Wheeler Farm Loops

AM - 18 mile long run. Easy effort (6:55/mi avg). Planned on doing 2x5M @ MP, but quickly (and hopefully wisely) adjusted the run. After getting three miles into the first effort I wasn't anywhere near marathon pace and pulled the plug. Cruised around Cupertino and found a dirt path for the rest of the way. Couldn't see the value in forcing a session that just wasn't going to end well. Feeling "off" for a day two weeks out isn't the end of the world. 

Headed down to Santa Cruz and did a nice, long beach walk in the afternoon.

AM - 10 miles. Cliff Drive path along the ocean in Santa Cruz.

PM - 5 miles in the redwood groves at Henry Cowell state park.

Fun day - we did a leisurely hike/stroll along the shoreline at Wilder Ranch, then a picnic / nature walk / nap in the redwood forest later. Lots of sunshine, giant trees, and sea lions.

AM - 8 miles.

PM - 8 miles.

AM - 10 miles.

PM - 6 miles.

Photos of big trees and sea lions.

AM - 13 miles. 10K Wave Tempo in 33:26 (5:23/mi avg) - alternating 5 x (1K/1K). HHS track. Averaged 3:17 for the "faster" segments and 3:24 for the "slower" ones - not as much differentiation as I would have preferred.

Only made it a few minutes before stopping and walking home this morning. Hamstring acted up, and running was possible but seemed very counter-productive. That's what I get for saying this issue was easily manageable. Or maybe this is just the universe's annoying way making sure I take a day off. Either way, frustrating.

Physically, an improvement from yesterday, but I still stopped and walked home after a mile of running. Mentally, I'm back to basket-case mode. Too much indecision - do I really feel better? am I better off just doing nothing? is racing next weekend a terrible idea? can/should I just push through this? I don't really have a plan now... as this wasn't exactly the situation I thought I'd be facing a week out from Chicago.

At least there's a new puppy in town to distract me from thinking about it too much.