Monday 9/2 - PM 35 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Walden woods with drills on Pine Hill. Spent the morning and afternoon heading back from the boonies and taking a much-needed nap. Started a little later than I would have liked, slowly at first around Hapgood forest before heading across the street. Not originally planning on doing drills today but the opportunities to visit this site are just about over and so couldn't pass it up. Did pickups on the way in, on Thoreau Street which made for much smoother going and much faster running as a result. Disgusting humidity still firmly in place, alas.

Sunday 9/1 - AM 1:45

Northfield. Started from boat ramp as per usual, up and over Birch Point and on to School St. before heading back north along Birnam and Winchester roads to Staddle Hill. Up Bolton Mtn. road to finish things up. Finished feeling quite spent, pushed the pace somewhat from the hour mark and feeling the effects by the final climb. Didn't feel like I was going that quickly by the end but the effort was certainly there. Less issues with the hamstring today than yesterday morning but of course still some soreness in there. Some overcast for much of the time I was out there which kept the temp down a bit, the only saving grace of the continued despicably muggy conditions. Sweated away pounds.

Sat 8/31 - double, 90 minutes total

AM - 55 minutes, Northfield. A last trip up Old Wendell road. Regrettably, the right hammie was twinging the entire time after the drive over. Somewhat of a teeth-gritting experience. Disgustingly humid to boot, raining off and on.

PM - 35 minutes incl. drills and strides. Planned on another trip down the rail trail with a dip in the river, but with a large chunk of the western end of the trail closed off for maintenance, decided to head up the other way instead. Quickly found myself alongside Amherst's expansive complex of grass fields and immediately headed over for barefoot jogging around the edge followed by drills. Right glute/hammie feeling better after a fair amount of compressions during the afternoon. Humidity somehow increased during the day, with downpours and plenty of lightning. Finished up just as yet another gullywasher arrived.

Fri 8/30 - PM 85 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Lincoln woods, with drills on Pine Hill. The entire summer repertoire stuffed into a single afternoon with the drills, aquajogging, and short pickups on the way in. Unlike visits to the trails earlier in the summer, on this one I was able to pick grapes off the vines just off 126 near the end of the run. After a pokey start, the pace picked up somewhat in the middle stages of the run but soon after a stop at Devil's Staircase I could feel myself running out of gas. Between this and the soreness in the right quad tendon I thought of maybe skipping on the drills. However the knee loosened up well and opportunities to visit Pine Hill will be few and far between starting next week. Really really tired from the reintroduction of the coaching season time schedule earlier in the week. This on top of being overly tired to begin with from a strung out summer. I'm hopeful some form of self-discipline can be imposed in the near future. Clear and sunny weather at the start of the run after a sticky overcast morning, alas as the afternoon went along the muggies crept their way back in the picture.

Thu 8/29 - PM 60 minutes

Weston. Mostly on roads with the kiddies, who run at a much more relaxed clip than last year's group thankfully. First 40 minutes easy, quite easy at times, then a longish break before heading out alone to the trails behind Regis. Pace picked up a bit for the last part. The unwelcome surprise of the day was the right quad tendon which somehow got inflamed and sore over the past 48 hours. What I did to cause this is a mystery but probably not a coincidence that it's the right leg. Hamstring stiffness probably contributing somehow. Whatever the case, not the way I wanted to feel after a day off. Humid conditions but also relatively cool.

Wed 8/28 - off

Unplanned zero, had notions of squeezing in a run between kiddies' practice and the nearby shoe gala by running to the shoe store from the school. The idea of running back in the dark after standing around in sweaty clothes in a store wasn't that appealing though. After a time standing around it became increasingly clear it would be a day off, although I could have gone for an easy jog down the brook path or something. Right hammie twinging, more near the lower attachment than the customary spot up high.

Tue 8/27 - PM 50 minutes plus 20 minutes in Walden

Lincoln woods with drills on Pine Hill. Late late start, so shortened run and felt rushed from the jump. All this meant that the pace was a bit quick throughout. Concerned about the pond closing up and so hit the pond before doing the drills, a first. Short pickups on the way in as well, overall felt pretty good with only minor tightness in the right hammie/glute. Sticky enough that getting in the water was welcome relief.