Fri 10/3 - PM 40 minutes, Area 51

Shakeout before tomorrow's race, I had planned on doing some strides but ended up giving it a pass. Left knee became inexplicably sore in the quad tendon/pa area during the day at work, seemingly from sitting in an awkward position but I have to think there's more to it than that. Didn't bother me while running but will bear watching.

THu 10/2 - PM 60 minutes, Area 51

Finally, the flat tired feeling from this past weekend appears to be on the way out. Right leg coming around as well although still feeling like the adductor area suffered a strain at some point. Able to do strides on the way in regardless. Gusty winds finally swept out the rainy muggy conditions that have dominated the past week.

Wed 10/1 - PM 80 minutes easy, Walden woods

A slog due to both legs feeling like garbage, but esp. the right one. Hip somewhat inflamed, adductor feels strained, hammie twinging, ugh. I'm fingering Sunday's run for much of this lingering soreness. As for today, pace was quite relaxed as it needed to be but I should have opted for a route with flatter terrain rather than the rolling trails and uneven footing of the woods. Slippery to boot with mud puddles left over from the last six days of rainy weather. I thought this pattern had broke as there was some sun during the afternoon, then on the drive home it rained again.

Tue 9/30 - PM 60 minutes incl. 6x200

Feeling tired and stiff-legged, as a result planned workout of 4(6x200) got chopped. The first rep was the only one under 36, and the 100m recoveries only served to accentuate how flat I was feeling. I might have been capable of pulling this session off tomorrow but today was still too close to the weekend. Not overly concerned as Saturday remains the focus.

Mon 9/29 - PM 65 minutes easy, Area 51

In need of a low-key day after the previous three. Took it very easy at the start, moving a little better after 20 minutes but after a stop at 35 or so the sluggishness returned for the rest of the way. Legs stiff but less than what I was expecting after yesterday's roller coaster. The rain has left but not the overcast, cool and muggy.

Sun 9/28 - AM 1:45 in Northfield/Winchester

Exhausting run as I started on the ridge, decided to follow a well-marked and vaguely familiar trail, and found myself making the hideous climb up to the top of Notch Mountain, breaking the promise I'd made to myself never to run it again after the last time I did it. From there I was obligated to run along the power lines to Birch Point, falling in a waist-deep puddle in the process. Legs destroyed from all the up and down by the time I made it back down to the base of Louisiana Rd. The final part of the run ended up being just under 30 minutes, Mine Road to Staddle Hill. Able to pick it up somewhat the last 15 minutes, but I had to take a pass on the bigger climbs in Winchester. Somewhat tired from the start due to the cicada that kept me awake much of the night with its shrill relentless call. Rain finally wrapping up after nearly two days straight, leaving behind enormous puddles on the trails and lingering humidity.

Sat 9/27 - AM 80+ minutes incl. 2x4.5 miles

My original plan was to do the double tempo in Lincoln then head to Western Mass., but then I saw there was a hilly 4.5m race that was on the way. Got there and realized that this out and back course was tougher than expected and likely tougher than the Lincoln course. the first 1.5 miles were almost all uphill, then rolling up some more before heading back down to the finish. Splits as follows, first loop on the left, second go-round (i.e. the race) on the right:

6:19 - 5:35
5:53 - 5:14 (short)
6:15 - 5:55 (long)
5:36 - 5:12
2:57 - 2:33

27:00 - 24:29

I was planning on doing 5:45-50 pace for the first loop, tempered those expectations a bit after seeing the course. Then I saw the mile split and couldn't believe how slow the time was. Truly the time didn't match the effort, at all. Assumed a poorly-measured course and soldiered on, not that the numbers improved much. Got it over with and waited 15 minutes for the race to start, I was hoping for a break closer to 10 but didn't want to get caught to close to start time in case they did actually start on time, which of course they didn't. Felt much less sluggish the second time around, managed 30 sec/mile faster without killing myself completely which was the point of the exercise. Had some sore spots esp. right hammie after yesterday's run, as expected. It seemed the first loop, slog that it was, helped loosen things up considerably. Continued rain today, not as torrential as it was yesterday but no less annoying as it started right up in mid-morning after taking the overnight hours off.