.

Sun 1/3 - AM 65 minutes very easy

Longfellow loop, at a relaxed pace for a change, back via Tiger Drive. Calves quite stiff and sore, something I should have anticipated after wearing spikes for only the second time in six months. In fact it never occurred to me that racing 3k in them could leave such a mark. The joys of aging. Right knee also stiff to start to the point that I was limping somewhat. Did some compressions on the quad which helped with that and it eventually worked itself out.

Sat 1/2 - double, 2:10 total incl. track 3k

AM - 65 minutes incl. track 3k. Terrible flat effort, completely incapable of holding what I thought was a relatively modest pace of 37 seconds/lap. Realized this within three laps and the rest of the way, which was a long way, was a futile holding action. Kilos of 3:07, 3:11, and 3:16. Spared the indignity of seeing my name in the results as it never made it there for whatever reason. Dead tired and flat with legs that felt stiff. In hindsight, no chance of racing well given the last few days of sleep disruptions. Same old story alas. Originally planned on doing a workout of some type after the race like two weeks ago, but I knew better. Jogged an easy 30 minutes afterward instead.

PM - 65 minutes very easy, Levittown. Joined the CH for a leisurely run through the side streets of Maynard. Benefit of more running today debatable at best but I wanted the quality time and the tour of the streets was needed.

Fri 1/1 - PM 30 minutes easy

Slow short putter around Maynard, feeling quite flat and listless. Yesterday's super long nap had all the predictable effects, far too late getting to sleep later in the night, laying around in the morning. Went for an afternoon hike around Walden of a couple of hours, thought it would be doable with yaktrax. Just enough snow on the ground to cause slippage and by the end of the walk my hip flexors were quite tight. 

Thu 12/31 - AM 45 minutes incl. 10x200

Harvard. Almost made it through the month of December without a single workout indoors but with the snow hardened into concrete and a brisk wind blowing options were few and unattractive to continue that particular streak. After yesterday's failure to complete anything of substance and with a race coming up on Saturday I found myself looking to do a placeholder of some sort, which took the form of 4x200, then 3, 2 and a final solitary rep. The wrinkle being that it was all done new interval style with 200 meter floats after each rep, and 3 minute easy jogs between sets. Under a bit of time pressure so the warmup and cooldown were both quite compressed. Splits:

36.6 (45.8)
36.9 (46.8)
37.3 (45.3)
37.3 (46.0)

36.6 (45.0)
36.7 (46.7)
36.9 (46.0)

35.7 (45.4)
36.7 (45.7)

35.6 (46.4)

I wasn't checking the splits while doing the workout and was surprised afterward at how quick some of them were. Certainly a difference between doing track work outdoors and doing it in a climate controlled environment. Legs felt clunky and awkward for much of the workout which also contributed to the surprised feeling. After a brief cooldown, went straight to lunch and then spent the afternoon at the MFA with the CH which was most enjoyable. Following that, went home and lay down for what was supposed to be a brief nap but turned out to last nearly 3 hours. A lot of time on my feet made me more tired than expected I suppose.