Week 5: Day 2 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:30am) = 4.89 miles, time = 53:58, pace @ 11:02

I liked the fact that half of my run was in fog. It made for an interesting and fun run because I didn't know what to expect. There was no fog, maybe a little bit hazy when I started my run...halfway through, I was running through dense fog. I usually don't like running through fog, but I actually enjoyed it this morning.

I need to learn how to time my runs when I go through a school zone. I usually don't mind when there are kids everywhere, walking to school...Parents and school bus drivers are dumb and don't care if they put non-student pedestrians in danger, forcing them into the bike lane/street and blocking driveways/sidewalks. It also doesn't help when some kids have cell phones and they're busy texting their friends because they don't look up. Kids should not be allowed to have cell phones until they're old enough to have a job to pay for them.

Week 5: Day 1 - 2012

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 9:30am) = 3 miles
• karate (@ 7pm) = 1 hour

It got cloudy this afternoon. That was ok because I got to ride when it was sunny and clear and nice. I might have a nice sunrise to look at tomorrow morning for my run, though...

Week 4: Day 7 - 2012

cardio:

• road/trail run (@ 6:30am) = 5.98 miles, time = 1:06:18, pace @ 11:05

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.61
Total Monthly Mileage: 76.60
Total Yearly Mileage: 76.60
Total Shoe Mileage: 201.75

I woke feeling fine. I started my run, feeling blah, unhappy and unmotivated to the point that I was actually dreading it and not wanting to run, even though I knew that I would feel better later. I felt better two miles into my run. It would be nice if I could feel good and happy to run from start to end....not just part of the way. I'm debating if I want to take a break from running for the next week. I don't like that I start my runs feeling blah and unmotivated, and I also have mild shin splints (that's tolerable and not discouraging), but I also know that I would feel better once I got out for the run.

My right knee was slightly bothering me on Tuesday's run. I forgot about the problem during the last two runs because my knee actually felt fine....until last night. I'm not sure what I did to aggrevate my knee problem, but it was still not that bad and I barely noticed it in my run this morning.

Week 4: Day 6 - 2012

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 12pm to 1pm
• second (intermediate) class = 1pm to 2pm

Now, that I'm not in the middle of something, I can go outside and enjoy the weather!

Week 4: Day 5 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:35am) = 5.45 miles, time = 58:41, pace @ 10:46

I was dreading the run when I woke up this morning. I felt bored and unmotivated in the beginning of the run. Two miles in, I felt better about running. It was like I had an epiphany or something. This is pretty normal and common for me to get bored and unmotivated after five or six weeks of running without a full week (or more) break. This happens quite often. I still plan to run on Sunday, but I haven't figured out the distance. Originally six miles, but I'm debating if I should cut it short. I haven't signed up for any races and there is a 5K/10K race in two weeks. If I sign up and pay for it now, my motivation may last a little longer because I have a goal to accomplish and I have to run if I want to do ok for the race. If I was to pay on the day of the race (optional) instead of in advance, I'm not sure if my motivation would last that long. I'd like to run the 10K race, but I also want to take a break from running.

Week 4: Day 4 - 2012

cardio:

• hilly trail run (@ 6:30am) = 1.1 miles, time = 14:06
• warm up = 1.1 miles
• cool down = 1.1 miles

I was somewhat hestitant to run this morning. It was slightly windy and slightly warmer than I'd like. I usually associate that with a slightly not so good air quality, but surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought.


I also think that I can start running at 6:25am. I don't like to run when it's completely dark and at that time, it's still a bit dark, but that's also when it's starting to get light out. There's a blue casting when it's starting to get light and it's better than black and complete darkness.

Week 4: Day 3 - 2012

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 7pm to 8pm
• second (intermediate) class = 8pm to 9pm

So warm today! I probably won't enjoy tomorrow morning's temperature when I run, but I'm going to make myself enjoy the run despite the weather.

Week 4: Day 2 - 2012

cardio:

• road run (@ 7am) = 4.88 miles, time = 50:51, pace @ 10:25
• bike ride (@ 10:15am) = 3 miles

My right knee is starting to bother me since Sunday, after doing the six mile run. I know this has to do with running. I'm not sure if it's from running too much miles or if I'm running weird. It bothered me a little bit this morning during the run, but it was fine during most of it. It's not really a pain...just more of a discomfort. I don't know if I should continue running or take a break. Though I still think that I'll be fine running on Thursday and Friday this week.

Anyway, I woke up to a foggy morning and light winds. I was worried that the fog would bother my breathing because I could actually feel it going into my lungs, but it actually wasn't that bad. The fog and clouds thinned out the longer I ran and the wind wasn't that bad either. I noticed the winds when I was walking my dog (pre-run), but I stopped noticing it during my run. I usually don't like running when I notice the wind because I start thinking how it will affect my run and making me slower than I want. I don't think it affected my run at all.

