Week 5: Day 4 - 2013

cardio:

• 6:50am: road/trail run = 5.43 miles, time = 56:46, pace @ 10:27

I didn't do my run or work out yesterday. I didn't sleep that well from the night before, so I was out of it. I don't think I will be going to karate training/practice tonight because I like to attend an "Introduction to Big Brothers Big Sisters" event that will be going on this evening because I'd like to be a youth mentor. Hopefully, I will be doing karate training/practice twice a week after this week.

Week 5: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• hilly trail run (@ 6:50am) = 1.1 miles, time = 13:24, pace @ 12:11
• warm up = 1.1 miles
• cool down = 1.1 miles

It was so cold this morning that I enjoyed it for my run. I've missed the cold weather in the mornings, but I think it's suppose to warm up a little during this week, so I won't have cold mornings for the rest of the week during my runs.

Week 5: Day 1 - 2013

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 9:15am) = 3 miles

I need to back into the habit of riding a bike and jumping rope on a regular basis because I know that I can't just run all the time. It's good to mix it up and not just do running only.

Week 4: Day 7 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 8:30am) = 6.71 miles, time = 1:12:16 (h:m:s), pace @ 10:46

Total Weekly Mileage: 20.60
Total Monthly Mileage: 46.98
Total Yearly Mileage: 46:98
Total Shoe Mileage: 39.85

Went out for my run later than usual. It was sprinkling this morning at 6am. I'm not quite sure when it stopped, but I think I would have been ok heading out between 7:30am to 8am. While it was warmer than I'd like, at least, the air smelled/felt clean, thanks to the much needed rain. So far, I'm still on track with my running and haven't missed one yet. The crosstraining work outs, on the other hand...well, that needs to be worked on better and part of it is no thanks to the rain (I shouldn't, but I'm blaming the rain anyway).

10K race Training Week 2 Review

~ Mon, Jan 21: REST
~ Tues, Jan 22: 1.1 hilly run
~ Wed, Jan 23: 4.87 mile run
~ Thurs, Jan 24: REST
~ Fri, Jan 25: 5.72 mile run
~ Sat, Jan 26: karate
~ Sun, Jan 27 (today): 6.71 mile run

Total Weekly Mileage: 18.40
Total Overall Mileage: 33.35

http://www.firecracker10k.org

Week 4: Day 6 - 2013

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours

While I did walk to class, I didn't walk home. It was cloudy, but really bright when I was walking to class, so I thought I would be fine walking home in dry weather. It started to rain during class, so I got a ride home so I didn't have to walk home in the rain.

I think it's suppose to rain tomorrow, but I hope it doesn't rain in the morning so I can do my run!

Week 4: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 12:00pm) = 5.72 miles, time = 1:01:35, pace @ 10:46

It rained yesterday morning until 8am. By this time, I had lost motivation to do a morning work out and I wasn't able to attend karate training in the evening.

It rained some more last night until late this morning. I wasn't going to run at all today, but I finally decided to do it when it was very light drizzle at 12pm noon. This was the first time in a long time that I started my run after 8am. I'd tolerate very light drizzle and I hoped that it didn't get worse than that during my run, but I'm glad that it stayed the same. I really didn't enjoy my run and was really unmotivated at the beginning. It was a combination of a lot of things: it was later in the day (I like running in the morning), it was warmer than I'd like and I knew that some of the trails I wanted to run on would be wet/muddy (enough to scare me, but too bad). The main reason why I got out at all for a run was because the rain had stopped and I needed to get my run in. I wouldn't allow myself to skip a run. I started to feel better after two miles, slowly but surely. I'm glad that this lack of motivation was just temporary and only for today. I feel accomplished now like I've got some fresh air. There is supposedly some rain on Sunday. It may very well rain in the morning, but I can only hope that it won't so I can run early in the morning rather than later.

Week 4: Day 3 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:45am) = 4.87 miles, time = 51:05, pace @ 10:29

I was a little worried this morning when I headed out for my run. It was overcast and I was hoping that it didn't rain during my run. Luckily, the sun got higher so I could see the true colors of the sky/clouds and it wasn't as bad as I thought. I won't mind if it rains later today, but I hope it doesn't tomorrow morning.