Week 4: Day 1 - 2012

cardio:

• karate (@ 7pm) = 1 hour

It rained pretty good today, but luckily, it wasn't too bad so I'm sure I didn't get sick from being in it and I made sure that I dressed more properly than before. I think that was how I got sick before...I just didn't dress better. Anyway, we need the rain, but I think we had enough rain that I won't get electric shock from touching my car door for awhile!

Week 3: Day 7 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:45am) = 6 miles, time = 1:07:29, pace @ 11:15

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.73
Total Monthly Mileage: 56.99
Total Yearly Mileage: 56.99
Total Shoe Mileage: 182.14

I'm debating if I want to run the L.A. Chinatown Firecracker 10K race this year. It's in three weeks. I somewhat want to do a race. I also want some kind of motivation/goal/reason to run and a way to make running more fun/enjoyable because I have something to look forward to. I ran six miles today, so the distance isn't a problem. But I don't know. I think I'm running too many miles and increased my total mileage by more than I should, so I'm sorta bored and burnt out with running now. Last week, my  total miles was 17. The week before that, the total miles was 12 and the week before that was 8. I think I feel some shin splints coming on in my right shin because there is a nagging feeling. It doesn't hurt, but I fear that it will if I'm not careful and if I don't stop being overambitious. What to do?

Week 3: Day 6

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 12pm to 1pm
• second (intermediate) class = 1pm to 2pm

I was going to ride my bike this morning (warm up for karate), but it was raining and I didn't feel safe enough to ride on wet roads with motorists. It's sunny now. With all the rain we had this morning, I hope this calls for cleaner and crisper air tomorrow morning!

Week 3: Day 5

cardio:

• hilly trail run (@ 6:45am) = 1.1 miles, time = 14:07, pace @ 12:50/mile
• warm up = 1.1 miles
• cool down = 1.1 miles

I finally remembered to recharge my ipod battery.

The air was cleaner and cooler this morning, so that felt nice when I made the slightly higher elevation for my hill run. I still need to work on my breathing when I run on challenging hills, but I think that will come if I continue running on challenging hills every week.

Week 3: Day 4 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:35am) = 5.38 miles, time = 55:41, pace @ 10:21

Oops, forgot to check my ipod battery power. Because of that, I didn't recharge it and it was low on power. Luckily, there was enough power to last the entire run.

Week 3: Day 3 - 2012

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 10:15am) = 3 miles
• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 7pm to 8pm
• second (intermediate)  class = 8pm to 9pm

So now that the overnight temperature is getting lower because winter is finally here, the morning temperature is going to feel really good for me and running! Hopefully, there is no sudden change of weather because while I like that it's cleaner when it's cloudy, it feels cooler when it's sunny!

Week 3: Day 2 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:45am) = 5.05 miles, time = 54:34, pace @ 10:48

While I'm currently not training for a race, I think I need to increase my total weekly mileage, at least to 15 to 20 (occassionally up to 25) miles a week. I think I got sick more often last year compared to previous years because I wasn't running as many miles as before and I hadn't done a half marathon since 2009, so my immune system got weaker. Hopefully, I don't get bored of running because I'm running more miles for no reason.

Week 3: Day 1 - 2012

cardio:

• karate (@ 7pm) = 1 hour

All I did today was karate. I didn't ride my bike or anything else today...it was between being lazy and being worried that I would get rained on. When I got home from karate, the sky looked overcast. I can't tell if they're rain clouds or not because it's too dark to tell. I hope it doesn't rain in the morning...at least, hold off until after I get my run in.

Week 2: Day 7

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:40am) = 4.84 miles, time = 54:55

I thought about not running at all this morning because there were dark clouds. I decided that if I did a really short run (two miles), I'd be ok. A mile into my run, the clouds thinned out and look lighter/brighter, and I could see spots of blue skies. I really had no idea if it was going to rain at all today/this morning because I didn't check the weather forecast. Luckily, it sprinkled/drizzled a bit an hour after my run! So glad that I missed it because I really do not want to be in the rain and get sick again....as much as we need rain and more moisture because I get electric shock everytime I touch something made of metal like my car door!

Week 2: Day 6 - 2012

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• fist (beginners) class = 12pm to 1pm
• second (intermediate) class = 1pm to 2pm

Where did these clouds come from? I walked my dog early this morning and it was mostly clear. It's all overcast now. I think I would have preferred today's weather for my run in place of yesterday's weather.

Week 2: Day 5 - 2012

cardio:

• hilly trail run (@ 6:40am) = 1.1 miles, time = 14:10, pace @ 12:53
• warm up = 1.1 miles
• cool down = 1.1 miles

I haven't ran on a challenging hill since November. I've figured my endurance wouldn't be as good and I expected to take a rest break during the run. While I was running up the most challenging part of the run (in the beginning), I decided to be determined to finish the run without stopping or slowing down for a walk or rest break. Also, for some reason, I was dreading the run while doing my warm up and I didn't want to do it, but I actually felt better once I got past the most challenging part of the run. My lungs and legs were burning at the beginning of the run. My legs just weren't used to the challenge. My lungs were burning, partially from the heavy breathing and mainly from the bad air quality. I think the air quality was slightly bad compared to yesterday because my nose was runny and it wouldn't do that unless the air quality was bad. I'm not sure if the slightly warm temperature (warmer to me) had anything to do with it, but it was slightly windy and I think the wind blew the bad air quality around, making me more sensitive to it.

Week 2: Day 4 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7am) = 4.44 miles, time = 49:14, pace @ 11:05
• bike ride (@ 10:15am) = 3 miles

Went running slightly later than usual, but not by much. I think I will make myself run on some challenging hills tomorrow. We'll see...I hope.

Week 2: Day 3

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 7pm to 8pm
• second (intermediate) class = 8pm to 9pm

So cold and overcast this morning! Although I would have been fine doing pilates (and a bike ride for warm up) because exercise would make you warm up and get sweaty.

Week 2: Day 2 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:40am) = 4.47 miles, time = 48:49, pace @ 10:55

I'm enjoying the sunny, cold mornings that we're getting now compared to last week. This is what I call great running weather!

Week 2: Day 1 - 2012

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 10:15am) = 3 miles
• karate (@ 7pm) = 1 hour

I wanted to started doing pilates on Monday and Wednesday mornings. I completely forgot that I had planned to do it this morning and slept in instead! Hopefully, I don't forget on Wednesday!

Week 1: Day 7 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:45am) = 4.43 miles, time = 48:12, pace @ 10:53

Total Weekly Mileage: 12.28
Total Monthly Mileage: 20.21
Total Yearly (2012) Mileage: 20.21
Total Shoe Mileage: 125.15

It was finally cold this morning...makes for geat running weather for me. Luckily, there were no winds because I think it's suppose to be super windy later today. I don't like running in windy conditions. Luckily, it was cold (upper 40s to low 50s) this morning too because I think it's suppose to warm up to mid-70s in this afternoon.

Week 1: Day 6 - 2012

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 9:30am) = 5.25 miles
• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 12pm to 1pm
• second (intermediate) class = 1pm to 2pm

It was so cold (and overcast) this morning! Whatever happened to the cold during the week? I almost didn't want to ride in the cold, but figured I would be ok after one mile and it would be a good warm up to karate training anyway. Karate training is about 6.5 miles (one way). Eventually I will ride my bike there on a Saturday.

Week 1: Day 4 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:40am) = 4.2 miles, time = 45:10, pace @ 10:45

While I enjoy 70+ degrees, sunny weather during the daytime in January and getting to wear shorts and a t-shirt in this weather, it would be nice to run in winter temperatures like below 55 degrees (preferably below 50 degrees) temperatures. Rather than being sick anymore, I really believe that I'm hypersensitive to the smog level when I'm running in warmer temperatures. I think the air is cleaner when it's colder.

Week 1: Day 3 - 2012

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 10am) = 3 miles
• karate (@ 7pm) = 1 hour

First karate training of the year. While it feels nice to be back, I somewhat feel out of practice. I think that will pass in no time.

While I enjoy the 80 degrees weathe in January, I'm starting to wonder if we'll get actual winter temperatures eventually. I think it was cold last January and even rained a few times too between December and January last year.

Week 1: Day 2 - 2012

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:35am) = 3.65 miles, time = 38:10, pace @ 10:28

First run of the year! My goal for this year is to be more consistent than last year. Maybe I should sign up for a half marathon? If I do, I want to do the Long Beach race in October, but I still haven't made up my mind if I really want to run any half marathons.

Week 1: Day 1

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 2:15pm) = 3.74 miles

I thought I wouldn't do a work out today, but I wanted to put work out post anyway with it being the new year and all. I decided to do something anyway while I had the motivation this afternoon. I usually don't like to ride my bike in the afternoon because there is more traffic and I fear getting hit by a car, but since there are no schools, banks, or post offices opened today and lots of people aren't working, there is less traffic and it was safer than normal.

Week 67: Day 7

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 1:45pm) = 3 miles

Happy 2012, everyone! It's 85 degrees here in Southern California on this fine New Year's Day!

I was going to run this morning, but I was so tired.

So here are my total running mileage as of yesterday:

Total Weekly Mileage:  7.93
Total Monthly/December Mileage: 17.85
Total Yearly (2011) Mileage: 535.34
Total Shoe Mileage: 104.94