Week 4: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• hilly trail run (@ 6:50am) = 1.1 miles, time = 13:13, pace @ 12:01 mpm
• warm up = 1.1 mile
• cool down = 1.1 mile

My legs still burn on the steepest incline of the hill, but not as bad as before. My breathing hasn't gotten better when I do run it. Maybe it has, and I don't notice the difference yet. Since my legs seem to get better (less burning) and getting more used to this challenging hill, I think this has helped with running faster on the steepest incline.

Week 3: Day 7 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7am) = 6 miles, time = 1:05:49, pace @ 10:58

Total Weekly Mileage: 19.25
Total Monthly Mileage: 46.98
Total Yearly Mileage: 46.98
Total Shoe Mileage: 19.25

I hate to say this, but I actually enjoyed the weather this morning. I still prefer temperatures in the low 40s when I run, but it was high 50s/low 60s with a very low humidity level. I'm going to miss this when it hits summer and it's 60 degrees with a high humidity level at 5:40am!

10K Training Week 1 Review:

~ Mon, Jan 14: 3 mile Bike Ride
~ Tues, Jan 15: 4.3 mile RUN
~ Wed, Jan 16: REST
~ Thur, Jan 17: 1.1 mile HILLY RUN
~ Fri, Jan 18: 5.52 mile RUN
~ Sat, Jan 19: Karate + 1.5 mile WALK
~ Sun, Jan 20 (today) = 6 mile RUN

Total Running Miles: 15.95

http://www.firecracker10k.org

Week 3: Day 6 - 2013

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• beginners/first class = 12:15pm to 1:15pm
• advanced/second class = 1:15pm to 2:15pm
• 3/4 mile WALK to karate
• 3/4 mile WALK after karate

Spring has arrived early...did I mentioned that already? So warm today, but at least it was a nice day for a walk! It was also windy and I don't like wind. I guess it's better than walking in the rain, even though I think we need rain. I miss the cold weather already.

Week 3: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7am) = 5.52 miles, time = 57:41, pace @ 10:27

This morning was warmer than I'd like it to be, but I shouldn't be complaining about it. At least, it wasn't 80 degrees with a 90% humidity level. I also ran faster than I expected even though I really felt slow because of the warmer weather. I hope the rest of my training is like this!

Week 3: Day 4 - 2013

cardio:

• hilly trail run (@ 7am) = 1.1 miles, time = 13:46, pace @ 12:46
• warm up = 1.1 miles
• cool down = 1.1 miles

I didn't do any work outs yesterday. It's ok, I haven't missed any runs this week yet.

There will be karate training this evening, but I think I'll be doing some volunteer work around the same time.

Week 3: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7am) = 4.3 miles, time = 46:22, pace @ 10:47

I had planned on doing a short run on a challenging hilly trail this morning, but the route that I usually used (as a warm up) to get to my hill run was blocked by a major accident (someone crashed into a fire hydrant which created a very messy road/sidewalk). Of course, there was another way to get around the accident to do my hill run, but I didn't want to make my warm up longer than I wanted it to be. I wasn't disappointed by changing my run/course because I could do my hill run tommorrow instead. This is what makes a good runner...by adapting and being flexible when confronted by an uncontrolled situation that oneself or someone else created. I would have been disapointed with myself had I realized that I could do a different run AFTER I went home and lost all motivation!

Week 3: Day 1 - 2013

cardio:

• bike ride (@ 9:30am) = 3 miles

I hadn't done a bike ride in awhile. I went to the post office and I went on the same route as I always did, but I was so not used to it anymore that my quads burned on the little hills. Obviously, I have to get back into bike riding. It's good for runners anyway.

I also purchased a pair of new running shoes last week. It's time to retire my old shoes and I will start running in my new shoes tomorrow! This is the first time that I bought shoes with a bright color. I've seen other runners with brightly colored shoes which I thought were really cool and I finally got brave.

Week 2: Day 7 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7am) = 5.41 miles, time = 58:36, pace @ 10:50

Total Weekly Mileage: 16.76
Total Monthly Mileage: 27.73
Total Yearly Mileage: 27.73
Total Shoe Mileage: 299.06

Whoops, I forgot to update yesterday after walking to and after karate training.

Anyway, this morning was cold which I enjoyed, but it wasn't as cold as Friday morning. I almost didn't want to run this morning because I had to work late last night and I only had four hours of sleep, but I reminded myself that I could reward myself by going back to sleep after doing my run. While I do have to work today (in the evening), I can't find myself going back to sleep. I feel mentally tired, but I'm not sleepy enough to fall back to sleep. Hmmph! I hope I can take a nap in the afternoon before going to work.

Week 2: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:55am) = 4.6 miles, time = 47:35, pace @ 10:21

It was so cold this morning! I even wore gloves for the first time ever so my hands weren't frozen stiff, even though I really wanted to them off because I just wasn't used to wearing something on my hands. I knew I had to wear them so I could enjoy my run better. That didn't stop me from wearing shorts and a t-shirt while running though, so I was ok with the gloves and I managed to force myself to keep them on during the entire run.

Week 2: Day 3 - 2013

cardio:

• hilly trail run (@ 6:50am) = 1.1 mile; time = 14:01, pace @ 12:45
• warm up = 1.1 mile
• cool down = 1.1 mile

For not running on a super challenging hill for awhile, I did good this morning by not slowing down to a walk or completely stopping. Since I hadn't done it in awhile, my lunges (breathing hard) and quads (challenging uphill) were burning. I find this a good thing. I was thinking of either doing a short, challenging hill run or a 3-mile hilly trail run at a local junior college (there is a cross country course there). The cross country course is challenging with difficult hills, but I think I'll still with the shorter, challenging hill run because it's more difficult.

Week 2: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7am) = 4.45 miles, time = 46:15, pace @ 10:24

While I was running this morning, I remembered that I had to start doing hill runs again. I'll start that tomorrow morning. I'm still debating on where I want to go for a hilly run though. I guess I'll figure that out tomorrow.

Week 1: Day 7 - 2013

Total Weekly Mileage: 11.97
Total Monthly Mileage: 11.97
Total Yearly (2013) Mileage: 11.97
Total Shoe Mileage: 282.30

So I lied...I didn't run this morning or yesterday morning. I could have easily gone running at 8am today because it had briefly stopped raining at that time. Coming home late at night (1:30am) is making it hard for me to do my runs in the morning. I even try to go to bed as soong as I get home, but I still wake up feeling so tired and sleepy. I will have to start getting serious next week because I start training then. That means that I have to run/train even if I'm tired and running on three hours of sleep.

But for today, I'm just updating this to keep track of all of my miles.

Week 1: Day 5 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7:05am) = 4.43 miles, time = 47:40, pace @ 10:46

Since there is no karate training tomorrow (we're on winter break still), I will do my run tomorrow morning. I hear that it may rain on Sunday and I'm not sure if it's in the morning or not. I rather do a run tomorrow morning, so I don't have to take a chance of running in the rain on Sunday morning.

Week 1: Day 4 - 2013

cardio:

• walk (@ 12:45pm) = 1.25 miles

I was going to ride a bike (short distance) and do some jump rope this morning. I opted for a walk (3/4 mile each way) to and from a crochet group at a local public library instead. It's easy for me to go out for a run so early in the morning, but I have a hard time finding the motivation to do other exercises like riding a bike and jumping rope. It's not the end of the world and I just need to try harder. Also there is no karate training this week either. Session starts next week.

Week 1: Day 3 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7am) = 4.34 miles, time = 45:38, pace @ 10:31

I love cold mornings. This morning was so cold that my hands were frozen during the entire run, I had a runny nose (from the cold air) and I had to cough a little halfway through my run (while I had to wait at a stop light to cross a street because it was so cold for my lungs)...even though I was sweaty. Sweaty and cold. Too bad, I can't have 40-something degrees mornings on all 365 days of the year!

Week 1: Day 2 - 2013

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 6:55am) = 3.2 miles, time = 33:15, pace @ 10:23

Happy New Year!

So I didn't finish 2012 on a strong note with my fitness/running. Last year, some of my fitness goals were to get into pilates and jumping rope on my own free time. Ride a bike to a park, do some jumping rope and pilates and then ride back home. So much for that. I never did any pilates or jumping rope last year, not even for one day on either one. But I also didn't do any major races like a half marathon, so I wasn't really motivated to do much other fitness stuff other than run. I rode a bike a few times last year, but not as often as I'd like. I've only done the L.A.-Chinatown Firecracker 10K race (February) and a Halloween 10K race (October). I've already signed up for the L.A. Chinatown Firecracker 10K race scheduled for next month and I'm hoping to do a half marathon in October 2013 (it's not official yet).

My fitness goals this year is:

~ run a half marathon in October 2013
~ jump rope regularly (I used to do this in the past)
~ ride a bike more often
~ do pilates once a week

I think I'll be able to do all of them, and I hope to motivate myself enough to do the pilates goal.